Study Aims to Identify Hidden Injuries in Steeplechase Racehorses with Support from Virginia Horse Industry Board
NSA_Latent_Injury_Study_Press_Release_
By National Steeplechase Association | May 14, 2026
[Middleburg, Virginia] — [April 16, 2026] Since 1995, the Virginia Steeplechase Association
(VSA), in collaboration with veterinarians conducting pre-race examinations, has collected data on
injuries and fatalities in steeplechase races in Virginia. This initiative later expanded to include races
across seven states within the steeplechase circuit sanctioned by the National Steeplechase
Association (NSA).
In the early years of data collection, fatalities in steeplechase racing were at an unacceptable level.
Although rates vary annually, recent years have seen a marked decline with much lower fatality
rates according to the NSA Safety Committee. This improvement is attributed to enhanced pre-race
examinations, modifications to courses and fences, and ongoing educational programs for trainers
and jockeys.
“We know some injuries that occur during a race don’t become apparent until days afterward,” said
Dr. Reynolds Cowles, NSA Equine Medical Director and Chair of the Safety Committee. “Until we
understand the full extent of these delayed injuries, we cannot accurately determine their total
number or how best to prevent them.”
To better quantify the full scope of race-related injuries, Dr. Cowles, Don Yovanovich, President of
the VSA and Dr. Nat White, Professor Emeritus of Equine Surgery at Virginia Tech have received a
grant from the Virginia Horse Industry Board to investigate the occurrence of “latent injuries”
associated with steeplechase racing.
The primary objective of the study is to determine how many horses that appear uninjured during
and immediately after a race subsequently develop signs of injury—such as heat, swelling,
lameness, or fracture—within four days following competition. This information is currently
unavailable but is essential for improving injury prevention strategies and enhancing the health and
welfare of horses participating in the sport.
Injuries resulting in lameness have also been tracked and observed to fluctuate from year to year
over the past decade. While injuries and fatalities are recorded at or immediately following each
race, the NSA Safety Committee recognizes that some race-related conditions may not become
evident until days later.
The study protocol involves contacting trainers of all horses participating in race meets in 2026 to
identify horses in which injuries become apparent after the event, require treatment, or delay a
horse’s return to training. A secondary objective is to identify potential risk factors associated with
these injuries. “With this information, we can better understand how to make racing safer for horses,”
Cowles added.
“We are fortunate to have the generous support of the Virginia Horse Industry Board, which has
made this study possible,” said Yovanovich. “Regardless of the final results, this research will
expand our understanding of racing-related injuries and provide insights that can be applied to other
equine disciplines to improve horse health and welfare.”