Churchill Downs Targets Safer Future After Drop in Horse Racing Fatalities

After a troubling year for horse racing in 2023, Churchill Downs is looking toward a safer future—and the numbers suggest it’s on the right path.

According to the 2024 annual report from the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), released in March, racing fatalities dropped across the 47 HISA-regulated tracks. The fatality rate fell to 0.9 deaths per 1,000 starts, down from 1.23 the year before.

Churchill Downs reported six horse deaths for the year, a significant improvement compared to the seven fatalities reported by Derby Day in 2023. The spike in deaths last year triggered intense scrutiny and even a suspension of racing at the iconic venue.

In response, Churchill Downs made major safety investments. Track maintenance and surface testing were upgraded, and horses now race equipped with stride sensors to monitor performance and potential injury risks. In 2025, the track plans to incorporate advanced PET scans—nuclear imaging that can detect injuries earlier and more accurately.

“Our big thing this year is focusing on the science and technology side,” a track spokesperson said. “We believe these tools can help identify subtle injuries before they become catastrophic.”

Still, the racing industry hasn’t pinpointed exactly why 2023 saw such a spike in fatalities. Some critics argue that the transient nature of horses moving between tracks across states makes it hard to isolate risks.

Despite the unknowns, industry leaders believe technology could bring them closer to the goal of zero fatalities. “We just have to figure out how to adapt advanced technology to Thoroughbred racing,” one expert said. “It’s possible—we just need to find the way.”

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