If you have any questions you'd like to ask the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority or the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), please feel free to send them over to us at the following email address: danross@thetdn.com.The following was submitted by owner Dan Moretti.Q: Can you provide some detailed background into how HISA approaches investigating horse health in order to prevent catastrophic breakdowns and sudden deaths? Are universities involved? Is The Jockey Club's Grayson Research Foundation involved? If so, can you explain exactly how they're involved? And has HISA considered reaching out to other industries, like aerospace, who tackle problems of structural fatigue and failure to perhaps get a fresh set of eyes to look at the issue?Preventing catastrophic breakdowns and sudden deaths is central to HISA's mission. A key component to preventing such events is maintaining a robust database of veterinary treatment records. HISA requires Attending Veterinarians to submit records to the HISA Portal within 24 hours of the veterinarian treating or examining a Covered Horse. As of March 31, 2026, 7.1 million veterinary treatment records had been uploaded or digitally submitted to the HISA database since the inception of the Racetrack Safety Program.This data is available to Regulatory Veterinarians to analyze and assess whether a horse is fit to race. HISA, utilizing technology from partner Palantir Technologies, a leading provider of artificial intelligence systems, has used this robust dataset to develop and make tools available to Regulatory Veterinarians, including HISA CHECK–which assesses whether horses are at increased risk for injury–and HISA Horse In-Sight–which provides a holistic picture of horses' health and performance for their entire career. Additionally, HISA rules include post-entry screening of a horse's past performances and treatment records to flag horses who may be at increased risk, as well as veterinary inspections for all entered horses on race mornings. This information and the hands-on veterinary inspections help reduce the risk of injury.In addition, treatment and Veterinarians' List histories are now available to the new Owners, Trainers and Veterinarians when a horse is transferred, sold or claimed, which is essential to help inform Trainers and Attending Veterinarians about the horse's health history and promote continuity of care.HISA has also used data from the HISA Portal to issue four equine health advisories on proximal forelimb fractures, exercise-associated sudden death, proximal hindlimb fractures and the Veterinarians' List. Sharing these insights supports better-informed care, promotion of best practices and reduction of the risk of equine injuries and fatalities.HISA has also partnered with a multitude of leading universities and research facilities in the quest to further the industry's understanding of horse health and catastrophic injuries. For example, HISA commissioned multiple studies on furosemide (Lasix)'s impact on horse health. Those studies were conducted by researchers from the University of Washington College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M's Departments of Animal Science and Kinesiology and Sport Management, Virginia Tech's School of Animal Sciences and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Learnings from these studies were examined by HISA's Furosemide Advisory Committee, who subsequently made a recommendation that helped to inform the HISA Board of Directors' decision regarding the use of Lasix.Another area in which HISA has partnered with university researchers is in exercise-associated sudden death. Two pilot programs were commissioned, with researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. The preliminary findings from these studies, which included researchers from other universities, are available here.Additionally, HISA has partnered with the Davis Thompson Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky, the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center and School of Veterinary Medicine, and the University of California, Davis's School of Veterinary Medicine to provide education on necropsy examination. This education pairs pathologists with Regulatory Veterinarians to gain insight on Thoroughbred racehorse's musculoskeletal and sudden death post-mortem examinations, to not only document, and inform, but to create prevention and mitigation strategies. HISA rules require necropsies for each horse that has experienced a fatality within 72 hours of racing or training related activities. HISA also requires a post-mortem review and for Racetrack Risk Management Committees at each racetrack to identify strategies to mitigate and prevent further fatalities.It's also important to note that university professors and researchers sit on many of HISA's advisory committees and draw on their extensive expertise to help advise HISA on equine health and policy.HISA is also committed to expanding its research partnerships. We recognize the important contributions of organizations such as the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation in advancing equine health research and are open to opportunities for future collaboration. Likewise, HISA remains interested in lessons from other industries that study complex systems, risk prediction and failure prevention, including engineering and aerospace, where applicable methodologies may help advance Thoroughbred safety and welfare.The post Ask HISA: Investigating Catastrophic Breakdowns appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.