New Program Designed to Improve Jockeys’ Emergency Care

Keeneland is working with the Jockeys’ Guild and Lexington physician Dr. Barry Schumer to develop a system to maintain jockeys’ updated medical histories so they are immediately accessible to emergency personnel at racetracks through the country and possibly the world. “With the use of an access code, authorized emergency medical staff around the country would be able to get a rider’s medical history,” explained Schumer, Keeneland’s medical director.  “The information would be secure, regularly updated, and promptly accessible to the emergency team.” Schumer, who has been associated with Keeneland for 27 years, said that knowing a jockey’s medical history is particularly important if a rider is in shock, has a head injury, doesn’t speak English or has no family present. The goal is to have the system operating by the fall meet at Keeneland.