Guidelines for the Postmortem Examination of Racehorses

General Guidelines

The AAEP recommends that all racehorses that die or are euthanized at a racetrack or training facility undergo a complete postmortem examination (i.e., necropsy/autopsy1) by, or under the supervision of, a board-certified veterinary pathologist at an accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory. Field necropsy is not appropriate for exercise-related fatalities, cases of sudden death or cases resulting in human injury. Postmortem examinations are mandatory for Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA)-covered racehorses. A general checklist is provided at the end of this document based on the following recommendations.

The AAEP encourages collaboration among diagnostic laboratory partners to elevate and harmonize exam protocols and information management that promote standardization of reports and facilitate intermural research into the etiology of catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries and other conditions resulting in the death of racehorses, including Exercise-Associated Sudden Death (EASD).