The Churchill Downs and Keeneland announcment on Thursday of their commitment to new racing and training reform measures that includes a ban on the use of race-day Lasix in all two-year-old races that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission adopted late last year has been welcomed by the Animal Wellness Action group in the USA.

Keeneland has long been a member of the Coalition for Horseracing Integrity that has led the charge to pass the Horseracing Integrity Act, H.R. 1754/S. 1820 with 243 cosponsors in the U.S. House, and 25 in the U.S. Senate said the group in a statement.

"We applaud Keeneland and Churchill Downs for their commitment to better protect our iconic American equines. America was built on the backs of horses, and there is no aspect of horse racing more important than the health, safety, and welfare of the horse," said Marty Irby, Executive Director, Animal Wellness Action.

"Churchill Downs should immediately adopt the same policies at their other tracks, especially at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where multiple deaths have occurred this year, and join in supporting the Horseracing Integrity Act that will end race-day doping in the sport."