Churchill Downs, under scrutiny after 12 horses suffered fatal injuries in the past five weeks, on Thursday put in place measures meant to discourage trainers from running unsound horses.
The home of the Kentucky Derby will no longer offer incentives to trainers who start horses in its races or pay purse money for first place through last place, according to a statement from the company. Payouts instead will be limited to the top five finishers.
Horses also will be allowed only four starts during a rolling eight-week period and horses that are beaten by more than 12 lengths in five consecutive starts will be ineligible to race until the equine medical director approves their return to racing.