David Jennings on the Stakes and Significance Behind the Forte Healthcare Event at Naas Racecourse.

It might have looked like an evening of sunshine and racing at Naas Racecourse, but for David Jennings journalist, broadcaster, and lifelong racing man — there was far more to this event than summer sport.

“I’m very good, yeah,” he said with a smile. “Sun is shining. Nice to be alive.”

David was giving some tips to the audience for the racing about to happen on the first day of Naas Racecourses Summer Season of Racing. An interesting event, an insightful event and a really unique mix.

45 Vets from across Ireland, international world renowned speaker Dr Celia Marr, fascinating subject matter by Dr Sarah Woods part of the UK Forte Healthcare team and a specialist with a doctorate in Oxidative Stress. We also heard from Dr Celia Marr, known all over the veterinary world for her work on exercise related sudden death in horses. An incredible event that ended with an evening of racing and corporate hospitality hosted by Forte Healthcare Group.

On paper, it was a corporate gathering. In reality, it was an intersection of science, sport, and sharing new knowledge and David was perfect to MC the racing, engaging the speakers and, to be fair, asking some incredible questions on exercise related sudden death in horses in racing.

“You’re getting the best of both worlds in there,” he said. “You’re getting an in-depth analysis of stuff we really do need to know about sudden death in horses, and then you’ve got the racing to come. Food and drink is flowing. Great evening.”

The central theme of the CPD session was equine cardiac events, led by renowned vet and speaker Dr. Celia Marr. David had the room leaning in with the questions he put to her — and they weren’t asked for effect. They came from years of watching the game and thinking deeply about what it all means.

“When she was talking, I just thought it was interesting to try and put these horses into categories,” he said. “Ground — especially on those grueling tests, heavy ground — how much is that taking out of these horses? And is it correlating with these sudden deaths?”

His line of questioning dug into the details: Is there a higher risk on soft or heavy ground? Do extreme distances increase the likelihood of collapse? How jump racing poses a greater challenge than the flat?

“We know it’s happening more jumping rather than flat,” he said, “so it exerts more energy. But just whether or not ground and distance make a difference, I just thought it was worth asking.”

And then he raised a point that drew quiet nods from around the room: The Grand National. “It’s the shop window for our sport,” he said. “It’s the one race that goes out to the world. And if we can get data that tells us what’s happening in that race, I think it’s all important.” He really echoed the industry’s need for transparency, science, and shared progress.

“I think it’s really good to see the industry being interested in the data behind it” he said. “What’s the root cause of this? What can we do to improve it?”. This perspective on causation and correlation is exactly what’s needed.

“It’s not just my future, It’s everybody’s future. We work in this game, and it is very, very important that we are trying to make progress, trying to make improvements and trying to reduce deaths in horses.”

He believes in the care behind the curtain, in the hours that go unseen, and in the impact of showing that work to the wider world.

“That’s why stuff like this is so important. The work that goes on behind the scenes is massive. And we need to show people what’s going on, all this research, all this data, and prove to people that there is so much care and attention put into this sport. Because it’s absolutely massive.”

This article has been brought to you by The Grassroots Journo.