On the heels of two serious accidents in 2010, National Steeplechase Association officials want to keep safety at the forefront this year. They’ve now made health insurance mandatory for jockeys in NSA-sanctioned races and secured additional coverage for riders.

Jake Chalfin was paralyzed from the chest down on Sept. 18 at the Blue Ridge Fall Races (Va.). He has completed physical therapy at a rehabilitation facility and returned to his home in Coatesville, Pa. He hopes to start back to work at a landscaping company this month.