Analysis of horse race videos to identify intra-race risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to identify risk factors, during racing, associated with imminent fatal distal limb fracture in Thoroughbreds. One hundred and nine cases of fatal distal limb fracture were identified from all 59 UK racecourses over a 2-year period (February 1999-January 2001). Three uninjured control horses were randomly selected from the same race as the case horse. Videos of races in which fractures occurred were viewed using a defined protocol. Fractures in flat races occurred at any time during the race, whereas 74% (45/61) of cases in national hunt type races occurred in the second half of races. More than 75% (79/103) of cases were spontaneous, i.e. there was no obvious external influence such as a fall at a fence or collision with another horse. Sixty-six percent (44/67) of horses, sustaining a forelimb fracture, fractured the forelimb they were using as lead leg at the time of fracture. When case and control horses were compared, horses that were: (a) making good progress through the race, (b) reluctant to start and (c) received encouragement in the final 10s before the time of fracture, were more likely to sustain a fracture.
Publication Date: 2006-03-02 PubMed ID: 16513194DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2006.01.006Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article focuses on determining the risk factors during horse racing that leads to fatal distal limb fractures in Thoroughbreds, based on a thorough analysis of race videos from UK racecourses during a 2-year period.
Research Context
- The research was conducted by scrutinizing videos of horse races from all 59 UK racecourses over a span of two years, from February 1999 to January 2001, specifically identifying instances of fatal distal limb fractures.
- In each case of fracture, three uninjured horses from the same race were randomly selected to serve as control subjects.
- The purpose of the study was to identify risk factors that occur during the race which could contribute to the fatal fractures, eventually to prevent such casualties in the future.
Key Findings
- The data revealed that fractures could occur at any point during flat races, however, in more treacherous national hunt type races, most of the injuries (74% out of 61 cases) occurred in the latter half.
- Interestingly, more than 75% (79 out of 103) of cases were spontaneous, meaning the fractures occurred without any visible external trigger such as collision with another horse or fall at a fence.
- In about 66% (44 out of 67) of the cases, horses fractured the forelimb they were predominately using as the lead leg at the time of fracture.
Risk Factors
- The study discovered three notable risk factors associated with the likelihood of a fracture. These include:
- a) Horses that were making good progress through the race. This might indicate that a high intensity or rapid acceleration might stress the limbs beyond their breaking point.
- b) Horses reluctant to start might signify an underlying injury or discomfort that led to a fatal fracture under the strain of the race.
- c) Horses that received encouragement in the last 10 seconds before the time of fracture were also more susceptible to injury, possibly due to the push for an extra exertion leading to a physical break.
Cite This Article
APA
Parkin TD, Clegg PD, French NP, Proudman CJ, Riggs CM, Singer ER, Webbon PM, Morgan KL.
(2006).
Analysis of horse race videos to identify intra-race risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture.
Prev Vet Med, 74(1), 44-55.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2006.01.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Liverpool Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Leahurst, Neston CH64 7TE, UK. tim.parkin@aht.org.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
- Athletic Injuries / etiology
- Athletic Injuries / mortality
- Athletic Injuries / veterinary
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Forelimb
- Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
- Fractures, Bone / etiology
- Fractures, Bone / mortality
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Fractures, Spontaneous / epidemiology
- Fractures, Spontaneous / etiology
- Fractures, Spontaneous / mortality
- Fractures, Spontaneous / veterinary
- Hindlimb
- Horses / injuries
- Male
- Multivariate Analysis
- Odds Ratio
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
- Risk Factors
- Running / injuries
- Time Factors
- Video Recording / methods
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Maeta T, Hattori S, Kano T, Fukuhara A, Ishiguro A. A simple robot suggests trunk rotation is essential for emergence of inside leading limb during quadruped galloping turns. Front Neurorobot 2025;19:1628368.
- Bennet ED, Parkin TDH. Novel risk factors associated with fatal musculoskeletal injury in Thoroughbreds in North American racing (2009-2023). Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):20-30.
- Bennet ED, Parkin TDH. Anomalous Incidence of Fatal Musculoskeletal Injury in North American 2-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses in the Year 2020. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 9;13(16).
- Stallones L, McManus P, McGreevy P. Sustainability and the Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industries: An Enhanced One Welfare Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 31;13(3).
- Lucas D, Stokes K, McGuigan P, Hill J, Cazzola D. Consensus on a jockey's injury prevention framework for video analysis: a modified Delphi study. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2022;8(4):e001441.
- Parkes RSV, Pfau T, Weller R, Witte TH. The effect of curve running on distal limb kinematics in the Thoroughbred racehorse. PLoS One 2020;15(12):e0244105.
- Cully P, Nielsen B, Lancaster B, Martin J, McGreevy P. The laterality of the gallop gait in Thoroughbred racehorses. PLoS One 2018;13(6):e0198545.
- Alzola R, Easter C, Riggs CM, Gardner DS, Freeman SL. Ultrasonographic-based predictive factors influencing successful return to racing after superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in flat racehorses: A retrospective cohort study in 469 Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong. Equine Vet J 2018 Sep;50(5):602-608.
- Maeda Y, Hanada M, Oikawa MA. Epidemiology of racing injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses with special reference to bone fractures: Japanese experience from the 1980s to 2000s. J Equine Sci 2016;27(3):81-97.
- Wei X, Long Y, Wang C, Wang S. A Critical Characteristic in the Transverse Galloping Pattern. Appl Bionics Biomech 2015;2015:631354.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
