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Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14457

Distribution of race and training-related musculoskeletal injuries by track and location in Thoroughbred and Arabian racehorses.

Abstract: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) are a major concern in the horse racing industry, often leading to career-ending outcomes. Contributing factors include conformation, limb and joint defects, hoof structure, age, and hard track surfaces. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of MSI in Thoroughbred and Arabian racehorses during racing and training, categorised by breed and track surface. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: The data from 2018 to 2023 were collected at the Turkish Jockey Club's Şirinyer Hippodrome (38°23'03.7″ N 27°09'01.0″ E), covering 553 MSI cases. The distribution of MSI, categorised by track surface and race/training, was evaluated using a 2 × 3 Pearson chi-square analysis and a post hoc Z-test. MSI occurrences during racing and training were examined based on breed and track surface by gender, age, category, location, and impact on the horses' racing career, was calculated using descriptive statistical indicators such as frequency and percentage. Results: The majority of MSI occurred between June and September, the summer and dry period in the northern hemisphere. The 553 MSI cases included 45.3% fractures, 40.3% tendon injuries, 9.8% bone fissure. Distribution of MSI occurring during races and training according to track surface in Thoroughbred and Arabian horses had significant differences (p < 0.0001). Among Thoroughbreds, injuries were most common at 2- and 3-year-old, while in Arabians, they were most frequent at 3- and 4-year-old. The highest prevalence of MSI occurred in the forelimbs during racing, affecting 91.3% of Thoroughbreds and 92.7% of Arabians, with a particular focus on the carpal joint and its distal structures. MSI ended the racing careers of 66.3% of Thoroughbreds and 46.4% of Arabians. Conclusions: This study relied on routinely recorded hospital data. Conclusions: Fractures predominated in Thoroughbreds, particularly on dirt tracks, while tendon injuries were common in Arabians across both surfaces. Findings indicate the need to improve track maintenance and training practices to support racehorse welfare and longevity. Unassigned: Muskuloskelletale Verletzungen (MSI) sind ein großes Problem in der Pferderennbranche und führen oft zum Ende der Karriere. Zu den Faktoren, die dazu beitragen, gehören Körperbau, Gliedmaßen‐ und Gelenkdefekte, Hufstruktur, Alter und harter Bodenbelag. Unassigned: Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Verteilung von MSI bei Vollblut‐ und Araberrennpferden während des Rennens und des Trainings zu untersuchen, aufgeschlüsselt nach Rasse und Bahnoberfläche. Methods: Retrospektive Kohortenstudie. Methods: Daten aus den Jahren 2018 bis 2023 wurden im Şirinyer Hippodrom des türkischen Jockey Clubs (38°23′03.7″ N 27°09′01.0″ E) gesammelt und umfassten 553 MSI‐Fälle. Die Verteilung der MSI, aufgeschlüsselt nach Streckenoberfläche und Rennen/Training, wurden mit einer 2 × 3‐Pearson‐Chi‐Quadrat‐Analyse und einem Post‐hoc‐Z‐Test ausgewertet. Das Auftreten von MSI während des Rennens und des Trainings wurde auf der Grundlage von Rasse und Rennbahnoberfläche nach Geschlecht, Alter, Kategorie und Ort untersucht, und die Auswirkungen auf die Rennkarriere der Pferde wurden anhand von deskriptiven statistischen Indikatoren wie Häufigkeit und Prozentsatz berechnet. Unassigned: Die meisten MSI traten zwischen Juni und September auf, der Sommer‐ und Trockenzeit in der nördlichen Hemisphäre. Unter den 553 MSI‐Fällen waren 45,3% Frakturen, 40,3% Sehnenverletzungen und 9,8% Knochenfissuren. Die Verteilung der MSI, die während der Rennen und des Trainings auftraten, wies bei Vollblut‐ und Araberpferden je nach Bahnoberfläche signifikante Unterschiede auf (p < 0,0001). Bei Vollblütern traten Verletzungen am häufigsten im Alter von 2 und 3 Jahren auf, während sie bei Arabern am häufigsten im Alter von 3 und 4 Jahren auftraten. Die höchste Inzidenz von MSI trat während des Rennens an den Vordergliedmaßen auf und betraf 91,3% der Vollblüter und 92,7% der Araber, wobei der Fokus insbesondere auf dem Karpalgelenk und seinen distalen Strukturen lag. MSI beendete die Rennkarriere von 66,3% der Vollblüter und 46,4% der Araber. Unassigned: Diese Studie stützte sich auf routinemäßig erfasste Klinikdaten. Unassigned: Frakturen traten vor allem bei Vollblütern auf, insbesondere auf unbefestigten Bahnen, während Sehnenverletzungen bei Arabern auf beiden Oberflächen häufig waren. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Instandhaltung der Rennbahnen und die Trainingspraktiken verbessert werden müssen, um das Wohlbefinden und die Langlebigkeit der Rennpferde zu fördern.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-07 PubMed ID: 39777406DOI: 10.1111/evj.14457Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This study investigates the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in Thoroughbred and Arabian racehorses, categorising the data based on racehorse breed, the age of the horse, the nature of the activity (racing or training), and the type of track surface. The findings suggest that there are significant differences in MSI between breeds, age groups, activities, and track surfaces, highlighting the need for improvements in track maintenance and training practices to enhance racehorse welfare and longevity.

About the Study

  • This research is a retrospective cohort study that has gathered and analysed data from the Şirinyer Hippodrome, operated by the Turkish Jockey Club, covering a period from 2018 to 2023.
  • The study focused on 553 documented cases of MSI in racehorses.
  • Statistical methods such as Pearson chi-square analysis and a post hoc Z-test were used for evaluating the distribution of MSI.
  • The influential factors like breed, track surface, and horse demographics (gender, age, and category) were also scrutinised.
  • The timing for the occurrence of MSI and the impact it had on the horses’ racing career were also considered in the study.

Key Findings

  • MSI were observed to occur most frequently during the summer and dry season in the northern hemisphere (June to September).
  • The majority of recorded MSIs comprised fractures (45.3%), tendon injuries (40.3%), and bone fissure (9.8%).
  • The study revealed significantly different trends in the occurrence of MSI during races and training depending on the track surface and horse breed.
  • It was noticed that Thoroughbreds manifested injuries most frequently at age two and three, whereas Arabians had a higher occurrence rate at ages three and four.
  • The majority of injuries occurred in the forelimbs during racing, specifically in the carpal joint and its distal structures, for both Thoroughbreds (91.3%) and Arabians (92.7%).
  • The incidence of MSI led to the premature end of racing careers for 66.3% of Thoroughbreds and 46.4% of Arabians.

Conclusions

  • The study relied on data that was routinely collected from the hospital.
  • The findings of the research suggest that fractures were common in Thoroughbreds, especially on hard, dirt track surfaces, whereas tendon injuries occurred frequently among Arabians, irrespective of the track surface.
  • The conclusions underscore the necessity of improving track maintenance and modifying training practices aimed at promoting racehorse welfare and longevity.

Cite This Article

APA
Yildirim İG, Karaarslan S, Erkan A. (2025). Distribution of race and training-related musculoskeletal injuries by track and location in Thoroughbred and Arabian racehorses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14457

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Yildirim, İsmail Gökçe
  • Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey.
Karaarslan, Solmaz
  • Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey.
Erkan, Atacan
  • İzmir Şirinyer Hippodrome Equine Hospital, Turkish Jockey Club, İzmir, Turkey.

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