Incidence and risk factors for race-day jockey falls over fourteen years.
Abstract: To determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, race-day jockey falls occurring in Thoroughbred flat and jumps (hurdle and steeplechase) racing. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Incidence rates for race-day jockey falls over 14 racing seasons in New Zealand (n=421,596 race-day starts) were calculated per 1000 rides. Univariable and multivariable analyses of jockey, horse and race level risk factors were conducted with Poisson regression in a generalized linear mixed model. Results: Most races (97%, n=407,948 race starts) were flat racing with 10 races/race-day, whilst most jumps races were longer and had 2 races/race-day. The rate of jockey falls was higher in steeplechase racing (99.9/1000, 95% CI 92.2-108.4) than hurdle (53.2/1000, 95% CI 48.7-58.3) and flat racing (1.2/1000, 95% CI 1.1-1.3, p<0.001). Experienced athletes (both horse and jockey) had lower IRR. In flat racing, IRR increased linearly with the number of race-day rides by the jockey. In jumps races, IRR increased with a fall in a previous race (IRR 1.5/1000, 95% CI 1.3-1.7, p<0.001). A shorter jumps race distance reduced the IRR of a jockey fall. Conclusions: Athlete experience was associated with risk of jockey falls. The linearity of race ride number with IRR and longer distance in jumps racing, indicated that cognitive or physiological fatigue may play a role in the risk of a race-day fall. This data highlights the role sport-specific conditioning programmes may have on reducing risk.
Copyright © 2020 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-05-21 PubMed ID: 32499152DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.05.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research studied the occurrence and risk factors for jockey falls during Thoroughbred flat and jumps racing. It concluded that race experience and physical fatigue could be main factors influencing the risk of falls during a race.
Research Objectives and Methods
The aim of the study was to identify the rate and risk factors for falls experienced by jockeys on race days in Thoroughbred flat and jumps racing events. The method of study involved:
- A retrospective cohort study.
- Analysis of incidence rates for race-day jockey falls across a span of 14 racing seasons in New Zealand which included 421,496 race-day starts.
- The usage of univariable and multivariable analyses of jockey, horse, and race level risk factors conducted with Poisson regression in a generalized linear mixed model.
Research Findings
The research findings established that:
- The majority of the races (97% or 407,948 race starts) were flat races with 10 races per race-day, but most jumps races were longer in distance and had only 2 races per race-day.
- The rate of jockey falls was higher in steeplechase racing (99.9/1000) compared to hurdle (53.2/1000) and flat racing (1.2/1000).
- Both horse and jockey experience reduced the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of a fall.
- In flat racing, the IRR of a jockey fall increased linearly with the number of race-day rides taken by the jockey.
- In jumps races, the IRR increased if there was a fall in a previous race (1.5/1000).
- A shorter jumps race distance reduced the IRR of a jockey fall.
Conclusions
From the study, certain conclusions were drawn:
- Race experience of the athletes (both horse and jockey) is a significant factor contributing to the risk of jockey falls.
- The linearity of race ride number with IRR in flat racing and the longer distance in jumps racing pointed towards cognitive or physiological fatigue playing a role in the risk of a race-day fall.
- These findings underline the potential benefits of sports conditioning programmes, highlighting the role they may play in reducing fall risk.
Cite This Article
APA
Legg KA, Cochrane DJ, Bolwell CF, Gee EK, Rogers CW.
(2020).
Incidence and risk factors for race-day jockey falls over fourteen years.
J Sci Med Sport, 23(12), 1154-1160.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2020.05.015 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, New Zealand. Electronic address: k.legg@massey.ac.nz.
- School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Massey University, New Zealand.
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, New Zealand.
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, New Zealand.
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, New Zealand; School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, New Zealand.
MeSH Terms
- Accidental Falls / prevention & control
- Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
- Fatigue / physiopathology
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- New Zealand / epidemiology
- Poisson Distribution
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Legg KA, Cochrane DJ, Gee EK, Chin YY, Rogers CW. Relationship between experience and head kinematics in race riding jockeys. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 26;15(1):14686.
- Morrice-West AV, Thomas M, Wong ASM, Flash M, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. Linkage of jockey falls and injuries with racehorse injuries and fatalities in Thoroughbred flat racing in Victoria, Australia. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1481016.
- Newton LJ, Dobbin N, Goodwin P, Crampton JS. Factors associated with time to return to horse racing following a clavicle fracture in jockeys competing in Great Britain: A review and analysis of medical records. PLoS One 2025;20(1):e0317724.
- Jeppesen A, Eyers R, Evans D, Ward MP, Quain A. Comparison of Reported Fatalities, Falls and Injuries in Thoroughbred Horse Jumps and Flat Races in the 2022 and 2023 Jumps Race Seasons in Victoria, Australia. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 5;14(5).
- Keener MM, Tumlin KI. The Triple-E Model: Advancing Equestrian Research with Perspectives from One Health. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 16;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.
- Gibson MJ, Legg KA, Gee EK, Rogers CW. Race-Level Reporting of Incidents Using an Online System during Three Seasons (2019/2020-2021/2022) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 3;12(21).
- Horan K, Kourdache K, Coburn J, Day P, Carnall H, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Hammond L, Millard S, Lancaster B, Pfau T. The effect of horseshoes and surfaces on horse and jockey centre of mass displacements at gallop. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0257820.
- Davies M, Jackson KA, Mackinnon AL, Turner A, Kuznik K, Hill J, Newton JL, Sanchez Santos M. Epidemiology of race day injury in young professional jockeys in Great Britain from 2007 to 2018: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2021 Aug 11;11(8):e044075.
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