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British journal of sports medicine2006; 41(3); 162-166; doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2006.033894

Injuries in amateur horse racing (point to point racing) in Great Britain and Ireland during 1993-2006.

Abstract: To provide a breakdown of injury incidence from amateur jump racing (also known as point to point racing) in Great Britain and Ireland during 1993-2006 and to compare the injury epidemiology with professional horse racing in Great Britain, Ireland and France. Methods: Retrospective review. Methods: Great Britain and Ireland. Methods: Amateur jockeys. Methods: Injury rates. Results: Injury data suggest that point to point racing is more dangerous from an injury point of view than professional jump racing, which has previously been shown to be more dangerous than flat racing. Amateur jockeys have more falls than their professional counterparts, and this in turn puts them at greater risk of sustaining more serious injuries. Conclusions: Amateur (point to point) jockeys represent a sporting population that previously has been little studied. They represent a group at high risk of injury, and hence formal injury surveillance tracking and counter measures for injury prevention are recommended.
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Publication Date: 2006-11-30 PubMed ID: 17138629PubMed Central: PMC2465222DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2006.033894Google 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 research paper provides an analysis of injuries during amateur jump racing, or point to point racing, in Great Britain and Ireland from 1993-2006, and makes comparisons with professional horse racing. The study found that point to point racing carries a higher risk of injury than professional jump racing, with amateur jockeys experiencing more falls and subsequently a higher risk of serious injuries.

Research Background

  • Jump racing, particularly amateur or ‘point to point’ racing, is a popular sport in Great Britain and Ireland. However, the injury risks associated with this form of racing have not been studied extensively in the past.
  • This research aims to fill that gap by examining and providing a breakdown of injury incidence in amateur jump racing from 1993 to 2006, and comparing these statistics with professional jump racing.

Methodology

  • The research was undertaken by conducting a retrospective review of injuries during point to point races in Great Britain and Ireland over a 14-year period.
  • Specifically, the researchers studied the injury rates among amateur jockeys participating in these races.

Results

  • The study found that point to point racing carries a higher risk of injury than professional jump racing, which in turn is more dangerous than flat racing.
  • Amateur jockeys have more falls than their professional counterparts, which leads to a higher risk of sustaining serious injuries.

Conclusion and Recommendations

  • The researchers concluded that amateur (point to point) jockeys represent a group that has been little studied, but is at high risk of injury.
  • As a result, they recommend the implementation of formal injury surveillance tracking and measures to prevent these injuries.
  • Safety improvements and awareness programmes could potentially help to reduce the risks associated with the sport.

Cite This Article

APA
Balendra G, Turner M, McCrory P, Halley W. (2006). Injuries in amateur horse racing (point to point racing) in Great Britain and Ireland during 1993-2006. Br J Sports Med, 41(3), 162-166. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.033894

Publication

British journal of sports medicine
ISSN: 1473-0480
NlmUniqueID: 0432520
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 3
Pages: 162-166

Researcher Affiliations

Balendra, Ganesh
  • University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Turner, Michael
    McCrory, Paul
      Halley, Walter

        MeSH Terms

        • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
        • Accidents, Occupational / statistics & numerical data
        • Adolescent
        • Adult
        • Animals
        • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
        • Athletic Injuries / etiology
        • Female
        • Horses
        • Humans
        • Incidence
        • Ireland / epidemiology
        • Male
        • Middle Aged
        • Retrospective Studies
        • United Kingdom / epidemiology

        Conflict of Interest Statement

        Competing interests: None declared.

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 7 times.
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        4. Hitchens PL, Hill AE, Stover SM. Jockey Falls, Injuries, and Fatalities Associated With Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Racing in California, 2007-2011. Orthop J Sports Med 2013 Jan-Jun;1(1):2325967113492625.
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        6. Maloney B, Jung MS, Kearns G, Bowe C. Equestrian-related maxillofacial injuries-a five-year retrospective review. Ir J Med Sci 2025 Aug;194(4):1339-1346.
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        7. 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.
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