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The Veterinary record2026; doi: 10.1002/vetr.70807

Outcomes and racing performance in thoroughbreds following a long-term injury sustained during a jump race in Great Britain.

Abstract: Limited literature is available about the career outcomes of horses sustaining a long-term injury (LTI) in a jump race. Methods: All Thoroughbreds that sustained an LTI, defined as any non-fatal musculoskeletal injury requiring a minimum 90-day break from racing, in a British jump race between May 2018 and April 2023 were followed up for at least 24 months and outcomes described. Pre-injury racing performance was compared between horses that did and did not return to racing, and post-injury racing performance was compared between horses that sustained tendon/ligament injuries and fractures. Results: There were 793 LTIs recorded in 780 horses. Overall, 28.4% (n = 793, 95% confidence interval: 25.3%-31.7%) returned to racing and started a median of five races (interquartile range [IQR]: 3-7) within 12 months. Horses that returned to racing were younger (p < 0.001), earned more pre-injury (p < 0.01), had shorter careers (p < 0.04) and more wins (p < 0.03). Horses with tendon/ligament injuries were less likely to return to racing (18.9%, n = 107) and took longer to return (median 496 days, IQR: 304-670 days) than those with fractures (50.9%, n = 86, 275 days, IQR: 215-346 days). Conclusions: Injury classification commonly relied upon presumptive diagnoses. Conclusions: Over 70% of racehorses failed to return to racing following LTI, highlighting the need to minimise injury risk.
© 2026 The Author(s). Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2026-05-26 PubMed ID: 42187080DOI: 10.1002/vetr.70807Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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Overview

  • This study investigated the outcomes and racing performance of Thoroughbred horses in Great Britain who sustained long-term injuries during jump races.
  • It focused on return-to-race rates, performance before injury, and differences in recovery between types of injuries over a 5-year period.

Background and Purpose

  • There is limited existing research on how jump racehorses recover and perform following serious musculoskeletal injuries that require a prolonged break from racing.
  • The study aimed to fill this gap by tracking career outcomes for horses with long-term injuries (LTIs) incurred in British jump races.
  • LTIs were defined specifically as non-fatal musculoskeletal injuries needing at least a 90-day hiatus from racing.

Methods

  • Population: All Thoroughbred horses sustaining an LTI in a British jump race from May 2018 to April 2023 were included.
  • Follow-up Duration: Each horse was followed for a minimum of 24 months to assess long-term outcomes.
  • Data Compared:
    • Pre-injury performance metrics—such as earnings, career length, wins—were compared between horses that did and did not return to racing.
    • Post-injury performance was compared between horses with tendon or ligament injuries and those with fractures.

Key Results

  • A total of 793 LTIs were recorded across 780 horses.
  • The return-to-racing rate was low, at 28.4%, meaning over 70% of injured horses did not resume racing.
  • Horses that returned:
    • Tended to be younger.
    • Had earned more money prior to injury.
    • Had shorter prior racing careers but more wins.
    • Started a median of 5 races within 12 months post-return.
  • Injury type influenced return to racing:
    • Only 18.9% of horses with tendon or ligament injuries returned, taking a median of 496 days to do so.
    • Horses with fractures had a higher return rate of 50.9%, with a shorter median recovery time of 275 days.

Interpretation and Importance

  • The relatively low rate of return to racing demonstrates the serious impact of LTIs on the careers of jump racehorses.
  • The difference in recovery and return rates between tendon/ligament injuries and fractures suggests that injury type is a critical factor in prognosis and management.
  • The study underscores the importance of injury prevention strategies in jump racing due to the high cost to horse welfare and racing careers.
  • Notably, diagnoses of injury types were often presumptive rather than definitive, indicating a need for better diagnostic clarity in future research and clinical practice.

Conclusions

  • Over 70% of Thoroughbred jump racehorses with LTIs fail to return to competition within two years.
  • This highlights a significant welfare and economic concern in jump racing and points to the critical need for improved injury prevention and management protocols.
  • Differences in recovery based on injury type may help inform training, rehabilitation, and racing decisions tailored to specific injuries.

Cite This Article

APA
McDonald S, Verheyen KLP, Chang YM, Allen SE. (2026). Outcomes and racing performance in thoroughbreds following a long-term injury sustained during a jump race in Great Britain. Vet Rec. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.70807

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

McDonald, Sophia
  • Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Verheyen, Kristien L P
  • Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Chang, Yu-Mei
  • Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Allen, Sarah E
  • Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.

Grant Funding

  • The Racing Foundation through the Horse Welfare Board
  • The Royal Veterinary College's Mellon Fund for Equine Research

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