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Home / Equine Research Bank / Accid Anal Prev / Predictors of race-day jockey falls in jumps racing in Austr...
Accident; analysis and prevention2010; 43(3); 840-847; doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.11.003

Predictors of race-day jockey falls in jumps racing in Australia.

Abstract: Thoroughbred jumps racing jockeys have a fall rate greater than their flat racing counterparts. Previous studies have focused on factors that contribute to falls by horses but, to date, there has not been a study of risk factors for falls to jockeys in jumps races. Data on race-day falls were extracted from stipendiary stewards reports lodged with Principal Racing Authorities following each race meeting. Denominator data were provided by Racing Information Services Australia on races conducted from August 2002 until July 2009. Univariable and multivariable analyses, estimating incidence rate ratios, were conducted using Poisson regression. In multivariable analysis in hurdle racing, important predictors of falls were higher club level, larger field size, greater prize money, provisionally licensed jockeys and older jockeys. There were significant interactions between jockey licence and prize money; jockey age and previous rides this meeting; race grade and race distance; horse age and field size; and club level and field size. In steeplechase racing, important predictors were type of jump with lowest fall rates in races over Mark III jumps compared to standard fences, provisionally licensed jockeys, jockeys having had previous rides at a meeting, and larger field size. There were significant interactions between the number of previous starts by the horse and field size; race distance and prize money; and race distance and previous rides this meeting. This study has identified factors for falls in jumps racing that could form the basis for targeted strategies to improve occupational health and safety standards.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2010-12-09 PubMed ID: 21376874DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.11.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 is a study about the factors that could contribute to jockeys falling off their horses during jumps races in Australia, focusing on variables like the level of competition, field size, prize money, and jockey’s experience and age.

Objective of the Study

  • This study aims to identify the risk factors that contribute to falls happening to jockeys in jumps races. Unlike previous studies that focused on horse-related factors, this study specifically targets factors tied to the jockeys themselves.

Methodology

  • Data for this study was derived from stewards’ reports submitted to the Principal Racing Authorities, just after every race. Racing data was sourced from Australian races carried out from August 2002 until July 2009.
  • Both univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted via Poisson regression to estimate the incidence rate ratios of falls.

Key Findings in Hurdle Racing

  • In the realm of hurdle racing, greater risks were found in races with higher club level, larger racing field size, larger prize money, provisionally licensed jockeys, and older jockeys.
  • There were also significant interactions between jockey license and prize money, jockey age and previous rides at the meeting, race grade and distance, horse age and field size, and club level and field size. These interactions indicate complex relationships between these variables with regard to fall risk.

Key Findings in Steeplechase Racing

  • For steeplechase racing, the main predictors of falls were the type of jump (with the lowest fall rates recorded in races over Mark III jumps compared to standard fences), provisionally licensed jockeys, jockeys who had earlier rides at the same meeting, and a larger field size.
  • There were significant interactions here too, between the number of previous starts by the horse and field size, race distance and prize money, and race distance and previous rides at that particular meeting.

Implications

  • The findings of this research could be used to initiate targeted strategies aimed at improving occupational health and safety standards in the world of jumps racing, thereby potentially reducing fall-related injuries for jockeys.

Cite This Article

APA
Hitchens P, Blizzard L, Jones G, Day L, Fell J. (2010). Predictors of race-day jockey falls in jumps racing in Australia. Accid Anal Prev, 43(3), 840-847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2010.11.003

Publication

Accident; analysis and prevention
ISSN: 1879-2057
NlmUniqueID: 1254476
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 43
Issue: 3
Pages: 840-847

Researcher Affiliations

Hitchens, P
  • Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7001, Australia.
Blizzard, L
    Jones, G
      Day, L
        Fell, J

          MeSH Terms

          • Acceleration
          • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
          • Accidents, Occupational / statistics & numerical data
          • Adult
          • Animals
          • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
          • Athletic Performance
          • Australia
          • Environment Design
          • Horses
          • Humans
          • Male
          • Risk Factors

          Citations

          This article has been cited 6 times.
          1. Dunne A, Warrington G, McGoldrick A, Pugh J, Harrison M, O'Connor S, O'Loughlin G, Cullen S. Physical and Lifestyle Factors Influencing Bone Density in Jockeys: A Comprehensive Update of the Bone Density Status of Irish Jockeys. Int J Exerc Sci 2021;14(6):324-337.
            pubmed: 34055173
          2. Di Tocco J, Sabbadini R, Raiano L, Fani F, Ripani S, Schena E, Formica D, Massaroni C. Breath-Jockey: Development and Feasibility Assessment of a Wearable System for Respiratory Rate and Kinematic Parameter Estimation for Gallop Athletes. Sensors (Basel) 2020 Dec 29;21(1).
            doi: 10.3390/s21010152pubmed: 33383689google scholar: lookup
          3. O'Connor S, Warrington G, McGoldrick A, Cullen S. Epidemiology of Injury Due to Race-Day Jockey Falls in Professional Flat and Jump Horse Racing in Ireland, 2011-2015. J Athl Train 2017 Dec;52(12):1140-1146.
            doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-52.12.17pubmed: 29154693google scholar: lookup
          4. DeAraugo J, McLaren S, McManus P, McGreevy PD. Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and Rigidity. Animals (Basel) 2016 Feb 15;6(2).
            doi: 10.3390/ani6020012pubmed: 26891333google scholar: lookup
          5. 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.
            doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-98683-9pubmed: 40287497google scholar: lookup
          6. 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).
            doi: 10.3390/ani14050804pubmed: 38473189google scholar: lookup
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