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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(8); doi: 10.3390/ani12081033

Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to describe the incident and non-incident reports of Thoroughbred flat racing in New Zealand. Retrospective stipendiary stewards' reports of race day events during the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 racing season were examined. The primary injury and reporting outcomes were analysed to assess the horse- and race-level risk factors associated with the occurrence of incident and non-incident reports. The number of incident and non-incident events and binomial exact 95% confidence intervals were calculated per 1000 horse starts. Most reports were for non-incidents and examinations were requested for poor performance (10.3 per 1000 races, 95% CI = 9.5-11.1). Horses running in open-class races had greater odds of having an incident than horses in lower-rating classes. The incidence of musculoskeletal injuries (1.3 per 1000 races, 95% CI = 1.13-1.40) and fractures (0.6 per 1000 races, 95% CI = 0.39-0.74) were low and similar to previous New Zealand reports. There was a low incidence of epistaxis (0.8 per 1000 races, 95% CI = 0.69-0.92) possibly due to trainers screening susceptible horses before entering them in races, due to the regulatory consequences of an episode of epistaxis during a race.
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Publication Date: 2022-04-15 PubMed ID: 35454278PubMed Central: PMC9029521DOI: 10.3390/ani12081033Google 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 research aims to explore the incidence and factors of reported incidents and non-incidents during Thoroughbred flat races in New Zealand across two seasons. The study discovered that most reports were related to non-incidents, with open-class horses more likely to have incidents than lower-rating class horses.

Study Aim and Methodology

  • This research was conducted to understand the frequency and nature of incident and non-incident reports in Thoroughbred flat racing in New Zealand during the 2015/16 and 2016/17 racing seasons.
  • Data for the study was extracted from retrospective stipendiary stewards’ reports, which detailed events that occurred on race day. These reports form a critical source of data concerning race performance and safety issues during horse racing events.

Results and Findings

  • Outcomes of incidents and non-incidents were analysed in terms of the injury incurred and factors associated with the horse and race. The frequency of these incidents and non-incidents were then calculated per 1000 horse starts.
  • The majority of reports revolved around non-incidents, often fuelled by the horse’s poor performance. These accounted for approximately 10.3 per 1000 races.
  • However, horses participating in open-class races were discovered to be at a high risk of incidents compared to those involved in lower-rating class races.
  • In terms of specific injuries, musculoskeletal injuries and fractures had a low incidence rate, with approximately 1.3 and 0.6 per 1000 races, respectively. These findings were consistent with past New Zealand studies.
  • Epistaxis (or bleeding from the nostrils, typically caused by a burst blood vessel during high-intensity racing) also had a low incidence of 0.8 per 1000 races. This may be attributed to the proactive approach taken by the trainers, screening and preventing susceptible horses from participating due to the regulatory implications of an episode of epistaxis occurring during a race.

Conclusion

  • The study provides a valuable insight into the nature and occurrences of incidents and non-incidents during Thoroughbred flat racing in New Zealand. The data and analysis obtained from this study are crucial for making improvements in safety measures and protocols in horse racing.

Cite This Article

APA
Gibson MJ, Bolwell CF, Gee EK, Legg KA, Rogers CW. (2022). Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand. Animals (Basel), 12(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12081033

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 8

Researcher Affiliations

Gibson, Michaela J
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Bolwell, Charlotte F
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Gee, Erica K
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Legg, Kylie A
  • School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Rogers, Chris W
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
  • School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

Grant Funding

  • 9/2017 / The New Zealand Equine Trust

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no real or perceived conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Gibson MJ, Legg KA, Gee EK, Rogers CW. The Reporting of Racehorse Fatalities in New Zealand Thoroughbred Flat Racing in the 2011/12-2021/22 Seasons. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 9;13(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13040612pubmed: 36830402google scholar: lookup
  2. Legg KA, Gee EK, Breheny M, Gibson MJ, Rogers CW. A Bioeconomic Model for the Thoroughbred Racing Industry-Optimisation of the Production Cycle with a Horse Centric Welfare Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 30;13(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13030479pubmed: 36766368google scholar: lookup
  3. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12213028pubmed: 36359152google scholar: lookup
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