Risk factors associated with musculoskeletal injuries in Australian thoroughbred racehorses.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
The study looks into the factors that contribute to injuries in thoroughbred racehorses running in Australia. The result of the study found that horse age, starting position, consistent distance run, and higher racing class significantly increase the risk of breakdown.
Research Methodology
The research was a case-control study carried out on Australian racetracks managed by the Australian Jockey Club. A set of 137 individual cases were examined, based on official veterinary reports. Then, controls were drawn from randomly selected case results from the Australian Race Results. These controls were chosen to have an equal number of cases, to ensure statistical integrity. Factors analysed as possible contributing factors to equine injury included the number of horses in a race, the horse’s barrier position, and the class level of the race.
Significant Findings
After analyzing the gathered data, several risk factors were identified to be significantly associated with the probability of horse injury or “breakdown.” These included:
- Field size: The number of horses running in the same race as the one in question.
- Barrier position: The spot from where the horse begins the race.
- Class of the race: Higher class level of the race tends to have more vigorous competition, which could stress horses and cause injury.
Furthermore, the study used a technique known as multiple logistic regression to calculate the effect of each risk factor while adjusting for all other variables. This method showed that:
- Older horses are more prone to injury.
- Horses starting from wider barrier positions are at a higher risk.
- Horses that consistently run at the same distance as previous races increase their injury risk.
No Association with Certain Factors
In contrast, the study found no significant association of musculoskeletal injuries with the condition of the tracks or the specific track where the horse was racing.
Comparison of Fatality Rate
The study also noted that the number of fatalities in the Australian Thoroughbred racing industry was found to be less than that reported in similar industries in the UK and the USA. However, the study did not delve further to identify factors responsible for this difference.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. craigb@doolittle.vetsci.su.oz.au
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / veterinary
- Australia
- Female
- Horses / injuries
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Musculoskeletal System / injuries
- Risk Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Bennet ED, Parkin TDH. Anomalous Incidence of Fatal Musculoskeletal Injury in North American 2-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses in the Year 2020.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 9;13(16).
- Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Walmsley EA, Tasker K, Lim SL, Smith AD, Whitton RC. Relationship between Thoroughbred workloads in racing and the fatigue life of equine subchondral bone.. Sci Rep 2022 Jul 7;12(1):11528.
- Gibson MJ, Bolwell CF, Gee EK, Legg KA, Rogers CW. Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 15;12(8).
- Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Barnes TS, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Bishop EL, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. Survival Analysis of Training Methodologies and Other Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injury in 2-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:698298.
- Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred Racehorses: 2003-2015.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 13;11(10).
- Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Bishop EL, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. A Prospective Study of Training Methods for Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia, and Analysis of the Differences in Training Methods between Trainers of Varying Stable Sizes.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 25;11(4).
- Crawford KL, Finnane A, Phillips CJC, Greer RM, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Kidd LJ, Ahern BJ. The Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia: How These Vary for Two-Year-Old and Older Horses and with Type of Injury.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 21;11(2).
- Crawford KL, Ahern BJ, Perkins NR, Phillips CJC, Finnane A. The Effect of Combined Training and Racing High-Speed Exercise History on Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Current Literature.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 11;10(11).
- Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. Appraising the Welfare of Thoroughbred Racehorses in Training in Queensland, Australia: The Incidence and Type of Musculoskeletal Injuries Vary between Two-Year-Old and Older Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 5;10(11).
- Spargo KE, Rubio-Martinez LM, Wheeler DP, Fletcher L, Carstens A. Catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses on racetracks in Gauteng, South Africa.. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2019 Feb 28;90(0):e1-e5.
- Hitchens PL, Hill AE, Stover SM. Relationship Between Historical Lameness, Medication Usage, Surgery, and Exercise With Catastrophic Musculoskeletal Injury in Racehorses.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:217.
- Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KLP. Risk factors for race-day fatality in flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000 to 2013).. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194299.
- Maeda Y, Hanada M, Oikawa MA. Epidemiology of racing injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses with special reference to bone fractures: Japanese experience from the 1980s to 2000s.. J Equine Sci 2016;27(3):81-97.
