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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Risk factors for fatality in jump racing Thoroughbreds in Gr...
Equine veterinary journal2024; 57(4); 870-877; doi: 10.1111/evj.14450

Risk factors for fatality in jump racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2010-2023).

Abstract: The British horseracing industry is committed to reducing equine fatalities in jump racing. Race-related fatalities are a major welfare concern and threaten the sport's social licence to operate. Objective: To describe the risk of, and determine risk factors for, fatality in British jump racing. Methods: Retrospective cohort. Methods: Analyses included all starts made in British jump races between January 2010 and April 2023. Available information for each horse, race, racecourse, trainer and jockey was collated and combined with details of all fatalities recorded by official veterinary officers in a central database. A fatality was defined as any post-start veterinary event that resulted in the sudden death or euthanasia of a horse within 48 h of racing. Risk factors (n = 101) were evaluated using mixed-effects logistic regression. Data for steeplechase and hurdle starts were analysed separately. Results: The overall fatality rate was 5.9 per 1000 steeplechase starts (n = 836/141 922; 95% CI 5.5-6.3) and 4.5 per 1000 hurdle starts (n = 1096/242 486; 95% CI 4.3-4.8). In both race types, fallers (steeplechase: OR 28.7, 95% CI 23.0-35.8; hurdle: OR 41.4, 95% CI 32.9-52.0) and older horses (steeplechase: OR 1.1 per extra year, 95% CI 1.1-1.2; hurdle: OR 1.2 per extra year, 95% CI 1.1-1.2) had higher odds of fatality. In steeplechase racing, starts made in summer (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.5) and by non-GB trained horses (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.4-3.0) experienced higher fatality odds. In hurdling, maiden races (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6) were at higher odds of fatality. In both race types, softer going decreased the odds of fatality. Approximately half of the unexplained variation in fatality odds was attributable to horse. Conclusions: Analysis was restricted to routinely recorded race-day factors and performance history. Conclusions: Reducing the risk of falling and racing on softer ground could substantially decrease fatalities in jump racing.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-12-12 PubMed ID: 39665146PubMed Central: PMC12135743DOI: 10.1111/evj.14450Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research aimed to identify risk factors associated with fatalities in British jump racing from 2010 to 2023. A comprehensive analysis of all starts made in British jump races during this period revealed that falls, age of the horse, the season, the origin of the horse, and the type of race significantly influenced fatality rates.

Research Methodology

  • The study was a retrospective cohort analysis involving all starts made in British jump races from January 2010 to April 2023.
  • Information on each horse, race, racecourse, trainer, and jockey was collected, combined with details of all fatalities recorded by the official veterinary officers in a central database.
  • A fatality was defined as any post-start veterinary event resulting in the sudden death or euthanasia of a horse within 48 hours of racing.
  • Data for steeplechase and hurdle starts were analyzed separately using mixed-effects logistic regression.
  • A total of 101 risk factors were evaluated in the study.

Key Findings

  • The overall fatality rate was 5.9 per 1000 starts in steeplechase races and 4.5 per 1000 starts in hurdle races.
  • Falling was associated with a significantly higher risk of fatality in both types of races, with odds of 28.7 in steeplechase and 41.4 in hurdles.
  • Older horses had higher odds of fatality in both types of races, with odds increasing by 1.1 per extra year in steeplechase and 1.2 per extra year in hurdles.
  • In steeplechase racing, starts made in the summer and by non-Great Britain trained horses had higher fatality odds, with the odds being 1.2 and 2.0, respectively.
  • In hurdle races, maiden races had slightly higher fatality odds of 1.3.
  • Softer ground conditions reduced the odds of fatality in both types of races.
  • Approximately half of the unexplained variation in fatality odds was attributed to horse-related factors.

Conclusions

  • The analysis was limited to factors recorded on race-day and performance history.
  • The study concluded that reducing the risk of falling and racing on softer ground could considerably decrease fatalities in jump racing.

Cite This Article

APA
Allen SE, Taylor S, Given J, Verheyen KL. (2024). Risk factors for fatality in jump racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2010-2023). Equine Vet J, 57(4), 870-877. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14450

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 4
Pages: 870-877

Researcher Affiliations

Allen, Sarah E
  • Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
Taylor, Sally
  • British Horseracing Authority, London, UK.
Given, James
  • British Horseracing Authority, London, UK.
Verheyen, Kristien L
  • Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Risk Factors
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sports
  • Male
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / mortality

Grant Funding

  • The Racing Foundation

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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