Risk factors for Thoroughbred racehorse fatality in jump starts in Victoria, Australia (1989-2004).
Abstract: The risk of fatality is greater in jump than in flat racing in Victoria, Australia. This is the first study to identify risk factors specific to jump starts in Victoria. Objective: To identify risk factors for fatality of Thoroughbred racehorses in jump starts on all racecourses in Victoria, Australia between 1989 and 2004. Methods: Fatalities comprised all horses that died during or immediately after a jump (hurdle or steeplechase) race or official jump trial and all horses that were subjected to euthanasia within 24 h of an event in which an injury was sustained. The retrospective study involved 191 case starts and 2324 control starts. Univariable and multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for fatality at any one start. A multiple level model was used with racecourse included as a random effect. Results: In the final multivariable model, the duration of the racing career of the horse, the number of flat, hurdle and steeple starts accumulated in the 60 days prior to the case or control start, the number of flat and jump starts accumulated over the racing career, if the horse had had a start between 1 and 14 days prior to the case or control start, the type of jump race (hurdle or steeple), the calendar year of the start and the location of the racecourse were associated with fatality. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need to investigate further the differences between hurdle and steeplechase events and the adverse effect of prolonged prior flat racing careers on the risk of fatality in jump starts. Conclusions: This is the first study to examine risk factors for fatality in jump starts in Victoria. The results should shape the development of interventions to reduce the risk in jump starts in the future.
Publication Date: 2007-10-04 PubMed ID: 17910267DOI: 10.2746/042516407x183757Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research explores the risk factors contributing to the fatality of Thoroughbred racehorses in jump starts in Victoria, Australia from 1989 to 2004, with findings helping to shape future measures aimed at reducing such risks.
Research Methodology
- The research is defined as a retrospective study which involved examining cases between the years 1989 and 2004. The subjects of the study included 191 case starts and 2324 control starts.
- Fatalities were defined as horses that died during or immediately after a jump (either hurdle or steeplechase) race or official jump trial, as well as horses that were euthanized within 24 hours of an event in which they sustained an injury.
- To identify risk factors of these fatalities, the study used univariable and multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression analysis – a statistical method used to describe data and to explain the relationship between one dependent binary variable and one or more nominal, ordinal, interval or ratio-level independent variables.
- A multiple level model was another technique used, considering the racecourse as a random effect in the analysis.
Results and Findings
- The duration of the horse’s racing career was found to be a significant factor associated with fatality risk.
- The number of flat, hurdle, and steeplechase starts that the horse participated in within the 60 days leading up to the start of the fatal or control event influenced the likelihood of fatality.
- Other identified factors were the total number of flat and jump starts over the horse’s entire racing career, whether the horse had participated in any event between 1 to 14 days prior to the fatal or control start, the type of jump race (hurdle or steeplechase), the year the race took place, and the location of the racecourse.
Conclusions
- The study was the first of its kind to specifically investigate risk factors linked to fatality in jump starts in Victoria, and its results are intended to motivate the development of interventions to mitigate these risks.
- The research’s findings recommend further exploration into the differences between hurdle and steeplechase events and the impact of extended prior racing careers in flat racing on the risk of fatalities in jump starts.
Cite This Article
APA
Boden LA, Anderson GA, Charles JA, Morgan KL, Morton JM, Parkin TD, Clarke AF, Slocombe RF.
(2007).
Risk factors for Thoroughbred racehorse fatality in jump starts in Victoria, Australia (1989-2004).
Equine Vet J, 39(5), 422-428.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407x183757 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
- Athletic Injuries / mortality
- Athletic Injuries / veterinary
- Case-Control Studies
- Cause of Death
- Horses / injuries
- Logistic Models
- Multivariate Analysis
- Odds Ratio
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Safety
- Sports
- Victoria
Citations
This article has been cited 8 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).
- 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, 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).
- 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.
- O'Brien D. Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calculation in the Equestrian Sport of Eventing?. Animals (Basel) 2016 Feb 16;6(2).
- Vos Nj. Conservative treatment of a comminuted cervical fracture in a racehorse.. Ir Vet J 2008 Apr 1;61(4):244-7.
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