Risk of fatal distal limb fractures among Thoroughbreds involved in the five types of racing in the United Kingdom.

This research provides an analysis of the risk of fatal distal limb fractures in thoroughbred racehorses participating in five types of UK racing, revealing significant differences in fracture risk amongst them.

Study Overview

• The study aimed to calculate the risk of fatal distal limb fractures in thoroughbred racehorses involved in five types of racing in the United Kingdom. These included flat turf racing, national hunt flat racing, and three other types listed as hurdle, steeplechase, and all-weather flat racing.
• Incidents of fractures were recorded over two years, with each fracture case being subject to detailed radiographic and postmortem examinations.

Findings of the Study

• The study found that the risk levels of fractures varied significantly between different types of races. While flat turf racing was associated with the lowest risk, with 0.4 fractures per 1000 starts, National hunt flat racing was found to carry the highest risk, with 2.2 fractures per 1000 starts.

Classification and Distribution of Fractures

• The fractures were classified based on their incidence in the different types of racing. The overall most common fracture was the lateral condylar fracture of the third metacarpus.
• This fracture was also the most common one in national hunt-type races, which include hurdle, steeplechase, and National hunt flat races.
• Meanwhile, biaxial proximal sesamoid fractures were found to be most common in all-weather flat racing, while fractures of the first phalanx were the most common in turf flat racing.

Risks Associated with Multiple Bone Fractures

• The research also identified that the risk of sustaining fractures to more than one bone was greater in national hunt-type races.