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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / The role of catastrophic injury or sudden death of the horse...
Equine veterinary journal2015; 48(1); 50-56; doi: 10.1111/evj.12392

The role of catastrophic injury or sudden death of the horse in race-day jockey falls and injuries in California, 2007-2012.

Abstract: If equine conditions with high likelihood of jockey injury can be determined and subsequently prevented, jockey safety can be enhanced. Objective: To identify racehorse injuries or conditions with greatest risk for jockey falls and injuries. Methods: Retrospective correlation of race-day jockey fall and injury data with racehorse fatality data. Methods: Thoroughbred (TB) and Quarter Horse (QH) racehorse cause of death and jockey fall and injury data for California flat races were reviewed for a 6-year period. Race and jockey race ride population data were used to determine jockey fall and injury incidence rates relative to cause of racehorse death, and were assessed using Poisson regression. Differences in proportions were assessed using Fisher's exact, Pearson's χ(2), and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests. Results: 707 racehorses experienced race-related catastrophic injury or sudden death. 199 jockeys had 601 falls with 325 injuries. Jockeys were 162 times more likely to fall (95% confidence interval 137-192; P<0.001) and 171 times more likely to be injured (95% confidence interval 140-208; P<0.001) when they rode a horse that died in a race. We infer that jockeys were more likely to fall or be injured when riding in QH races than in TB races because of a higher incidence of horse fatalities in QH races. Jockey falls occurred with 24% of TB and 36% of QH race-related horse fatalities, and jockey injury occurred in 64% of falls. Jockey falls were most common with TB fetlock injuries and QH carpal, metacarpal and fetlock injuries; and with axial, bilateral and multiple injuries compared with appendicular, unilateral and singular injuries, respectively. Conclusions: Prevention of the most common catastrophic injuries and conditions of the racehorse, e.g. fetlock injuries, may be most effective at decreasing rates of falls and injuries to horseracing jockeys during racing.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2015-02-02 PubMed ID: 25417895DOI: 10.1111/evj.12392Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 article is focused on understanding the relationship between fatal injuries or conditions in racehorses and jockey falls or injuries. It concludes that preventing common racehorse injuries could significantly decrease falls and injuries suffered by jockeys.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The goal of this research study was to identify the types of injuries or conditions in racehorses that carry the greatest risk for causing jockey falls and injuries. This is based on the logic that if dangerous equine conditions can be identified and prevented, jockey safety can be enhanced.
  • The study covered Thoroughbred (TB) and Quarter Horse (QH) racing events in California over a six-year period.
  • The researchers applied a retrospective approach, correlating race-day jockey fall and injury data with records of racehorse fatalities.
  • Statistical tests such as Poisson regression, Fisher’s exact, Pearson’s χ(2), and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests were used to assess the data and identify relationships.

Findings of The Research

  • The data indicated that 707 racehorses experienced race-related catastrophic injury or sudden death during the study period.
  • Over this same time, 199 jockeys experienced 601 falls resulting in 325 injuries.
  • A critical finding was that jockeys were 162 times more likely to fall and 171 times more likely to be injured when they rode a horse that died in a race.
  • The investigation inferred that jockeys were more likely to fall or get injured when participating in QH races than in TB races. This was attributed to the higher incidence of fatalities in horses participating in QH races.
  • Relatively common were jockey falls with TB fetlock injuries, and QH carpal, metacarpal and fetlock injuries.
  • Further, jockey falls were most evident with axial, bilateral and multiple injuries as compared to appendicular, unilateral and singular injuries.

Conclusion and Implications

  • The study concludes that the prevention of the most common catastrophic injuries and conditions in racehorses, such as fetlock injuries, could be most effective at reducing rates of falls and injuries to horseracing jockeys during racing events.
  • This finding has significant implications for jockey safety protocols and horse care guidelines, potentially leading to concrete actions to enhance the safety of both the horse and jockey in horseracing.

Cite This Article

APA
Hitchens PL, Hill AE, Stover SM. (2015). The role of catastrophic injury or sudden death of the horse in race-day jockey falls and injuries in California, 2007-2012. Equine Vet J, 48(1), 50-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12392

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 1
Pages: 50-56

Researcher Affiliations

Hitchens, P L
  • Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University ofAgricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
Hill, A E
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, USA.
Stover, S M
  • JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Accidents, Occupational / statistics & numerical data
  • Animals
  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
  • California / epidemiology
  • Death, Sudden / veterinary
  • Horses / injuries
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Running
  • Sports

Citations

This article has been cited 17 times.
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