Risk factors for Thoroughbred racehorse fatality in flat starts in Victoria, Australia (1989–2004)

Abstract

The results will facilitate the development of effective strategies to improve overall safety of horses and jockeys in flat racing in Victoria, Australia.

Risk factors for equine fractures in Thoroughbred flat racing in North America

“…Lyle et al (2012) found that the more starts a horse had within the last 60 days the less the risk of injury. Henley et al (2006) also found a decrease in risk of injury the more starts a horse had during the year prior a race but Boden et al (2007) looking specifically at the starts in the 31-60 days period prior the race, found a higher risk for fatal injuries if the horse had a start. The risk of fracture was also higher for horses that did no gallop work during training (Parkin et al, 2005) but horses that accumulated an excess timed work distance within a 2 month period prior a race were at higher risk as well (Estberg et al, 1996a).…”

“…Male horses have also been shown to have a higher risk of injury (Estberg et al, 1996a;Estberg et al, 1998a,b;Hernandez et al, 2001;Hernandez et al, 2005). The prior racing history of a horse was also found to be associated with injuries (Estberg et al, 1995;Hernandez et al, 2001;Hernandez et al, 2005;Parkin et al, 2005;Henley et al, 2006;Boden et al, 2007;Lyle et al, 2012). If there was an extended interval since the last race the risk for catastrophic injury was higher (Hernandez et al, 2001;Hernandez et al, 2005).…”

“…The racing surface and its conditions have been shown to be associated with injuries (Hernandez et al, 2001) (Williams et al, 2001;Parkin et al, 2004a,b;Parkin et al, 2005;Henley et al, 2006), the distance of the race (Peloso et al, 1994;Parkin et al, 2004b;Henley et al, 2006;Boden et al, 2007;Lyle et al, 2012), the field size (Parkin et al, 2004b;Parkin et al, 2005;Lyle et al, 2012), the type of the race (Estberg et al, 1998a,b;Henley et al, 2006) and even the season the race took place in (Boden et al, 2007;Lyle et al, 2012).…”

Modeling equine race surface vertical mechanical behaviors in a musculoskeletal modeling environment

“…Differences in equine fatalities between racecourses prompted studies examining the effect of race surface. One study that examined 115 factors related to racehorses, training, and race conditions found that the track condition was one of nine factors significantly associated with racehorse fatality (Boden et al, 2007). Similarly, another study found that firmer racetrack surfaces increased odds of racehorse fatality (Parkin et al, 2004).…”

“…Race surface is among the factors that have been implicated in the incidence of musculoskeletal injury (Anthenill et al, 2007;Boden et al, 2007;Cohen et al, 1997;Estberg et al, 1998;Hernandez et al, 2001). Differences in equine fatalities between racecourses prompted studies examining the effect of race surface.…”