Jockey Injuries And Deaths - Better Standards For A Safer Race Day, Australia

Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 18 Jan 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Australia's horse racing industry can improve health and safety standards to reduce the number of jockeys injured or killed from falls during races, according to a study published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia.

In an Australian first, Ms Peta Hitchens, Associate Professor Leigh Blizzard and their colleagues from the Menzies Research Institute in Hobart studied falls, injuries and fatalities among horse racing jockeys in Australia between August 2002 and July 2006.

Falls occurred at a rate of 0.42% in flat racing and 5.26% in jumps racing. Although most falls occurred pre- or post-race, falls occurring during the race resulted in the most severe injuries.

"A fall can be career-ending, and a small proportion of falls result in death," Assoc Prof Blizzard said.

"There were five fatalities resulting from falls during the study period, all in flat racing."

Although the rates of injury in Australia were similar to, or in some cases lower than, other countries, the study authors said there was room for improvement to safety standards in the Australian racing industry.

"Our results support the need to improve occupational health and safety standards in the thoroughbred racing industry in Australia," he said.

"Our results… suggest that intervention strategies will need to address falls pre- and post-race as well as during the race."

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

Medical Journal of Australia

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