NEWS
Jockey Club releases injury rate statistic
Posted: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3:45 PM
by Frank Angst
Based on the most thorough study of North American Thoroughbred racing injuries to date, the Jockey Club released a fatal injury rate of 2.04 per 1,000 starts during 12 months of racing beginning in November 2008.
While detailed data that will allow for comparison of various racing surfaces and racing conditions will be released this summer, the Equine Injury Database was prepared to release its overall rate.
The Equine Injury Database tracked 378,864 Thoroughbred flat-race starts at 73 tracks from November 2008 through October ‘09. The database continues to gather data and has added more tracks.
Dr. Tim Parkin, a veterinarian and epidemiologist based at the University of Glasgow, currently is researching the various factors involved in the injury rates of the initial 12 months. While Parkin will release more details at the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit on June 28 and 29 at Keeneland, he was prepared to release the overall figure.
“Data collected from a broad cross-section of racetracks in the United States and Canada will serve as an important tool for racetracks seeking benchmarks concerning the safety of racehorses,” said Parkin. “Over time, as data continues to be added, the database should yield numerous trends and factors associated with racing injuries and lead to strategies for their prevention.”
Following the high-profile breakdown of Barbaro in the 2006 Preakness Stakes (G1), an injury that eventually would lead to the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner’s death, racing could only offer injury-rate estimates. In April 2008, following a smaller study, the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit released rates of 1.47 fatalities per 1,000 starts on synthetic surfaces and 2.03 fatalities per 1,000 dirt starts.
“Analysis of data in the Equine Injury Database is ongoing,” said Jockey Club Executive Director Matt Iuliano. “Dr. Parkin is scheduled to report additional analysis and insights on the matter at the third Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit on June 28 and 29 at Keeneland.”
Eighty-one racetracks and the National Steeplechase Association participate in the Equine Injury Database, representing 86% of the flat racing days in North America.
The Jockey Club, through two of its subsidiary companies, InCompass and The Jockey Club Technology Services Inc., has underwritten the cost to develop and operate the database as an industry service. By agreement with participating racetracks, from time to time The Jockey Club may publish certain summary statistics from the Equine Injury Database, but will not provide statistics that identify specific participants, including racetracks, horses, or persons.
Racetracks currently have tools provided by InCompass Solutions Inc. to analyze data collected at their respective facilities. In early April, InCompass will make available an enhanced module that automates selected reports.
Frank Angst is a Thoroughbred Times senior staff writer
