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The incidence of race-day jockey falls in Australia, 2002-2006
Citation
Hitchens, PL and Blizzard, CL and Jones, G and Day, LM and Fell, W, The incidence of race-day jockey falls in Australia, 2002-2006, Medical Journal of Australia, 190, (2) pp. 83-86. ISSN 0025-729X (2009) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02284.x
Abstract
Objectives: To describe rates of occurrence of falls, injuries and fatalities to horseracing jockeys in Australia.
Design and setting: Retrospective analysis of data on race-day falls from stewards’reports provided by the Principal Racing Authority of each state and territory of Australia, August 2002 – July 2006.
Main outcome measures: Fall, injury and fatality incidence rates; comparison with overseas rates.
Results: There were 3360 jockey falls from 748 367 rides. Falls occurred at a rate of 0.42 per 100 rides in flat races and 5.26 per 100 rides in jumps races. In flat racing, 54.6%(1694/3101) of falls occurred before the start of the race and 11.1% (344/3101) of falls occurred post-race. The 34.3% (1063/3101) of falls that occurred during flat races resulted in 61.7% (516/836) of the injuries sustained. In jumps racing, most falls occurred at a jump and 9.7% (25/259) of jockeys who fell were transported to hospital and/or declared unfit to ride. There were five fatalities resulting from falls during the study
period, all in flat racing. Fall and injury rates were comparable with those found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Japan.
Conclusions: Being a jockey carries a substantial risk of injury and death. Although rates of injury in Australia are not exceptional by international standards, there can be improvement to safety standards in the Australian racing industry.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Epidemiology |
| Research Field: | Epidemiology not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
| Objective Field: | Injury prevention and control |
| UTAS Author: | Hitchens, PL (Ms Peta Hitchens) |
| UTAS Author: | Blizzard, CL (Professor Leigh Blizzard) |
| UTAS Author: | Jones, G (Professor Graeme Jones) |
| UTAS Author: | Fell, W (Associate Professor James Fell) |
| ID Code: | 59000 |
| Year Published: | 2009 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 45 |
| Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
| Deposited On: | 2009-11-12 |
| Last Modified: | 2015-01-27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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