Horse Injury Database finds five safety records

The safety efforts that North American horse racing has adopted in recent years, including the launch of the Safety and Integrity Authority’s safety initiatives in Racing on July 1 2022 in the United States, continues to deliver positive results.

Analysis of initial data from the 14th year of reporting to the Equine Injury Database shows fatal injury rates by 2022 (1.25 deaths per 1,000 starts) decrease compared to 2021 (1.39 deaths per 1,000 departures). This is the fourth year in a row that the rate has declined and the third year in a row that it has been below 1.5 deaths per 1,000 departures.

This is the first time the rate has been below 1.3 deaths per 1,000 departures.

Analysis provided by Professor Tim Parkin (University of Bristol), who has advised on EID since its inception, and Dr Euan Bennet (University of Glasgow), also revealed historically low mortality rates. on every type of surface, for 3 years -old horses, and for races over a mile.

“The data shows that since 2009, the risk of fatal injury while racing has decreased by 37.5%, which is statistically significant,” Parkin said. “The overall downtrend is testament to the benefits of an evidence-based safe-haven approach, which is only possible thanks to EID.”

Based on 2022 data, 99.88% of flat race starts at EID participating tracks completed without a single fatality. Key stats from the 2022 analysis are as follows (figures represent racing deaths per 1,000 starts):

• By age
o 2 years old: 0.98
o 3 years old: 1.13
o 4 years old and up: 1.34

• By race distance
o < 6 lengths: 1.38
o 6-8 lengths: 1.31
o >8 lengths: 0.86

• Follow the road surface
o Dirt: 1.44
o Lawn: 0.99
o Aggregate: 0.41

For EID trends since 2009, please visit jockeyclub.com/pdfs/eid_14_year_tables.pdf. The risk of fatal injury on the racecourse decreased by 10.1% from 2021 to 2022, 11.3% from 2020 to 2022 and 18.3% from 2019 to 2022.

Parkin notes that the six months after HISA kicked off its safety initiative was the six safest race months on record since the launch of EID in 2009.

“We can say with confidence that the risk of fatal injury is on a downward trend both overall and in many specific areas,” says Parkin. “The six-month period from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, is the safest six-month period on record since the start of EID in 2009. Evidence of progress is cumulative. This pole is very encouraging and should be applauded by everyone in the North American race.”

Since March 2012, racetracks have been able to voluntarily publish their statistics from the EID on The Jockey Club website. Racetracks that publish their EID statistics reported a racing fatality rate per 1,000 starts of 0.99 compared to 1.42 for those that don’t.

EID statistics are based on injuries resulting in death within 72 hours of race day. Stats are for official Thoroughbred races only and do not include tower races. Summary statistics for EIDs are subject to change due to a number of considerations, including report timeliness. All data entered into EID goes through a multi-level quality control process to ensure complete and accurate data is reported.

You can find a list of races participating in the EID and detailed statistics from the races that voluntarily publish results at jockeyclub.com/default.asp?section=Advocacy&area=11.

Throughout 2022, approximately 99% of all purebred descents are included in the EID.

The Horse Injury Database, conceived at the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Club’s First Safety and Welfare Summit, was launched by the Jockey Club in July. 2008 and sought to determine the frequency, type, and outcome of racing injuries using a standardized format that generates valid statistics, identifying markers for horses at higher risk of injury and serve as a data source for research to improve safety and prevent injury.

Summary of statistics from 2009 to 2022

(Breed race only)

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This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.