EQUINE | Abstracts
Epidemiology of race‐day distal limb fracture
in flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain
(2000–2013)
S. M. Rosanowski Y. M. Chang A. J. Stirk K. L. P. Verheyen
First published: 28 May 2018
Background
A key focus of the racing industry is to minimise the
number of race‐day distal limb fractures although no
studies have identified risk factors for both fatal and
non‐fatal distal limb fractures.
Objective
To determine risk factors for race‐day distal limb
fractures experienced by Thoroughbred racehorses
participating in flat racing in Great Britain (GB).
Study design
Retrospective cohort.
and 379 cases of distal limb fracture occurred on
turf surfaces. In both models, increasing firmness of
the going, increasing racing distance and horses in
their first year of racing were at a higher risk of distal
limb fracture while increasing number of previous
race starts were protective. Trainer performance was
associated with distal limb fracture. Generally, the
risk of distal limb fracture increased with increasing
horse age. Starts in selling or claiming races or Group
1, Group 3 or claiming races were at higher odds of
distal limb fracture in the all starts and turf models,
respectively.
Main limitations
Methods
Information was collected from all flat racing
starts occurring on GB racecourses between 2000
and 2013, including horse, race, course, trainer
and jockey data for each horse start and race‐day
injury data as reported by on‐course veterinarians.
Associations between exposure variables and cases of
distal limb fracture were assessed using mixed‐effects
logistic regression analyses using data from all starts,
and turf starts only.
Clinical diagnosis of distal limb fracture and all types
of distal limb fracture considered as one outcome.
Conclusions
This study confirmed previously identified risk factors
for distal limb fracture including going, race distance
and number of horse starts. Novel risk factors were
related to trainer and horse performance, and
race type. Identification of at risk groups will help
inform interventions to reduce distal limb fracture
occurrence in flat racing horses.
Results
A total of 806,764 starts and 624 cases of distal limb
fracture were included, of which 548,571 starts
12
• Equine Health Update •
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12968