Novel risk factors associated with fatal musculoskeletal injury in Thoroughbreds in North American racing (2009-2023).
Authors: Bennet, Parkin
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Fatal Musculoskeletal Injury in Thoroughbred Racing: Emerging Risk Factors in North American Data Between 2009 and 2023, researchers analysed 3.85 million race starts across 115 North American tracks using the Equine Injury Database—a census capturing 95.6% of all Thoroughbred racing activity—to identify horse-, race- and track-level factors associated with fatal musculoskeletal injury (MSI). The retrospective cohort study employed logistic regression modelling to examine 97 potential risk factors, ultimately identifying 20 with statistically significant associations; the baseline incidence of fatal MSI was 1.49 per 1000 starts. Two previously unrecognised risk categories emerged: claiming race variables showed increased odds of fatal MSI (odds ratio 1.31 for the lowest claim prices), whilst void claim rules (VCR)—regulations preventing claims under certain conditions—demonstrated protective effects when strictly applied (OR 0.76). These findings suggest that race structure and economic incentives influence injury risk, opening avenues for regulatory intervention and the development of individualised risk stratification based on training history, race type and track-specific factors. For practitioners involved in managing racehorses, understanding how claiming status and race eligibility rules affect injury risk enables more informed decisions about race selection and preparation protocols.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Track regulatory policies regarding void claim rules appear protective against fatal musculoskeletal injuries, suggesting that stricter race rules may promote safer racing conditions
- •Horses entered in claiming races at lower claim prices face elevated risk, which could inform veterinary pre-race assessments and owner decision-making about race entries
- •Integration of training history, veterinary records, and race-level data can help identify individual horses at higher risk before entry, enabling targeted risk mitigation strategies
Key Findings
- •Fatal MSI incidence was 1.49 per 1000 race starts across North American Thoroughbred racing (2009-2023)
- •Horses racing as claimers at the lowest claim prices had increased odds of fatal MSI (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.19-1.45)
- •Strict void claim rules (VCR) were associated with reduced odds of fatal MSI compared to no VCR (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.67-0.85)
- •Twenty risk factors showed statistically significant associations with fatal MSI, including previously unidentified claiming race-related variables