Catastrophic Injuries in Racehorses
Previously identified risk factors associated with catastrophic musculoskeletal injury or fatality in racehorses include horse age, age at first start, horse sex, race distance, type and condition of track surface, class of race, and number of race starters. | Photo: iStock
Catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries are major causes of death for racehorses, yet their risk factors remain poorly understood and, thus, difficult to manage. Researchers have investigated many potential risk factors in past studies, but it remained unclear whether factors related to the horses’ previous histories of lameness, medication administration, and surgery had any impact on catastrophic injuries. So a team of scientists from the University of Melbourne, in Australia, and the University of California, Davis, conducted a study to find out.

Previously identified risk factors associated with catastrophic musculoskeletal injury or fatality in racehorses include horse age, age at first start, horse sex, race distance, type and condition of track surface, class of race, and number of race starters.

In the current study, Peta Hitchens, PhD, of the University of Melbourne, said the team’s aim was to find modifiable factors associated with horses at risk of catastrophic injury so they can be managed appropriately.

“We surveyed the primary veterinarians of racehorses that had died as a result of injuries sustained during flat racing or training (cases) and of horses that did not die (controls) to determine their history of lameness, medication, and surgery,” Hitchens said

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