Racehorse Hospital, Miho Training Center, Japan Racing Association, Ibaraki, Ibaraki, Japan.
Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Japan.
J Equine Vet Sci. 2021 Nov;106:103749. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103749. Epub 2021 Aug 21.
Jockey safety is of paramount importance from welfare perspective and public perception. This retrospective case-control study aims to identify risk factors associated with jockey falls (JF) in flat races of Japan Racing Association (JRA). JF in 715,210 race starts by 74,328 horses at 10 racecourses from 2003 to 2017 were reviewed. Data were extracted from a database maintained by JRA and from official accident reports issued by race stewards. Seventeen possible risk factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression, to identify those significantly associated with JF. A total of 992 JF incidents were recorded, with an incidence rate of 1.39 falls per 1,000 starts (95% CI: 1.30-1.48). 6 risk factors were significantly associated with JF. Odds increased with horses that sustained catastrophic musculoskeletal injury (CMI) (OR: 203; CI: 169-241; P < 0.001). Increased odds were also associated with dirt track surfaces (OR: 1.99; CI: 1.74-2.29; P < 0.001), apprentice jockeys (OR: 1.43; CI: 1.21-1.68; P < 0.001), smaller track sizes (OR: 1.41; CI: 1.24-1.61; P < 0.001), larger fields (OR: 1.25; CI: 1.07-1.47; P = 0.005), and longer race distances (OR per 200 m: 1.05; CI: 1.01-1.09; P = 0.02). Since CMI was identified as a major contributing factor for JF, measures to minimize CMI may lead to improvement of jockey safety. The increased odds associated with apprentice jockeys may indicate the importance of jockey education and training. For jockey safety, proper staffing of medical professionals especially for races on dirt, smaller track, larger fields, and longer distances is recommended.
从福利和公众认知的角度来看，骑师安全至关重要。本回顾性病例对照研究旨在确定与日本中央竞马会（JRA）平地赛马中骑师落马（JF）相关的风险因素。对 2003 年至 2017 年间在 10 个赛马场的 74328 匹马的 715210 次比赛开始时的 JF 进行了回顾。数据取自 JRA 维护的数据库和赛马裁判员发布的官方事故报告。使用多变量逻辑回归评估了 17 个可能的风险因素，以确定与 JF 显著相关的因素。共记录了 992 次 JF 事件，发生率为每 1000 次起跑 1.39 次（95%CI：1.30-1.48）。有 6 个风险因素与 JF 显著相关。具有灾难性肌肉骨骼损伤（CMI）的马匹发生的几率增加（OR：203；CI：169-241；P <0.001）。与泥地赛道表面（OR：1.99；CI：1.74-2.29；P <0.001）、见习骑师（OR：1.43；CI：1.21-1.68；P <0.001）、较小的赛道尺寸（OR：1.41；CI：1.24-1.61；P <0.001）、更大的马群（OR：1.25；CI：1.07-1.47；P=0.005）和更长的比赛距离（每 200 米的 OR：1.05；CI：1.01-1.09；P=0.02）也呈正相关。由于 CMI 被确定为 JF 的主要促成因素，因此采取措施尽量减少 CMI 可能会提高骑师的安全性。与见习骑师相关的几率增加可能表明骑师教育和培训的重要性。为了骑师的安全，建议在泥地、较小的赛道、更大的马群和更长的比赛中适当配备医疗专业人员。
