RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES IN AUSTRALIAN THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSES

Risk factors for musculoskeletal injury in racing Thoroughbreds were i nvestigated in a case-control study conducted at racetracks administer ed by the Australian Jockey Club. Univariable analysis of 137 cases fr om the official Veterinary Surgeon's reports and an equal number of ra ndomly selected controls from the Australian Race Results identified f ield size, barrier position and class of race as being significantly a ssociated with breakdown (P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression was then used to investigate the effect of each putative risk factor whils t controlling for all others. Horses at greater risk were older, start ed from a wider barrier position, ran at the same distance as their pr evious race and raced in the highest class of race, There was no signi ficant difference between tracks or significant association with track condition. The incidence of fatalities in the study population was le ss than that reported in the UK and USA. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V .