Australian Horse Racing Statistics

Horse racing constitutes the third largest industry in Australia. Race meets are conducted by 391 clubs at 364 tracks around the country. More than 31,000 horses compete annually in 20,000 races. Over 1000 jockeys, 4700 trainers, and numerous owners earn shares of $421,000,000 distributed in prize money. In addition, thousands of stable hands, grooms, farriers, and other tradesman earn part or all of their living through racing.

In a report compiled by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, a summary of safety and health in Australian racing showed that jockey falls occurred at a rate of 0.42 per 100 rides in flat races and 5.26 per 100 rides in jump races during the period from 2002 to 2006. More than half of the falls happened before the starts of the races; about one-third occurred during the races; and 11% were reported after the races had finished. Falls during races were responsible for 62% of jockey injuries. In jump races, the majority of falls were associated with a jump, and 10% of falls resulted in the jockey being taken to a hospital and/or being declared unfit to ride. These rates were comparable to jockey injury statistics reported in the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Ireland.

Jockeys and exercise riders are required to wear protective equipment. In addition to helmets, riders have recently begun to wear shock-absorbing vests. Jockeys reported that most jockeys considered the vests to be slightly to moderately flexible; slightly to moderately restrictive; and moderately protective against falls and kicks. They also reported becoming moderately to extremely hot while wearing the vests.

A survey showed that there was an increase in the frequency of neck injuries in the four years following the introduction of the vests. This surprising finding was thought to be related to factors unrelated to the requirement to wear the protective vests.