The discourse around the rash of fatal equine injuries at Churchill Downs has onlookers inside and outside the horse racing industry searching for causes and solutions.
Many have examined the 12 fatalities at Churchill from the beginning of the meet on April 29 through the end of the day on June 1, looking for patterns to determine ways to curtail the incidents. While we have recent and historical data to compare with today's situation, finding a solution might not be as simple as finding a pattern – if there even is a pattern in the first place.
On this week's episode of The Friday Show, publisher Ray Paulick and bloodstock editor Joe Nevills are joined by Dr. Tim Parkin, a consultant for The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database, which has been used to identify the causes and circumstances of racetrack injuries since its formation in 2008 to help identify ways to bring down the number of injuries and deaths on the racetrack.
From 2009 to 2022, the number of deaths per 1,000 starts in North American Thoroughbred racing has decreased from 2.00 to 1.25. Parkin explains where the recent spike at Churchill Downs fits within that overall scope, and how data collection for the EID could go even further to make racing safer for its participants.
Parkin also discusses some of the facts and myths behind commonly-held beliefs on what can cause higher rates of equine injuries, including pedigree.
Parkin is head of Bristol Veterinary School in England. He completed his Ph.D. on the epidemiology of fractures in racehorses more than 20 years ago and he currently works with equine organizations around the world providing data-driven guidance on issues related to the health and welfare of horses.
Watch this week's episode of The Friday Show below:
The post The Friday Show Presented By The Jockey Club: A Statistical View On Racehorse Injuries appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
