title: Workplace Injuries in Thoroughbred Racing: An Analysis of Insurance Payments and Injuries amongst Jockeys in Australia from 2002 to 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no comprehensive study of the costs of horse-related workplace injuries to Australian Thoroughbred racing jockeys.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the characteristics of insurance payments and horse-related workplace injuries to Australian jockeys during Thoroughbred racing or training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Insurance payments to Australian jockeys and apprentice jockeys as a result of claims for injury were reviewed. The cause and nature of injuries, and the breakdown of payments associated with claims were described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of claims was 2.1/1000 race rides, with an average cost of AUD 9 million/year. Race-day incidents were associated with 39% of claims, but 52% of the total cost. The mean cost of race-day incidents (AUD 33,756) was higher than non-race day incidents (AUD 20,338). Weekly benefits and medical expenses made up the majority of costs of claims. Fractures were the most common injury (29.5%), but head injuries resulting from a fall from a horse had the highest mean cost/claim (AUD 127,127).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Costs of workplace injuries to the Australian Thoroughbred racing industry have been greatly underestimated because the focus has historically been on incidents that occur on race-days. These findings add to the evidence base for developing strategies to reduce injuries and their associated costs.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia. bevcurry@netspace.net.au.
authors.forename: Beverley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia. peta.hitchens@slu.se.
authors.forename: Peta L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hitchens
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia. petr.otahal@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Otahal
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia. Lei.Si@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Si
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia. andrew.palmer@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Palmer
keywords: costs; economic; horse; injury; insurance; jockey