• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Racing industry launches equine injury database

September 1, 2008
James M. Lewis

A system that will provide the Thoroughbred racing industry with its first national database of racetrack injuries is off and running.

Lexington, Ky. — A system that will provide the Thoroughbred racing industry with its first national database of racetrack injuries is off and running.

And the veterinarian who pioneered the system believes it has the potential to reduce dramatically the number and severity of horse injuries over time.

The Jockey Club, which funded the development of the Equine Injury Database, announced its official launch in late July, after a one-year pilot program ended July 12.

During the trial year, some 3,000 injury reports were gathered from 60-plus tracks around the country and evaluated. The system underwent even more comprehensive testing recently in California.

These are its objectives, as defined by the Jockey Club:

» identify the frequency, types and outcome of racing injuries using a standardized format that will generate valid statistics

Advertisement

» identify markers for horses that are at increased risk for injury

» serve as a data source for research directed at improving safety and preventing injuries.

"The possibilities for what this can accomplish are limitless," Mary Scollay, DVM and equine medical director for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, tells DVM Newsmagazine.

"We've never had anything like this. You can't go back and recapture data from the past, but going forward we'll be able to identify trends, horses that are most at risk for injury and much more. I'm so pleased at how well this (pilot program) went and how the industry has embraced it," says Scollay, who is credited with developing the system that began testing in June 2007.

Regulatory veterinarians around the country played a key role in "giving assurances and convincing their leaders of the need for this and to participate," Scollay says. "They deserve credit. And Dr. Rick Arthur (California's equine medical director) was very helpful," she adds. "California has specific guidelines as to the information it requires to be recorded, and our system had to become compatible with theirs."

How does it work?

When an injury occurs, track veterinarians fill out standardized reports, providing such details as the type of track surface, length and configuration of the track, where on the track an injury occurred, type and body location of the injury, equipment that was involved and what type of track the horse is accustomed to during training — which might differ from the one where it was injured.

While all reports are maintained online, track veterinarians often make paper copies initially, if Internet access isn't nearby when an injury occurs. "Hard copies are kept for internal use, and then entered online, but veterinarians who need to do so are welcome to submit a hard copy," Scollay explains.

"Once a horse is identified as having been injured, we can continue tracking it, noting the interval from injury to eventual return and how it performs, or if it is withdrawn from racing."

Addressing misinformation

Scollay believes the system will address what she calls "certain assertions and beliefs" about the frequency and severity of racetrack injuries, especially in the press over the last couple of years, and particularly since the fatal breakdown of the filly Eight Belles at this year's Kentucky Derby.

"There have been all kinds of statements about increasing injuries, including assertions about the vulnerability of fillies vs. colts and the types of races they run. The fact is, the data just isn't there to support such statements. We're just beginning to collect it now."

The system will look at horses that run consistently without injury, too, examining their histories and variables such as their training regimen and type of track on which they normally run, in an effort to determine what keeps them injury-free.

Although Scollay is busy in her new role as Kentucky's equine medical director, a job she began July 1 after 13 years as senior veterinarian for Florida's Calder Race Course and Gulf Stream Park, she'll continue to devote some time each week helping coordinate and promote the reporting system.

Dr. Ashley Hill, epidemiologist at Colorado State University, will analyze the data to look for important trends or patterns of activity that might be seen as injury risk factors. "We need an epidemiologist to look at and sort out the variables," Scollay says. "For example, she'll look at track surfaces — dirt, turf and synthetic — and configurations, like turning radius of some tracks, which can change the dynamics. We want to make sure the statistics are valid and meaningful. The more data we obtain and analyze, obviously the more we'll learn. But it will take some time."

Scollay is one four veterinarians who testified in June before the U.S. House Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee on injuries and medication issues in Thoroughbred racing, with a view as to whether the industry can regulate itself effectively, or whether a federal regulatory agency is needed, Her testimony focused on the reporting system as an example of how the industry is taking serious steps to reduce injuries and work toward uniform regulation from within.

The Jockey Club is underwriting the cost of operating the reporting system "as a service to the industry," it says in a press release.

"We are especially grateful to Dr. Scollay and Dr. Arthur for their assistance with the pilot program and system testing, and to all the regulatory veterinarians ... who provided their expertise," says Alan Marzelli, Jockey Club president who also testified before the House panel in June.

Related Content:

MedicalEquine MedicineEquine
CBD provides one mustang with a second chance
CBD provides one mustang with a second chance
Updated EquiTrace app integrates wth HISA Portal
Updated EquiTrace app integrates wth HISA Portal
Tips and tricks for diagnosing canine osteoarthritis early
Tips and tricks for diagnosing canine osteoarthritis early

Advertisement

Latest News

To refer or not to refer

Advice panel for women interested in the veterinary field

AVMA president set to testify before Congress

New Hawaii-based pet CBD brand launches

View More Latest News
Advertisement