Analysis of horse race videos to identify intra-race risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture T.D.H. Parkin a, * , P.D. Clegg a , N.P. French a,1 , C.J. Proudman a , C.M. Riggs a,2 , E.R. Singer a , P.M. Webbon b , K.L. Morgan a a Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Liverpool Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Leahurst, Neston CH64 7TE, UK b The Jockey Club, 151 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8AL, UK Abstract The objective of this study was to identify risk factors, during racing, associated with imminent fatal distal limb fracture in Thoroughbreds. One hundred and nine cases of fatal distal limb fracture were identified from all 59 UK racecourses over a 2-year period (February 1999–January 2001). Three uninjured control horses were randomly selected from the same race as the case horse. Videos of races in which fractures occurred were viewed using a defined protocol. Fractures in flat races occurred at any time during the race, whereas 74% (45/61) of cases in national hunt type races occurred in the second half of races. More than 75% (79/103) of cases were spontaneous, i.e. there was no obvious external influence such as a fall at a fence or collision with another horse. Sixty-six percent (44/67) of horses, sustaining a forelimb fracture, fractured the forelimb they were using as lead leg at the time of fracture. When case and control horses were compared, horses that were: (a) making good progress through the race, (b) reluctant to start and (c) received encouragement in the final 10 s before the time of fracture, were more likely to sustain a fracture. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Thoroughbred; Racing; Distal limb; Fractures; Risk factors; Race videos www.elsevier.com/locate/prevetmed Preventive Veterinary Medicine 74 (2006) 44–55 * Corresponding author. Present address: Epidemiology Unit, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket CB8 7UU, UK. Tel.: +44 1638 555 664; fax: +44 1638 555 659. E-mail address: tim.parkin@aht.org.uk (T.D.H. Parkin). 1 Present address: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. 2 Present address: The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse, N.T., Hong Kong. 0167-5877/$ – see front matter # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2006.01.006