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Background The risk of falls and injuries in horseracing varies with sex and experience of the jockey. Aims To determine whether the incidence and costs of insurance claims also differ by such factors. Methods A retrospective analysis of compensation claims by flat racing and jumps jockeys injured in a raceday fall in Australia between 2002 and 2009. Claim incidence, costs, absentee days and location, cause and type of injury sustained were described, stratified by jockey sex, age and experience. Results The incidence of claims by flat and jumps racing was 0.6 and 6.5 per 1000 rides, respectively. The mean cost of a claim was 43374 Australian dollars (AUD) (SD 249 612) in flat racing and AUD 52589 (SD 157 808) in jumps racing. The incidence of claims was greater for experienced flat racing jockeys than apprentices but mean costs were higher for apprentices. After adjustment for experience, there were no sex differences in the average cost or incidence of flat racing jockeys' claims. In general, the fall incidence declined, but the claim incidence and median cost of a claim increased, with age. On average, jockeys were absent from work for 9 weeks following a substantive injury. Limb fractures (33%), muscular or soft tissue injuries (28%) and contusions (17%) were the most commonly reported injuries. Conclusions The economic costs of jockey injuries sustained in race-day falls are considerable. Identification of differences in incidence and costs of insurance claims between jockey characteristics will assist decision makers in the development and assessment of targeted safety strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Riding racehorses is a hazardous occupation but, to date, there has not been a study of risk factors for falls to thoroughbred racing jockeys riding in flat races. Methods Data on race-day falls were extracted from stewards' reports. Denominator data were provided by Racing Information Services Australia on races conducted in Australia from August 2002 until July 2006. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using Poisson regression. Analyses were stratified by race grade (maiden, class, open/restricted). Results In multivariable analyses, factors associated with falls were female jockeys (IRR 1.11; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.23), apprentice jockeys (1.51; 1.39 to 1.63), amateur jockeys (1.44; 1.11 to 1.86), drier tracks, younger horse age, shorter race distance, lower field size and lower race grade (all p<0.05). The IRR's for five factors associated with falls differed by category of race grade: those for apprentice jockey, higher prize money and shorter race distance were greater in lower race grades, while those for fewer previous rides this meeting and drier track rating were greater in higher race grades. Female jockeys had a significantly higher incidence of falls when riding horses under 4 years of age in open/restricted races, and the effects of lower field size in maiden races, and of shorter races, were more pronounced for falls occurring prerace. Conclusions We identified a range of factors associated with falls to thoroughbred racing jockeys riding in flat races that adds to the evidence base for formulating strategies to improve occupational health and safety standards in the thoroughbred racing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]