Friday, 16 September 2005: The National Jockey Safety Review Steering Committee will immediately act on the findings of a comprehensive study conducted in August.
Detailed in a paper titled National Jockey Safety Study which was completed by Dr John Saxon and Dr Caroline Foote, the study analysed safety equipment that was currently available to jockeys.
Steering Committee Chairman, Peter V’landys, said the study was being undertaken as a result of several race falls earlier this year that resulted in serious injuries and unfortunately deaths.
“A team of biomechanical engineers examined issues such as protective helmets (including protection of the face) and vests, focusing particularly on the causation of spinal injuries,” V’landys said.
“The main questions posed were whether the equipment did what it was designed to do, and if the safety equipment for a particular body region contributed to injuries in other parts of the body.”
Also the study reviewed vision of race falls and a retrospective analysis of injuries in Australian professional horse racing. V’landys added a detailed breakdown of injuries would be presented, with the effectiveness of protective equipment evaluated.
While the study was being conducted, the steering committee had been pro-active in meeting with protective equipment manufacturers to discuss alternatives.
The National Jockey Safety Review was established to ensure jockeys throughout Australia had policies and procedures in place that addressed health and safety.
The steering committee is comprised of representatives of each state’s controlling authority as well as representatives of the jockeys themselves.
A number of projects and ideas are set to be implemented to ensure that jockeys enjoy an optimum level of safety at race meetings and trackwork.
Another major project involves reviewing policies and procedures relating to jockey health including nutrition and standards of facilities.
It involves an analysis of hydration levels and bone density tests for jockeys and ensuring jockeys are being provided with adequate nutrition at race meetings.
Expert advice has been sought from Victorian Institute of Sport dieticians and nutritionists.
V’landys said information would be gathered and refined on an ongoing basis in regards to this project.
Other projects being undertaken are a review of medical attendants at trackwork; an analysis of jockey riding techniques; and a review of track riding including a review of training standards, policies and procedures.
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