Emergency Medicine at the Racetrack: How Medical Teams Prepare for Injuries During Major Horse Racing Events

The operation of getting a horse racing event prepared and completed in the safest possible way is a huge challenger for organisers, as all possible outcomes must be prepared for in order to combat any major challenges.

Unfortunately, injuries are part and parcel of horse racing, but there has been a significant dip in the number of fatalities on track, with the percentage dropping to 0.22% over the last five years.

Spreading correct facts surrounding the care that horses get on track is vitally important for the sport to ensure that it remains a hugely popular sport, with the biggest dates in the diary being extremely popular for new customers looking to take advantage of a sign up offer, such as the one found here: signup

But, what preparations do vets make before a day at the racing?

Key Preparations for a Medical Team

Before any fixture on the racing calendar, there will be big teams put together to ensure that horses are able to get the best possible care. Teams will be made up by paramedics, physicians experienced in trauma and medicine, and emergency medical technicians.

A Senior Racecourse Medical Officer will direct all teams. After a team has been assembled of professionals, a medical center will be set up at the track, ensuring the specialised gear such as spinal boards, oxygen therapy and advanced life support medications are all available.

The blue-light vans can be seen when watching racing on the television, and these are located at the start before every race, before following the field around. This ensures that jockeys and horses can quickly get the attention that they require immediately after an issue arises.

Rapid Response

As well as having teams follow the action around the course, there will also be dedicated professionals scattered around the track to ensure that immediate help is available if required.

These will be carefully positioned based on high-risk areas, such as specific fences or turns that have a negative reputation. It is found that it will take around 60 seconds for a medical professional to arrive onto the scene to treat any issues that a horse or jockey may have.

Risk Assessment

Like all professions, there will be huge risk assessment planning that goes into a day at the races for medical professionals. This will take into account the medical operation plans that are signed to access the track, and the conditions that must be met before getting onto the track.

For example, if a field is completing two laps of the field, then medicals will require information surrounding how the race continues if they are still on the field. Vets and medicals will also require other key information surrounding the track, such as the crowd expected and the potential hazards that they must be aware of.

Dedicated Professionals

Horse racing is a very unique sport, meaning that the medical professionals working within the sector will be required to be specialised in the space. This ensures that vets and doctors on the track will be trained and specialised in horse racing-specific injuries.

This ensures that those on track will be better suited to dealing with spinal injuries, trauma, and concussions. Professionals of this nature will also be able to provide a concussion assessment and issue a mandatory return-to-ride protocol that other medical professionals will have less experience about.

Informed Communication Channels

As medical professionals, the doctors and vets on track will need to have reliable communication channels that aren’t prone to disconnect during busy meetings.

These lines will be clear of important radio messages, and they ensure that there is a seamless communication channel between the professionals on track.

This ensures that everybody that needs to be in the know can have the important information that is required, whether that is stewards, clerks of the course, vet teams or medical staff.

How is a Jockey Assessed?

If a jockey takes a fall or picks up an injury before or during the race, they are quickly examined by a doctor. This ensures before checked over in terms of concussion protocols. If a head injury is suspected, then the rider will likely be required to take a 21-day break before being reassessed.

Most injuries can quickly be determined on track, while other issues may see riders permitted to travel to the hospital.

How Important is Medical Care on Track?

It can’t be underplayed how important it is to have medical care on track across the world, as horse racing is an incredibly dangerous sport.

Therefore, if medical vehicles or personal can’t access all areas of the track due to the layout, weather conditions, or any other reason, then racing will not started, and it could also lead to the action on track being delayed indefinitely.