Australian insurance costs of jockeys injured in a race-day fall

Abstract

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 race-day 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 249612) in flat racing and ..