Understanding Racing Fatalities

[PNkt]

Here is the table showing the US statistics: http://pdfs.thoroughbreddailynews.com/generic_upload/pdf/supplementaltables_eid.pdf

As you can see the stats in the US are:

2011
Turf 1.53 per 1000 starts
Dirt 2.07 per 1000 starts
Synthetic 1.09 per 1000 starts

This compares to the UK figure of 0.6 per 1000 starts (Turf and Synthetic combined) and 4 per 1000 for jumps, giving an average of around 2 per 1000.


(Graph here: http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/equine-science-and-welfare/FatalitiesGraphLarge2011.jpg)

 

[Cyclonic]

We think of US being bad at 2.07 on dirt, but to see 4 in jumps is breathtaking.

 

[PNkt]

You have to compare like with like, in so far as you can. There is no point comparing UK jumps with US flat, the fact is that the a horse running on the turf in the US is more than twice as likely to suffer a fatal breakdown than a horse racing on turf in the UK.