Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Study: Quarter Horse Racing More Dangerous Than Thoroughbred Racing

  •  Bob Moffitt 
Thursday, June 13, 2013 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
you as a machine via flickr
 

you as a machine via flickr

The researchers found the rate of jockey injuries per thoroughbred start is about a tenth of one percent.  The rate of injuries for quarter horse starts is almost twice that.

Peta Hitchens is a post-doctoral candidate at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.  She says the quarter horses also suffered injuries that were more severe:

“Catastrophic injury or sudden death of the horse was actually reported as the most common cause in both thoroughbred and quarter horse races with about 30 percent in thoroughbred racing and about 44 percent of falls in quarter horse racing.”

Hitchens, associate professor Ashley Hill and professor Susan Stover from the J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory found a jockey can expect to be involved in a spill once every 318 quarter horse rides compared to one in every 502 thoroughbred rides. 

Hitchens says the next step is to find out why:

“The next study we will be conducting will be on the types of horse injuries that caused those jockey falls. For example, were fetlock injuries to the horses or spinal fractures more likely to have caused a jockey fall or injury?”

The current study can be found in the most recent edition of the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine and was funded by the California Horse Racing Board.  Hitchens says she would like future studies to examine risk factors such as jockey experience, horse breeding, and track conditions


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

Bob Moffitt

Former Sacramento Region Reporter

Bob reported on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Chris Nichols / CapRadio

Sacramento County bans homeless camps along the American River Parkway and near schools, libraries

August 11, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

It takes a village for Black youth in North Sacramento

August 12, 2022

Kristin Lam / CapRadio

State agency investigates Sacramento council member. Here’s what could happen.

August 11, 2022

Most Viewed

Stalled U.S. Forest Service project could have protected California town from Caldor Fire destruction

Who is Harriet Hageman, the woman who beat Liz Cheney in the Wyoming House race?

California coronavirus updates: First Lady Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19

California coronavirus updates: WHO renames monkeypox subvariants away from regional signifiers

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Stalled U.S. Forest Service project could have protected California town from Caldor Fire destruction

Who is Harriet Hageman, the woman who beat Liz Cheney in the Wyoming House race?

California coronavirus updates: First Lady Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19

California coronavirus updates: WHO renames monkeypox subvariants away from regional signifiers

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.