Safety Measures for Riders

Steve Railton, Stipendiary Steward The Jockey Club September 2012

Safety Measures reported at 2010 ICHSWJ - Dubai

Modified Back Gates Hot Weather Protocol

Safety Measure for Riders 2 Two years on....Update

• Developed in collaboration with Steriline Racing Pty Ltd.

• Design now widely introduced into , as well as Norway, Sweden and India

• Positive feedback from jockeys, starters, and barrier attendants Modified Back Gates • Increased level of safety for jockeys and barrier attendants as well as horses

Safety Measure for Riders 3 Hot Weather Protocols • 2010: a range of protocols introduced to mitigate effects of hot and humid weather

• Modifications to raceday procedures activated when Wet Bulb Globe Temp. reaches 31 Celsius

• Welfare of jockeys has been enhanced through a co- operative approach by Club and jockeys

• Only 6 jockeys have been stood down from riding due to effects of heat /waisting Safety Measure for Riders 4 Race falls – A Snapshot! 2010/11 & 2011/12 Racing Seasons in Hong Kong • 1,536 races and 19,207 starters • 13 jockeys have sustained falls – 0.068% of starters • Injuries sustained:

1. Vincent Ho - arm fracture (5 months)

2. Tye Angland - shoulder and leg fracture (3 months) 3. - shoulder fracture (3 weeks) 4 - wrist fracture (3 weeks) 5 - shoulder injury (1 week) 6 Keith Yeung - momentary loss of consciousness (1 week) 7. Douglas Whyte - ankle injury (balance of meeting)

Safety Measure for Riders 5 Race falls – A Snapshot! 2010/11 & 2011/12 Racing Seasons in Hong Kong

Causes of falls:

– Incident at start (6) – Careless riding (2) – Accidental / Clipped heels (2) – Horse breaking down (2) – Foot slipping from stirrup (1)

Safety Measure for Riders 6 Champion Jockey

• Feb 2012 Sha Tin barrier trial

• Horse fractured leg and fell

• Sustained head injury

• Riding career in jeopardy

Safety Measure for Riders 7 Lightning Safety during Trackwork

• Lightning accounts for 5 to 10 deaths and well over 100 injuries a year in Australia

• 25% of people killed by lightning are playing sports

Safety Measure for Riders 8 Lightning Safety during Trackwork

Safety Measure for Riders 9 Electrical Storm Identification Device (“ESID”)

• Installed in Trainers’ Stand

• Used by officials in determining whether to suspend all training activities during electrical storms

Safety Measure for Riders 10 Electrical Storm Identification Device (“ESID”)

• A short-range thunderstorm detection and lightning ranging system

• Advance warning for nearby storm or one developing overhead

• Detects cloud-to-ground & cloud lightning discharges

ESID Device • Radius of 30 miles

Safety Measure for Riders 11 Electrical Storm Identification Device (“ESID”)

• Cloud to ground flash is the most hazardous & dramatic type of discharge

• Most crucial reading for safety of horses and riders if detected overhead (i.e. 0-3 miles)

• Vigilant monitoring of actual site conditions. Reference to HK Observatory website

• Decision whether to cease all track work activity

Safety Measure for Riders 12