Safety Measures for Riders Steve Railton, Stipendiary Steward The Hong Kong 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 Australia, 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. Brett Prebble - shoulder fracture (3 weeks) 4 Umberto Rispoli - wrist fracture (3 weeks) 5 Douglas Whyte - 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 Darren Beadman • 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 .