More fatal hind-end injuries on synthetics

[Patuxet]

The results of a post-mortem study appear to confirm trainers’ claims that synthetic surfaces have led to an increase in hind-end injuries. The report on the Post-Mortem Program at the University of California-Davis for the calendar year 2008 formally documents for the first time more hind-end catastrophic injuries among Thoroughbred racing on synthetic surfaces when compared with those racing on dirt.

Nine Thoroughbred deaths from left rear injuries and ten due to right rear injuries on synthetic surfaces. One death resulted from a hind-end injury on dirt. The report revealed the largest number of catastrophic fractures were due to front leg injuries, with 36 sustaining right front injuries on synthetic tracks, compared with 22 on dirt. Thirty-eight suffered left front injuries on synthetic surfaces, compared with 37 on dirt.

There were 351 horses submitted for the 2008 post mortems, including 258 Thoroughbreds and 86 Quarter Horses.