Jockeys call for full safety audit after death of riders

Australia’s jockey associations have called for a period of respect for the memories of two riders killed over the past three days before a thorough investigation into the number of jockeys who have lost their lives in racing and trackwork.

Statistics provided to The Age earlier this year by the Australian Jockeys Association indicated that since the turn of the century there had been 19 rider deaths, either at trackwork or in races, with women accounting for seven of them. Several more riders had been severely injured and forced into retirement. That has now risen to 21 deaths, nine of them female jockeys.

That is less than half of the total, but women make up a much smaller percentage of the race riding population than men. They do, however, account for a high number of stable staff who ride trackwork and work with horses at exercise away from the track.

Des O’Keeffe, of the National Jockeys Association, and Matt Hyland, head of the Victorian Jockeys Association, agree that a thorough audit needs to take place to determine the truth of the statistics.

Both say it is too early to draw conclusions, especially as the jockeys’ families are coming to terms with their grief.

Dr Gary Zimmerman is medical consultant to the VJA and Racing Victoria. He says there is no evidence to suggest female jockeys are more susceptible to injury than men. ''There are physiological differences but I personally don't see it translating into (more) injuries or the risk of injuries. I don't think they are any more prone (than men).''

Mikaela Claridge, 22, lost her life in a Cranbourne trackwork tragedy on Friday morning. Melanie Tyndall, 32, was killed in a race fall in Darwin 24 hours later.

Jockeys at Caulfield on Saturday for the first group 1 meeting of the Melbourne spring wore black armbands to commemorate Claridge, while the final race of the meeting in Darwin on Saturday afternoon was called off when news filtered through of the tragedy that had befallen Tyndall.

‘‘There has been a massive increase in the number of women working in the industry and race riding, especially in the past decade, and now the last two riders killed have been women so people will ask, ‘is it a coincidence?’’’ said Hyland.

‘‘But it’s far too early to draw conclusions. The families are coming to terms with their grief now so its a very sensitive time.

‘‘I understand why the question is being asked. Many men have been killed in the industry too. I would like to see a proper statistical analysis and audit carried out of the number of women in the industry, the number of rides they have, the incidence of injury before we make any conclusions.’’

O’Keeffe said the sport and the media needed to take time to reflect on the situation before rushing to conclusions.

‘‘It’s not going to be sorted out by people making uneducated and ill-informed statements and expressing opinions not based on evidence,’’ said O’Keeffe.

‘‘It’s going to require a proper investigation. It’s time for cool heads and reason not passionate uninformed speculation.’’

According to the statistics pubished by The Age in January, of the 16 jockeys who suffered fatal injuries since 2000 while competing in races up , five were women. Two of those who lost their lives in trackwork were female. Both those numbers are now swelled by one, with Claridge killed during trackwork, Tyndall in a race.

Jockey deaths have occurred in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, NSW, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, illustrating how widely spread the risk is.

Article courtesy of ACM and the Brisbane Times