1. A Retrospective Analysis of Jockey Injuries in the United States
Jed Crots, MS, ATC
Carolina Quintana, MA, ATC
Phillip Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA
Cale Jacobs, PhD, ATC
Carl Mattacola, PhD, ATC, FNATA

2. Purpose
To describe characteristics and modifiable factors in jockeys who have sustained a concussion for the purpose of identifying areas for risk reduction and improved safety.

3. METHODS Design: Descriptive epidemiological study
Setting: Racetracks across the United States
Subjects: 1054 reported incidents (975 males and 64 females)
Experience 11.0 ± 9.5 years
45 concussion occurrences
Data Collection: September 2014-September 2016
Data were collected and entered in the Jockey Injury Database
An incident report was completed if a jockey was physically removed from a horse during a race and/or sought medical attention for an injury
Descriptive statistics were used to identify frequency and percentages of concussion injuries

4. Sex Type of Helmet Track Surface Age of Horse Jockey Experience
Variables
Sex
Type of Helmet
Track Surface
Age of Horse
Jockey Experience

5. Final Findings Variables Findings Concussion Injury Overall Injury
Sex
Females experienced concussion injury at a higher rate than overall injury
Type of Helmet
LAS most commonly worn helmet when sustaining a concussion; most common in database
- Supported by literature
Track Surface
Dirt most common track surface when sustaining a concussion; most common in database
Age of Horse
3 YO & Up age grouping most common when sustaining a concussion; most common in database
Jockey Experience
Less experienced jockeys experienced a higher number of concussions compared to more experienced jockeys
Concussion Injury
Overall Injury
Males
36/45 = 80%
988/1054 = 94%
Females
8/45 = 18%
66/1054 = 6%

6. Conclusions
Continued monitoring and identification of factors related to concussion is necessary in the United States to identify characteristics that can be used to better understand equipment, conditions, and trends that contribute to an increased risk of concussion in horse jockeys
Females and less experienced jockeys were more susceptible to concussion injury

7. “The sun shines bright on
my old Kentucky home…”
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