Steeplechase racing is a cornerstone of Irish National Hunt sport and tradition. With its statutory mandate to safeguard equine welfare and uphold racing integrity, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) has leveraged raceday data to enhance safety across Irish racecourses – through the Equine Injury in Irish Racing Risk Reduction (EIIRRR) programme. Understanding horse-, trainer-, race- and course-level risk factors is central to identifying preventable causes of fatality and implementing targeted mitigation strategies.
The objective is to determine risk factors for raceday equine fatality in Irish steeplechase and hurdles racing. A key outcome of the EIIRRR programme is to operationalise risk mitigation.
This retrospective cohort study included all Thoroughbred hurdles, or steeplechase starts between 2012 and 2024 using race and veterinary event data. Fatalities were defined as death or euthanasia directly following injury on raceday. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was investigated variables associated with raceday fatality for each jump racing code.
Both steeplechase and hurdles models included seven risk factors. The hurdles model included two protective factors. In both models, the odds of raceday fatality was higher with increasing firmness of the going and with increasing horse age. For the steeplechase model, starting in a steeplechase race within 7 days of any race start increased the risk of fatality. For the hurdles model, longer races increased the risk of fatality. In both models, the month and year the race was held was associated with raceday fatality.
In both models, risk factors were identified that could be potentially modified to lower raceday fatality risk. Targeted mitigation measures involving ground conditions, race planning and race intervals, alongside risk factor driven raceday enhanced veterinary inspections can reduce fatalities in Irish jump racing. Continued risk modelling and evidence-based regulatory intervention offer a pathway to improved welfare outcomes and sustained public trust in the sport.