Updated: 1 August 2022
Issued: 22 October 2014
Introduction
In the interests of horse and rider safety, Racing Victoria has developed a system of assessing and monitoring the suitability of horses that have sustained a major fracture and/or undergone major orthopaedic surgery to return to racing.
For the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to the Rules of Racing, Racing Victoria directs and requires all trainers to adhere to this notice.
1. Major Fractures and Orthopaedic Surgery
This protocol is intended to identify racing horses that sustain major fractures which are treated conservatively or by major orthopaedic surgery and which seek to return to racing.
Major orthopaedic surgery includes, but is not limited to, fracture repair with the placement of surgical implants. The treating veterinary surgeon must provide appropriate advice to a trainer on whether an injury should be classified as a major orthopaedic injury.
For the purposes of these guidelines a major fracture, where a horse may be expected to return to racing includes, but is not limited to:
- fractures to third metacarpus and metatarsus (cannon bone);
- fractures of the proximal phalanx (pastern);
- slab fractures in the knee or hock joint (no matter what the direction of a fracture line might be);
- fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones (midbody and basal);
- stress fractures of long bones (for example humerus and tibia) and pelvis.
2. Reporting
Trainers must report all horses that have sustained a major fracture and or undergone major orthopaedic surgery to Racing Victoria within 7 days of the procedure. (AR 105).
The form to complete is the Compulsory Reporting of Major Fractures and Orthopaedic Surgery Form.1
1 Available at: https://cdn.racing.com/-/media/rv/2019-rv/the-horse/files/november/veterinary-compulsoryreporting-of-major-fractures-and-orthopaedic-surgery.pdf?la=en
Prior to racing again, such horses must be issued with a Major Fracture and Orthopaedic Surgery Veterinary Clearance to Race (see below).
3. The Major Fracture and Orthopaedic Surgery Veterinary Clearance to Race
Procedure
In order to obtain a Major Fracture and Orthopaedic Surgery Veterinary Clearance to Race, trainers must complete the following procedures and provide the supporting certification by a private veterinary surgeon:
(a) Trainers must submit a comprehensive clinical report by the veterinary surgeon who performed the surgical procedure or who managed the injury conservatively, providing details of the nature of the injury, the procedure performed, post-injury management recommended and the prognosis for a return to racing.
(b) At the time that the trainer and the stable’s Permitted Veterinarian are satisfied that the horse is in a suitable condition to return to racing, a veterinary examination of the injured structures must be performed according to the following protocols
(c) Both the affected limb and the contra-lateral limb must be radiographed and examined by stable’s Permitted Veterinarian (or other veterinarian approved by Racing Victoria). The examination must include the following radiographic views for fractures that have occurred in the fetlock / distal cannon region:
- Standing DP (dorsal 15o proximal-palmar distal view)
- Standing Lateral (latero-medial view)
- Lateral Oblique (dorso 10o proximo 30o lateral palmaro-distal medial oblique view).
- Medial Oblique (dorso 10o proximo- 30o medial palmaro-distal lateral oblique view).
- Flexed LM (flexed latero-medial view)
- Flexed DP (flexed dorsal 15o distal palmaro-proximal oblique view)
- Radiographs of other regions should be performed according accepted contemporary radiographic best practice.
A report of the examination must be provided to Racing Victoria, together with an opinion from the stable’s Permitted Veterinarian as to the horse’s suitability to undertake a 1000 metre gallop in front of a Steward.
(d) On receipt of the examination report which includes an opinion from the stable’s Permitted Veterinarian that the horse is suitable to undertake a 1000m gallop in front of a Steward, Racing Victoria will consider the report and request any further material considered appropriate. Following that consideration (and any further material), Racing Victoria may approve the horse to undertake a 1000m gallop in front of a Steward.
(e) Following the 1000m gallop infront of a Steward, the trainer must arrange for a follow-up clinical examination to be performed by the stable’s Permitted Veterinarian.
A report of that veterinary examination must then be provided to Racing Victoria, including an opinion about whether the horse is suitable to participate in an Official Barrier Trial.
(f) On receipt of satisfactory clinical report by Racing Victoria, and with prior approval of the Stewards the horse must then undertake an official barrier trial.
(g) Following the official barrier trial, a follow up clinical veterinary examination must then be performed by the stable’s Permitted Veterinarian and a report of that examination and certification of suitability to race must be provided to Racing Victoria prior to the horse being nominated to race.
(h) If the examining Permitted Veterinarian has any doubt about the suitability of a horse to return to racing, further diagnostic procedures must be undertaken to establish the suitability of the horse for racing.
4. Ongoing Monitoring
The trainer must, in conjunction with the stable Permitted Veterinarian, implement a system of monitoring the musculoskeletal health of the horse with special attention being paid to the affected and the contra-lateral limbs.
If a lameness or evidence of any musculoskeletal condition is detected at any stage, the attending Permitted Veterinarian should undertake whatever diagnostic procedures may be necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis and provide a report to Racing Victoria outlining the nature of the condition, the diagnostic procedures performed and, an assessment of the horse’s suitability to continue racing.
Any questions in respect of this notice may be directed to Racing Victoria Veterinary Services Department on (03) 9258 4374 or Email: veterinaryadmin@racingvictoria.net.au