I am dismayed after having read the article published by the Sporting Post about the accident which took place at Turffontein on 7 April resulting in Jockey Anthony Delpech being seriously injured, and the further incidents which took place in getting the necessary medical assistance to him on course.
Racehorse owner Ron Caris writes that we all know that horse racing carries an element of danger to both rider and horse during a race, but are the authorities doing enough to render assistance to persons/horses during a race if things go horribly wrong ?
I have my doubts and concerns.
I cannot speak for other racing centres as I reside in Cape Town, but I know for a fact that mostly all trainers send their horses to take part in Gallops at Durbanville and Kenilworth Race Courses and believe me there is not a Doctor or Paramedic in sight at these centres when the gallops are taking place.
What is the difference between a horse galloping along the home straight during a gallop at 50-60 kilometers per hour and at the same speed in a race?
These are animals and a jockey/groom can be dislodged just as quickly in a gallop as he can in a race.
What immediate medical assistance are there at gallops? The answer is nothing.
With our morning traffic situation here in Cape Town it would take an ambulance a minimum of one hour or more to get through the traffic and get to the race course. Has anyone in authority ever given any thought to something like this or must we wait for a death to occur on our race tracks/training tracks before some serious action is taken.
Health and safety is very prominent these days in all walks of life and even more so in sport.
In schools you are not allowed to hold a rugby game at high school level unless there is a fully qualified paramedic present and some schools insist on a Trauma Doctor being present as well. The same goes for football games and in actual fact any contact sport. Even provincial Tennis games have medical personal on duty. One is not even allowed to go along to a race car circuit to test your own car/bike without a paramedic being in attendance.
So what makes horse racing any different?
I am fully aware that on 7 April there was an on course Doctor in attendance ( as the rules state there must be a doctor on course before racing may take place) but was he a fully qualified Trauma Doctor?
Also the Paramedics in attendance – were they trauma trained?
The other question which now comes to mind is that all Jockey’s carry their medical particulars with them as one of the rules of the National Horseracing Authority are that a Jockey can be asked to produce his medical insurance book/certificate before he rides. Surely this must have been in Jockey Delpech’s kit bag and should have been given to the ambulance that transported him to the hospital?
Is it perhaps not the right time for trainers and jockeys to all sit down with the racing authorities and sort this entire health and safety issue out once and for all and draw up a detailed set or rules/plans for all race courses and training centres?
This so that there can be no further confusion, misinformation and most important the Jockeys and their families will have peace of mind that in the event of an accident the most speedy and best possible medical attention is immediately available. By this I mean fully trained and qualified Trauma personal and not just ordinary medical doctors and paramedics.
If what I have stated here makes no sense or those in authority think I am talking through my hat then I apologise.
However I would like to read what other racegoers and race followers have to say.
Ed – we have over many months repeatedly requested raceday medical protocols from the racing operators and the NHA – nothing has been forthcoming.
