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Jockey Medical Information


Injury and Illness Management Protocol


The obligations of a Jockey in relation to injury and illness are contained in the ‘Riders and Jockeys’ Chapter of the Rules of Racing. 


  • A Jockey who sustains an injury and/or has been declared medically unfit to ride, must not ride in a Race unless they are declared fit by the IHRB Chief Medical Officer or by a designated IHRB Medical Officer: 


  • A Jockey must comply with these Injury and Illness Management Protocols, the Concussion Protocols and any other Medical Protocols as prescribed by the IHRB; 


  • Any Jockey who, since last riding under these Rules, has sustained an injury or concussion or any other significant illness whilst abroad must inform and engage with the IHRB Chief Medical Officer as soon as possible, or within 48 hours of their return to Ireland.



Protocols

  • Where the situation arises that a Jockey has not been medically cleared in advance of a racemeeting, they must liaise with the IHRB Chief Medical Officer to arrange to for assesment on the track by the IHRB  Medical Officer on duty on race day for clearance prior to their first ride. For example, where a Jockey is placed on Medical Alert for a minor injury and wishes to ride the following day, they may not have the opportunity for review with the Chief Medical Officer prior to presentation at the Racecourse. 

  • If a Jockey suffers a fall or is injured in any way on a raceday, they must present themselves to the IHRB Medical Officer on duty before being weighed out for any subsequent race or before leaving the racecourse. If the Jockey cannot do this due to confirmed incapacity, the IHRB Medical Officer will make alternative arrangements for recording details of the injury suffered. 

  • Where a Jockey is deemed injured or unwell on a raceday or otherwise, such that they are deemed medically unfit to ride, they will be placed on the Medical Alert sheet by the IHRB Medical Officer or IHRB Chief Medical Officer.   

  • While on Medical Alert a Jockey is not permitted to ride in any race.  They must follow the advice from the Chief Medical Officer regarding assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, before clearance to return to race ride.  

  • For certain injuries or medical conditions, a medical report from a medical specialist may be required to be submitted to the IHRB Chief Medical Officer before an assessment can be made as to the fitness of the Jockey to resume race riding. The IHRB Chief Medical Officer has the right to seek such reports and shall advise a Jockey of these requirements in such cases and arrange referral where appropriate. 

  • Where a Jockey wishes to seek a second opinion with regards to their injury or illness management, this will be facilitated by the IHRB Chief Medical Officer. 

  • When a Jockey is fit to return to race riding, as determined by the IHRB Chief Medical Officer, or IHRB Medical Officer when appropriate, they will be removed from the Medical Alert and permitted to return to race riding. 

  • Jockeys are required to report injuries and illnesses sustained on non-racedays to the IHRB Chief Medical Officer. This ensures that a Jockey is receiving the correct treatment and rehabilitation for the injury or illness and additionally that the IHRB Chief Medical Officer has a complete medical history of all Jockeys. This also ensures that a Jockey is not attempting to race ride whilst potentially medically unfit.  

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Drug and Alcohol Testing

Testing can occur on any racecourse on any day and without advance notice.

Testing and medication use
Concussion

  • Baseline Neuropsychological Testing

    All jockeys will have baseline testing every two years. 
     
    Concussion testing will take place at one of four regional centres. These centres are located in private (independent) clinics or G.P. surgeries and trained nurses at each location carry out the NP testing on behalf of the IHRB.   

    You must bring valid Photo ID to the appointment.  

    Each jockey will be required to:  

    • Complete a computerised Neuro-psychological test called ImPACT

    • A series of pen and paper tests (SCOLP, Digit Span, SDMT:Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Colour Trails, STROOP)  

    • GAD7 and PHQ9 Questionnaires  

    The process will take about 60 minutes to complete. The tests will then be evaluated by one of a team of Clinical Neuro-psychologists retained by the IHRB. 
     

  • Only the below centres are approved to conduct IHRB concussion tests 

    Mallow, Co. Cork  

    Red House Family Practice, Mallow Primary Health Care Centre, Mallow Business 
    Park, Mallow, Co Cork P51 PE00. 
    Tel: 022 – 21478 
    Contact email if necessary: [email protected]  

     

    Naas, Co. Kildare  

    Vista Primary Care Centre, Ballymore Eustace Road, Naas, Co Kildare 
    Tel: 045 – 848701 / 086 0282977 
    Contact Persons if necessary: Maria Lloyd  

     

    Santry, Co. Dublin  

    Sports Surgery Clinic, Unit 10 Gulliver’s Retail Park, Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9 
    Tel: 01 - 5262030 
    Contact email if necessary: [email protected]  

     

    Belfast, Northern Ireland 

    Sports Medicine NI, Unit 3, 40 Montgomery Road, Belfast BT6 9HL 
    Tel:- 028 90190290 
    Contact email if necessary: [email protected] 

  • Concussion Screening on raceday

    Any Jockey who has a fall on Raceday must present themselves to the IHRB Medical Officer at the track for a concussion screening assessment, which includes the following: 

    • Symptom Check eg headache, nausea, dizziness
    • Maddox Questions eg "what track are we at today?", "what horse won the Derby this year?"
    • Balance Testing
    • Monitoring Clinical Signs
    • Viewing Footage of the Fall 
    • Helmet Check 
    If a concussion is suspected after the screening assessment, the Jockey will be subject to a full concussion assessment by the IHRB Medical Officer. The full concussion assessment includes the SCAT-6 Concussion Assessment Tool. 
    For those cases meeting the criteria for immediate removal or with an obvious concussion, the SCAT 6 may not always be completed. 

    The IBRB Medical Officer may stand the Jockey down temporarily on raceday to complete their assessment. 

    Where no diagnosis of concussion has been made, the Jockey may return to race riding on the same day. 

    Where a diagnosis of concussion has been made, the Jockey will be stood down and placed on Medical Alert. The IHRB Chief Medical Officer will be informed, and the Jockey must comply with all directions of the IHRB Chief Medical Officer in relation to their treatment and rehabiliation prior to being permitted to return to race riding. 

  • After Diagnosis of concussion

    • The Jockey will be reviewed and advised by the IHRB Chief Medical Officer and placed on the Return to Ride Protocol. 
    • The Jockey may only return to riding out and race riding when the IHRB Chief Medical Officer is satisfied that it is safe for the Jockey to do so and following an independent post-concussion evaluation. 
    • The post-concussion assessment will be arranged by the IHRB at an approved clinic when the IHRB Chief Medical Officer deems the Jockey fit to undergo the assessment. This will not take place before seven days post-concussion and is decided based on the clinical status of the Jockey. 
    • The post-concussion assessment includes: 
      • Neuro-psychological testing with comparison made to baseline neuro-psychological tests by an IHRB approved Neuropsychologist.
      • Assessment by an IHRB approved sports physician. 
      • Buffalo Test, balance testing and any other assessment measure as approved by the IHRB
    • If a Jockey fails the post-concussion assessment, they will remain restricted from riding by the IHRB Chief Medical Officer. 
    • The Jockey may only be referred for further post-concussion evaluations after intervals of at least seven days or such other time frame as directed by the IHRB Chief Medical Officer. 
    • The Jockey may be required by the IHRB Chief Medical Officer to attend for examination by a consultant Neurologist or Neurosurgeon. 
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Post Concussion

Return to riding protocol

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