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The Equine Injury Database has reviewed records of more than 1.8 million racing starts and has determined the number of Thoroughbreds that are injured in a race and subsequently die or are euthanized within 72 hours after the race. A rate of 1.91 deaths per 1,000 race starts was calculated for the five-year period beginning in 2009 and ending in 2013.

For 2013, the overall rate of fatal injuries was 1.90 per 1,000 starts. The rate in turf races (1.38) was lower than on dirt (2.11). Racetracks with artificial surfaces had the lowest rate at 1.22.

Other facts that emerged showed that races shorter than six furlongs produced more fatalities (2.39) than races longer than a mile (1.39). Two-year-old horses had a fatality rate of 1.63, three-year-olds had a rate of 1.87, and horses over the age of three years had a rate of 2.00. Figures were compiled under the auspices of The Jockey Club.

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