Dr Ben Barresi M.B.B.S., F.R.A.C.G.P., a Melbourne-based sports medicine doctor, is the chief medical officer for Racing Victoria and has supervised the rehabilitation of many different kinds of rider injuries.
“From the moment an injury is recognised on race day they are very well managed at the venue. We have first responders, paramedics, and experienced race day doctors who service meetings and have been doing it for decades. They are very well
supported by transport staff and our race day stewards, and they all work really well as a team,” he explains.
“There is also very close communication throughout the process – from when the injury is first sustained and during the rehabilitation phase – between welfare staff and the VJA, with Matt Hyland, Matt Pumpa, and Ron Hall.
“Once hospitals have done their assessments of an injury, they can send me a copy of the X-rays or a photo, and I can look at them online. I can think about what might need to happen, if they need surgery or not.
We can get very wide and knowledgeable advice early on to coordinate appropriate care in the least invasive way for our jockeys.”
Planning the return to action is key. “Often, they have to wait for injuries to heal, but when the injuries are sufficiently healed, they can start an active program under the supervision of a physiotherapist or a suitably qualified therapist, starting with light exercise or, if they can, running.”
Riders with leg injuries can’t run, but even then, says Barresi, they can work on their upper body strength using weights. “When they can stand, they might be able to do some work on a bike, some swimming or hydro exercise, walking in the water, running in the water.”
“There are different activities you can plan to keep them fit and stimulated while they are recuperating, but always with the jockey at the centre of it all. Then we start to map out goals to get them back to more activity. Some more fitness work, modified work, some work back at the stable, then some work handling horses and, when they are well enough, some work back on horses. They will start with some slow work on track, some faster work/gallops, jump outs, before getting them back to the races.”