AUSTRALIAN jockeys will soon wear helmets that dramatically reduce concussion and head trauma.
Australian Racing Board chief executive Andrew Harding described the helmet as a radical innovation that would attract world-wide attention.
"The helmet has enormously greater protection properties when a jockey has a fall," Harding said of the helmet, manufactured by Albion Sports.
"I call it the super helmet. There's been a lot of testing. It's been taken to all the gun riders who've given very positive feedback.
"We're pretty excited that we're going to do something truly important to help the safety of the riders."
Harding said the helmet had been a project of Albion Sport - the producers of the baggy green worn by Australia's cricketers - the University of New South Wales, the Rural Industry Research and Development corporation and the ARB.
Albion Sport chief Brendan Denning said the aim of the helmet was to significantly reduce permanent disability and severity of concussion.
"It does something that helmets haven't been able to do before," he said.
"At the top end it reduces the likelihood of the severe injury - the permanent, total disability injury - by 50 per cent.
"And, at the other end of the scale, it reduces the severity of concussion. No helmet in any industry, let alone horse riding or equestrian, has been able to address both ends.
"Basically, it protects from skull fracture and brain damage and lessens the severe concussion."
Denning said the lightweight, comfortable helmet was undergoing laboratory tests with a view to distribution in August.
Harding said the racing industry was moving towards concussion testing and the introduction of the "super helmet".
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