Profiling the careers of Thoroughbred horses racing in Hong Kong between 2000 and 2010

Influence of horse demographics, country of training and race distance on the rating of Thoroughbreds

The aim of the research was to assess how age, sex, sire, country of foaling, country of training and race distance influenced the international racing and performance of Thoroughbreds. The research was based on performance ratings of 6216 horses assigned by the International Federation of Racing Authorities between 2004 and 2022. The most common sex was stallion (58.54 %) and more than half of the population consisted of 3- and 4-year-old horses (54.68 %). The majority of the horses had the USA as their country of foaling (25.92 %) and also as their country of training (24.87 %). The sire with the largest number of offspring in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) databases was Galileo (IRE) (193 horses). Four of the 10 most frequently represented sires belonged to the Sadler's Wells (USA) paternal line. The analysis of the statistics in the database as a whole established a significant (p < 0.001 ) influence of all observed factors. Stallions achieved a significantly higher rating (117.85) compared to geldings (117.17) and mares (117.13). The horses originating in Ireland achieved a statistically higher rating (117.99) than horses from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, a group of other countries designated "Others" and South Africa. Statistically conclusive differences were found between horses trained in Ireland (118.80) and all other countries except Great Britain and France. Five of the 10 sires with the best offspring rating belong to the Mr. Prospector (USA) paternal line.

Influência do gênero e da idade no estágio de desenvolvimento ósseo e longevidade atlética de equinos da raça puro sangue inglês de corridas no Brasil - estudo preliminar

Resumo O impacto do exercício de alta velocidade no sistema musculoesquelético de cavalos de corrida jovens tem sido amplamente discutido devido a preocupações com a saúde e o bem-estar animal. Este estudo investigou a correlação entre idade, grau de ossificação da epífise radial distal, sexo e longevidade da carreira de cavalos Puro Sangue Inglês de corrida no Brasil de 2012 a 2015. Realizamos uma avaliação retrospectiva de 286 radiografias dorsopalmar da região radiocarpica esquerda de cavalos jovens e seu desempenho de corrida. O fechamento epifisário radial distal foi classificado em três graus decrescentes: A, B ou C. Os dados de desempenho incluíram o número de corridas disputadas, duração da carreira atlética e o número de corridas por mês. As variáveis foram submetidas à análise de regressão. No momento do exame radiográfico, os cavalos machos eram significativamente mais velhos que as fêmeas, e os cavalos com graus de fechamento epifisário diferiram com a idade. A idade na primeira corrida foi de 33,08±3,81 meses, a média de corridas disputadas foi de 18,32±15,14 corridas, a duração da carreira atlética foi de 20,37±13,82 meses e o número de corridas realizadas por mês foi de 0,93±0,46 corridas. A idade influenciou (P>0,001) o fechamento da epífise radial distal em cavalos de corrida, mas o sexo não (P=0,218 para machos e P=0,275 para fêmeas). Uma associação inversa foi observada entre a idade na primeira corrida, o número de corridas disputadas por mês e a duração da carreira atlética. A frequência de corrida e a idade na primeira corrida influenciaram a duração da carreira atlética.

Influence of age and sex on bone development and athletic career longevity of Thoroughbred racehorses in Brazil - preliminary study

Abstract The impact of high-speed exercise on the musculoskeletal system of young racehorses has been extensively discussed because of concerns regarding animal health and welfare. This study investigated the correlation between age, degree of ossification of the distal radial epiphysis, sex, and career longevity of Thoroughbred racehorses in Brazil from 2012 to 2015. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 286 dorsopalmar radiographs of the left radiocarpal region of young horses and their racing performance. Distal radial epiphyseal closure was classified into three degrees: A, B, or C. Performance data included the number of races raced, athletic career length, and the number of races per month. The variables were subjected to regression analysis. At the time of radiographic examination, male horses were significantly older than females, and horses with epiphyseal closure degrees differed with age. Age at first race was 33.08±3.81 months, the average of races raced was 18.32±15.14 races, athletic career duration was 20.37±13.82 months, and the number of races raced per month was 0.93±0.46 races. Age influenced (P>0.001) the distal radial epiphyseal closure on racehorses, but sex did not (P=0.218 for males and P=0.275 for females). An inverse association was observed between age at the first race, the number of races raced per month, and athletic career duration. The frequency of race and the age at the first race influenced athletic career duration.

Investigation of Factors Influencing Thoroughbred Horses' Racing Career Length in Turkey

The aim of this research was to determine the average length of a Thoroughbred horse's racing career in Turkey using survival functions of Thoroughbred horses with various characteristics. In addition, the aim was to identify risk factors that could influence the duration of a Thoroughbred horse's racing career and develop a survival model that took these factors into account. A total of 11,721 Thoroughbred horses born in 2007 and later were included in the study population. The horses involved in the study were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the average length of racing career for each factor studied. Extended Cox regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors upon time of career ending and to create a survival model. Results showed that, the mean career length of Thoroughbred horses was 17.79 months (95% CI: 17.41-18.13). Also, "starting age of the race," "number of starts," "type of track where the race started," "racing on a single type racetrack" and "earning status" were found risk factors that affect the length of the racing career. Earnings was the top relative contributor to the established model, and its sole adjusted effect showed that being in the lowest earning group increased the hazard of career ending 2.28 times (95% CI:1.98-2.61) compared to horses with highest earning group. In conclusion, clear differences upon the length of racing career was observed for each investigated factor. Future studies should be considerate of these differences when analyzing population data.

Tongue-tie use in Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia

Tongue-ties (TTs) are used to aid control and aim to conservatively treat upper airway disorders in racehorses. However, welfare concerns have led to their use being banned in other equestrian disciplines. In the United Kingdom, TTs have been reported to be used in approximately 5% of starts. The frequency of their use elsewhere is unknown. The objectives of this retrospective single cohort study were to estimate the frequency of TT use within the Australian Thoroughbred (TB) racing industry, and to describe usage patterns. Data of all Australian TB horse races from 2010 to 2013 calendar years were collected by accessing the Racing Information Services Australia database. Frequency of TT use was calculated, and usage patterns were explored at the start, horse and trainer levels. Between 2010 and 2013, there were a total of 728,678 starts from 62,377 horses prepared by 4927 trainers and that raced on 1453 race dates across 402 venues. Tongue-ties were used in 21.4% of starts; however, frequency varied according to location, race, trainer and horse. At the horse level, 32.2% wore a TT at least once and 7.6% wore it at every race on record. At the trainer level, 71.3% used TTs in at least one of their horses but only 1.4% used them systematically. The present study concludes that TT use in Australian TB racehorses, during the period 2010-2013, was common and considerably higher than previously reported in the United Kingdom. Most Australian trainers use the device and appear to adapt its usage according to individual horse and race factors.

Performance selection for Thoroughbreds racing in Hong Kong

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

Different indicators of racing performance are commonly used in the racing industry to assess the genetic superiority of racing Thoroughbreds. However, how well these indicators predict the performance of future progeny or siblings varies depending on the population and circumstances in which the indicators were recorded or achieved.

OBJECTIVES

To identify heritable indicators of racing performance for horses racing in Hong Kong.

STUDY DESIGN

Heritability analysis of racing performance traits.

METHODS

Performance data on the population of Thoroughbreds racing in Hong Kong between 3 September 2000 and 12 March 2011 (n = 4947) were acquired and used to estimate the heritabilities and probability values of fixed effects and covariates for a range of racing performance traits. Heritabilities for all performance traits were estimated using a single trait animal model. Each model included, as a minimum, the effects of sex, region of origin and trainer.

RESULTS

Heritability estimates for traits relating to finish position ranged from 0.01 to 0.06. Average handicap weight had a heritability of 0.07 ± 0.03. The effects of sex (fixed) and trainer (random) were significant (P<0.05) for all performance traits relating to earnings measures, handicap weights and finish positions. The heritability of win time at 1600 m was 0.52 ± 0.06 and was the only significant estimate of heritability for win time in the current study.

CONCLUSIONS

Although significantly affected by multiple environmental factors, certain indicators of Hong Kong racing performance can be reliably used to predict the performance of the individual's progeny or siblings. However, despite Hong Kong's controlled racing environment, these indicators appear to be no more heritable than in other less controlled racing environments.