Age at first start and racing career of a cohort of Australian Standardbred horses

OBJECTIVE Compare the career profiles of a cohort of Standardbred horses that first raced as 2-year-olds with those that started their racing careers at a later age. METHOD Retrospective analysis of the racing records of all foals born in New South Wales in the 2000 foaling season. RESULTS The career records of 999 horses were analysed. Almost half (43.9%) first raced as 2-year-olds and one-third (33.9%) as 3-year-olds. The median career duration for horses that first raced as 2-year-olds was 2.93 years (interquartile range (IQR) 2.70-3.16), which was significantly greater than the median for horses that first raced at 3, 4 or ≥5 years old (P < 0.001). Males, and horses that first raced as 2-year-olds, earned significantly more prize money than females or horses that started racing aged ≥3 years (P < 0.001). The population median number of career starts was 28.0 (IQR 8-64). Males, and horses that first raced as 2-year-olds, had significantly more career starts than females or horses that started racing aged ≥3 years (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study found no evidence suggesting that racing as a 2-year-old had a deleterious effect on a horse's racing career.     

Association between the purchase price of Thoroughbred yearlings and their performance during the 2- and 3-year-old racing seasons

OBJECTIVES Describe the association between the purchase price of Thoroughbred yearlings sold in Australia and racing performance as 2- and 3-year-olds. METHODS Race performance data of 2773 Thoroughbred yearlings sold at auction during 2003 were collected. Associations between purchase price and the probability of starting, the number of race starts and the prize money earned were examined. RESULTS In total, 2206 (79.6%) horses started a race. The mean number of race starts was six and the mean prize money earned was A$24,420. A total of 1711 (61.5%) horses earned prize money, 402 (14.4%) earned more than their purchase price, 312 (11.2%) earned more than A$40,000, the estimated cost of training, and 142 (5.1%) earned A$40,000 more than their purchase price. There was a positive association between purchase price category and the probability of starting, number of starts, earning prize money and earning greater than A$40,000 (P < 0.001). Purchase price category was negatively associated with the probability of earning greater than the purchase price (P < 0.001). The proportion of horses earning greater than the purchase price plus $40,000 was significantly different (P = 0.03) among the five price categories. CONCLUSION Yearling purchase price was positively associated with all race performance outcomes measured and researchers examining the race performance of yearlings purchased at sales should consider including purchase price when modelling. The Thoroughbred yearling market in Australia behaves in a similar manner to the United States market; owners pay a premium to enter the sport of racing and an additional premium in the quest to own a champion.     

Profiling the New Zealand Thoroughbred racing industry. 2. Conditions interfering with training and racing

AIM: To describe and enumerate conditions that interrupted training and racing in a population of Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand.

METHODS: A longitudinal study design was used to collect data on horses training under the care of 20 licensed racehorse trainers from venues in the mid to lower regions of the North Island between October 1997 and July 2000. Incidence rates were reported for first and second occurrences for different categories of musculoskeletal injury (MSI), and first occurrences of upper and lower respiratory tract disease, using training days as time-at-risk. The proportion of horses that retired or died due to MSI, respiratory tract or miscellaneous conditions was used to estimate risk of exit for each type of event. Duration of training preparation, starts per 100 training days, and proportion of starts that ended in first, second or third place, were calculated for horses at risk for first MSI, and all subsequent MSIs. In training preparations that had at least one start and that ended in MSI, the cumulative percentage of MSIs by day of diagnosis was reported for 0–21 days after the last start in the preparation.

RESULTS: Horses (n=1,571) were followed during 3,333 training preparations and 392,290 training days. Events associated with the end of a training preparation or spell period included MSI (n=834), respiratory event (RE; n=165), miscellaneous event (ME; n=58), and voluntary retirements (n=360). Causes of MSI included lameness (n=400), shin soreness (n=207), tendon and ligament conditions (n=98), injury or laceration (n=56), fractures (n=55), and back disorders (n=18). MSIs involved the limbs in 97% of cases, and the lower limbs up to the carpus or hock in the fore- and hindlimbs, respectively, in 81% of cases. Most (93%) lower limb conditions involved a forelimb while 70% of MSIs that involved structures above the carpus or hock involved a hindlimb. Incidence rates (IRs) are reported for each age group for first and second occurrences of MSI, and first occurrence of upper and lower respiratory tract disease. The risk of MSI was higher in horses that had incurred one previous MSI (RR 1.4, 95% CI=1.2–1.7; p>0.001) than in horses without any previous MSI. The proportion of horses that exited due to death or retirement varied with the type of injury, and the highest proportion was associated with recurrent fractures, and tendon and ligament injuries (46.2 and 44.4%, respectively). The overall IR of horses exiting the study due to retirement or death increased with increasing age, and was higher in females than males for horses aged 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 years. A reduction in the number of starts per 100 training days was observed in horses aged ≥5 years when returning to training after an initial MSI (p=0.004). Male horses of all age groups and females younger than 4 years had shorter median training preparations (p>0.05) when returning to training after an initial MSI compared with preparations at risk for a first occurrence of MSI. Between 27 and 62% of cases of MSI that occurred in training preparations after at least one start were reported on the day of the last start, and the remainder were reported in the days to weeks following the last start of that preparation.

CONCLUSION: Incidence rates, and proportions of affected horses that retired or died as a result of injury or disorder varied with type of injury and age of horse. Horses returning to training after an initial MSI were at higher risk of subsequent MSIs and showed changes in duration of training preparations, but little change in starts per 100 training days or probability of placing in each start. MSIs in racing horses were less likely to be reported on the day of a race than at other times in the training preparation for all ages except 2-year-olds.     

Investigation of the effect of Equivac® HeV Hendra virus vaccination on Thoroughbred racing performance

Objective

To evaluate the effect of Equivac® HeV Hendra virus vaccine on Thoroughbred racing performance.

Design

Retrospective pre‐post intervention study.

Methods

Thoroughbreds with at least one start at one of six major south‐eastern Queensland race tracks between 1 July 2012 and 31 December 2016 and with starts in the 3‐month periods before and after Hendra virus vaccinations were identified. Piecewise linear mixed models compared the trends in ‘Timeform rating’ and ‘margin to winner’ before and after initial Hendra virus vaccination. Generalised linear mixed models similarly compared the odds of ‘winning’, ‘placing’ (1st–3rd) and ‘winning any prize money’. Timeform rating trends were also compared before and after the second and subsequent vaccinations.

Results

Analysis of data from 4208 race starts by 755 horses revealed no significant difference in performance in the 3 months before versus 3 months after initial Hendra vaccination for Timeform rating (P = 0.32), ‘Margin to winner’ (P = 0.45), prize money won (P = 0.25), wins (P = 0.64) or placings (P = 0.77). Further analysis for Timeform rating for 7844 race starts by 928 horses failed to identify any significant change in Timeform rating trends before versus after the second and subsequent vaccinations (P = 0.16) or any evidence of a cumulative effect for the number of vaccines received (P = 0.22).

Conclusion

No evidence of an effect of Hendra virus vaccination on racing performance was found. The findings allow owners, trainers, industry regulators and animal health authorities to make informed decisions about vaccination.     

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

Reasons for performing study: Research investigating trends in racehorse careers require a benchmark for accurate comparison. Currently little whole population data exists for horses racing in Australia. Objectives: To determine the range and variation in career length and number of career starts for horses racing in Australia. To document and provide evidence regarding the current differences between the sexes for career length and careers starts. Methods: Racing data were collected for Thoroughbreds over a 10‐year period. Career length, number of career starts and spells per year were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using the statistical package R. Results: A total of 2,782,774 performance records yielded career information for 164,046 horses. Median career length and number of career starts for the population were 14.7 months and 10 starts, respectively. Significant differences (P<0.001) were present between the sexes for all career outcomes. Between 2000 and 2010, the percentage of Thoroughbreds racing in Australia with careers longer than 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 56.65, 32.35, 16.66 and 7.74, respectively. Conclusions and potential relevance: Clear differences in career outcomes exist between intact males, females and geldings racing in Australia. Future research should be conscious of these differences when analysing population data.     

Reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses in north-east Victoria

Objective To evaluate the reproductive efficiency of horse farms in north-east Victoria and identify aspects of management to be targeted for improving reproductive efficiency. Design Retrospective study. Procedure Records from seven Thoroughbred (TB) and four Standardbred (STB) studs in north-east Victoria from 1990 to 2001 were reviewed; 8813 cycles in 4455 mares were analysed. TB mares were inseminated by natural mating, whereas STB mares (89%) were artificially inseminated. Results The overall early pregnancy rate per cycle was 68.8% for TB mares and for STB mares, 68.3%. Multiple pregnancy per cycle was more frequent in TB (8.3%) than in STB (4.6%) mares (P < 0.001). Early embryonic death occurred in 7.1% of TB and 7.5% of STB pregnancies. TB mares had fewer inseminations per cycle (1.03) than STB mares (1.43) (P < 0.001). There was a significantly lower proportion of barren reproductive status within the TB than the STB mares. Pregnancy rate per cycle among stallions ranged from 48% to 79%. Conclusions On-farm pregnancy rates in both breeds were higher than previously reported and likely reflect improvements in reproductive management. The disparity between breeds in the inseminations per cycle and proportion of barren mares exposed the differing structures of the two industries, and presents a target for improving the reproductive efficiency in STBs. The difference between breeds in the multiple pregnancy rate per cycle likely reflects the higher ovulation rate of TB mares. The variability in pregnancy rate per cycle between the 22 stallions was associated with differences in individual inherent fertility and the quality of stallion management.     

Risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries of the lower limbs in Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand

AIM: To investigate risk factors for injury to musculoskeletal structures of the lower fore- and hind-limbs of Thoroughbred horses training and racing in New Zealand.

METHODS: A case-control study analysed by logistic regression was used to compare explanatory variables for musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in racehorses. The first dataset, termed the Training dataset, involved 459 first-occurrence cases of lower-limb MSI in horses in training, and the second, the Starting dataset, comprised a subset of those horses that had started in at least one trial or race in the training preparation that ended with MSI (n=294). All training preparations for horses that did not suffer from MSI for which complete data were available were used in the analyses as controls, and provided 2,181 and 1,639 preparations for the Training and Starting datasets, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors, and results were reported as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: Horses aged ≥5 years were at higher risk of injury than 2-year-olds. Elevated odds of MSI occurred in horses in the Starting dataset that were training in the 1997–1998 year compared with the 1999–2000 year, and in those horses where trials comprised >20% of all starts in a preparation. Training preparations that ended in winter, and horses in their third or later training preparation, had lower odds of MSI compared with those ending in other seasons or the first preparation, respectively. Reduced odds of MSI were observed in preparations in which starts occurred compared with those that had no starts, and in the Starting dataset, preparations that included more than one start had a reduced likelihood of MSI compared with preparations that had only one start. In the Training dataset, preparations longer than 20 weeks were associated with reduced odds of MSI compared with those shorter than 20 weeks.

Cumulative racing distance in the last 30 days of a training preparation was best modelled with linear and quadratic terms. Results indicated that increasing cumulative racing distances were associated with an initial reduction in the odds of MSI that then levelled out and finally appeared to increase again as the explanatory variable continued to increase. The risk of MSI varied significantly between trainers.

CONCLUSION: This study identified intrinsic (age) and extrinsic risk factors for MSI in training and racing Thoroughbreds in New Zealand. The risk of MSI initially decreased, then increased, as cumulative racing distance increased. Significant variation between trainers indicated management and training methods influence the risk of MSI.     

Incidence rate of musculoskeletal injuries and determinants of time to recovery in young Australian Thoroughbred racehorses

Objective To describe the incidence rate of musculoskeletal (MS) injuries and investigate the factors that influence recovery from MS injury in young Thoroughbred horses in Australia. Methods Training and injury data were collected at fortnightly intervals from 14 trainers in New South Wales. Incidence rates were calculated for initial injuries stratified by age‐class and sex. Survival analysis methods were used to investigate the time to recovery after the first MS injury (measured as a start in a race or barrier trial). Results For the 248 racehorses enrolled, there were 428 injuries recorded; 2‐year‐olds were 2.99‐fold more likely than 3‐year‐olds to sustain an MS injury. The cumulative percentage of horses that had recovered within 6 months was 55%. The time to recovery was longest in horses whose fast gallop speed prior to injury was < 890 m/min. Conclusion This study supports the finding that shin soreness is the most common MS injury in young Australian Thoroughbreds. There was an increased rate of MS injury in 2‐year‐olds compared with 3‐year‐olds. However, it was impossible to determine if the increased risk in 2‐year‐olds was related to age, the start of training or a combination of both. The study also found that horses performing at higher exercise speeds prior to injury were more likely to recover. There was a significant effect of trainer, suggesting that other factors related to trainer may influence the time to the recovery. Additional research is required to understand the determinants of time to recovery.     

Risk factors for injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon and suspensory apparatus in Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand

AIM: To investigate risk factors for injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and suspensory apparatus (SA) of the forelimbs in Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand.

METHODS: Poisson and negative binomial regression, with exposure time represented by cumulative training days for each horse, were used to relate explanatory variables to the incidence rate (IR) of cases of inflammation of the SDFT (n=51), and injuries involving the SA (n=48) in a population of 1,571 commercially-trained racehorses over 554,745 study days. Only the first occurrence of an injury for any one horse was eligible for inclusion. Separate analyses were run for data from horses in training regardless of whether they had started in a trial or race, and using a subset of these data restricted to those preparations associated with at least one start in a trial or race. Results were reported as incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: Male horses had a higher risk of injury to the SA (IRR 2.57; p=0.005) and tended to have a higher risk of injury to the SDFT (IRR 1.74; p=0.09) than female horses. Increasing age was associated with increased risk of injury. Horses aged 4 and ≥5 years were 6.76 (p<0.001) and 15.26 (p<0.001) times more likely to incur injury to the SDFT, and 2.91 (p=0.02) and 3.54 (p=0.005) times more likely to incur injury to the SA, respectively, than 2-year-olds. Horses were more likely to suffer an injury to the SDFT or SA in a training preparation that was not associated with any starts in official trials or races compared with those preparations that were associated with more than one start (p<0.001), and more likely to injure the SA compared with preparations containing one start (p=0.03). The IR of injury to the SDFT tended to be lower between November–January (IRR 0.78; p=0.08) and February-April (IRR 0.75; p=0.08) compared with August–October. Incidence of injury to the SDFT or SA was not associated with the cumulative distance raced in the last 30 days of a training preparation.

CONCLUSION: This study identified risk factors for injury to the SDFT and SA in Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand. Injuries were more likely in males, older horses and in horses in training preparations without any starts. There was no evidence of association between injury and cumulative high-speed exercise.     

Risk of fatality and causes of death of Thoroughbred horses associated with racing in Victoria, Australia: 1989-2004

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Determining the risk of fatality of Thoroughbred horses while racing is essential to assess the impact of intervention measures designed to minimise such fatalities. OBJECTIVES: To measure the risk of racehorse fatality in jump and flat starts on racecourses in Victoria, Australia, over a 15 year period and to determine proportional mortality rates for specific causes of death. METHODS: All fatalities of Thoroughbred horses that occurred during or within 24 h of a race were identified from a database. The risk of a start resulting in a racehorse fatality in all races and within flat and jump races, proportional mortality rates, population attributable risk, population attributable fraction and risk ratios were calculated along with 95% confidence intervals. Poisson regression was also performed to estimate risk ratios. RESULTS: There were 514 fatalities over the 15 year period; 316 in flat races and 198 in jump races. The risk of fatality was 0.44 per 1000 flat starts and 8.3 per 1000 jump starts (18.9 x greater). The risk of fatality on city tracks was 1.1 per 1000 starts whereas on country tracks it was 0.57 per 1000 starts. Of the 316 fatalities in flat races, 73.4% were due to limb injury, 2.5% to cranial or vertebral injury and 19.0% were sudden deaths. Of the 198 fatalities in jump races, 68.7% were due to limb injury, 16.2% to cranial or vertebral injury and 3.5% were sudden deaths. The risk of fatality in flat starts increased between 1989 and 2004 but the risk in jump starts remained unchanged over the 15 year period. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of fatality in flat starts was lower in Victoria than North America and the UK but the risk in jump starts was greater. Catastrophic limb injury was the major reason for racehorse fatality in Victoria but there was a larger percentage of sudden deaths than has been reported overseas. The risk of fatality in jump starts remained constant over the study period despite jump racing reviews that recommended changes to hurdle and steeple races to improve safety. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: This study provides important benchmarks for the racing industry to monitor racetrack fatalities and evaluate intervention strategies.     

The association of 2‐year‐old training milestones with career length and racing success in a sample of Thoroughbred horses in New Zealand

Reasons for performing study: There is increasing evidence that exercise early in life has a positive effect on musculoskeletal health. At present, there is little whole population research investigating the effect of racing as 2‐year‐olds on future racing career. Objectives: To investigate the association between attaining training milestones as 2‐year‐olds with length of career and racing success in Thoroughbred horses in New Zealand. Methods: Retrospective data were obtained of the 2001/02‐born Thoroughbred foal crop. The 3 training milestones were: registered with a trainer, trialled and raced. The association of the training milestones with career length was measured using the outcomes: number of race starts and number of years raced, in a Cox regression model. Logistic regression models analysed the association of the training milestones with the outcomes: won or placed in a race. Linear regression was performed to assess the association of training milestones with total career earnings. Results: Of 4683 horses in the population; 3152 horses were registered with a trainer, 2661 horses trialled and 2109 horses raced. Horses that raced as 2‐year‐olds had significantly (P<0.001) more race starts than those first raced as 3‐year‐olds or older, this was also true when the 2‐year‐old year data were omitted. Horses that raced as 2‐year‐olds had significantly (P<0.001) more years racing. Horses registered with a trainer, trialled or raced as 2‐year‐olds were more likely to have won or been placed in a race than those that achieved the milestones as 3‐year‐olds or older. Horses that first trialled and raced as 2‐year‐olds had greater total earnings than those that first trialled or raced at a later age. Conclusions and potential relevance: Two‐year‐old training milestones had a strong association with positive racing career outcomes. Horses in training or racing as 2‐year‐olds may have better musculoskeletal health throughout life than horses that are first in training or racing at a later age.     

Genetic correlations for foal and studbook traits with racing traits and implications for selection strategies in the Finnhorse and Standardbred trotter

Genetic correlations for body measurements and conformation and functional traits in foals and studbook horses with racing traits were estimated in the Finnhorse and Standardbred. Genetic response and accuracy were estimated using records of animal, half‐sibs and parents in selection scenarios for racing traits, for foal and racing traits, for studbook and racing traits, and using records of animal, half‐sibs and parents for foal traits and racing traits of parents. Racing time and earnings were the breeding objective. Low‐to‐moderate genetic correlations for body measurements and racing traits indicated that selection favours bigger horses at all ages. Being mainly favourable for the breeding objective, genetic correlations for conformation and functional traits with racing traits were highest for the foal traits of type, trot and overall grade and for the studbook traits of character and movements. Genetic correlations for foal and studbook conformation with racing traits were low in the Finnhorse and moderate to high in the Standardbred. In foals, the highest genetic correlations were for trot with racing time (?0.54) and with earnings (0.52) in the Finnhorse, and for overall grade with racing time (?0.54) and with earnings (0.54) in the Standardbred. In studbook horses, genetic correlations were high for character with racing time and earnings in the Finnhorse (?0.68, 0.61) and in the Standardbred (?0.63, 0.70), and for movements with racing time and earnings in the Finnhorse (?0.70, 0.69) and in the Standardbred (?0.90, 0.88). To increase accuracy of conformation and functional traits, foal traits would be more useful in the index with racing traits, as being less preselected than studbook traits. The foal traits (type, trot, overall grade) having moderate heritability and genetic correlations with racing traits would be useful in multi‐trait index before a racing career, where the greatest gain is because of a shorter generation interval. It would be feasible to implement for AI stallions.