Horse racing is a competitive equestrian sport involving horses ridden by jockeys over set distances, often on flat tracks or over obstacles. It is characterized by a variety of race types, including thoroughbred, harness, and steeplechase, each with distinct rules and traditions. The sport emphasizes speed, stamina, and strategy, with races typically categorized by distance, surface type, and horse age or breed. Horse racing plays a significant role in the equine industry, influencing breeding, training, and veterinary care practices. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiological demands, training methodologies, and health considerations associated with horse racing.
Couetil L, Ivester K, Barnum S, Pusterla N.Equine asthma is a common cause of poor performance in racehorses but it is unclear if respiratory viruses contribute to its etiology. The objective of the study was to determine if respiratory viruses were associated with clinical signs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine herpesviruses (EHV-1, 2, 4, 5) and equine rhinitis A and B viruses (ERBV, ERAV) genomes were quantified by qPCR in nasopharyngeal, tracheal, and BALF samples collected after racing. The relationships between virus detection and load and clinical signs, performance, BALF cytolog...
Yiğin A.The extensive use of antibacterial agents used for treatment in human and veterinary clinics to increase yield in livestock and aquaculture in developing countries causes the detection and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in different sources. The presence of Escherichia coli strains is very common in racehorses and it's a serious problem on horse farms. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production is an important source of MDR development in Gram-negative strains such as E.coli. This study aimed to detect the presence of ESBL genes in E. coli strains isolated from horse farms...
Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W.Factors associated with mortality in standardbred racehorses were assessed through a retrospective annualized cohort study of all-cause mortality from 2003-2015 ( = 978) (identified in the Ontario Racehorse Death Registry). Race and qualifying data for official work-events were also gathered (1,778,330 work-events, 125,200 horse years). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed sex, age, and indices of workload and intensity and their interactions to be strongly associated with mortality. Track class, race versus qualifying performance, and work-event outcome (finish position, scratc...
Poškienė I, Gruodytė R, Autukaitė J, Juozaitienė V, Antanaitis R.Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has described equine endurance racing as the second largest discipline in the world, above which is only show jumping. The Žemaitukai is an ancient indigenous Lithuanian horse breed known since the 6th or 7th century. The Arabian horse breed is one of the oldest human-developed horse breeds in the world. Compared with other race horse breeds, the muscle tissue of Arabian horses is characterized by significant differences in structure-a predominance of oxidative fiber type I is observed in Arabians, making them the prevailing breed in endurance racing...
Pira E, Vacca GM, Dettori ML, Piras G, Moro M, Paschino P, Pazzola M.One hundred and eighty Anglo-Arabian horses running 1239 races were sampled for the present study. DNA was extracted from the blood and myostatin gene, MSTN, was genotyped. Moreover, prizes won and places were achieved for the 1239 races to perform association analyses between the different genotypes and sport traits. Two SNPs already reported in previous studies regarding the Thoroughbred breed, rs69472472 and rs397152648, were revealed as polymorphic. The linkage disequilibrium analysis investigating the haplotype structure of MSTN did not evidence any association block. Polymorphism at SNP ...
Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Bishop EL, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ.Worldwide, musculoskeletal injuries remain a major problem for the Thoroughbred racing industry. There is a strong interest in developing training and management strategies to reduce the impact of musculoskeletal injuries, however, progress has been limited by studies reporting conflicting findings, and a limited understanding of the role of different training methods in preventing injury. There is little data on patterns of rest periods and exercise data and how these vary between trainers. This prospective study of two-year-old racehorses was conducted in Queensland, Australia and involved w...
Wilson BJ, Thompson KR, McGreevy PD.The annual Melbourne Cup Thoroughbred horse race has iconic status among many Australians but sits in the context of increasing criticism of the welfare of Thoroughbred racing horses and the ethics of gambling. Despite heated debates and protests playing out in the public domain, there is scant empirical research to document Australian attitudes to the Melbourne Cup, or horse racing more generally. Specifically, little is known about how support for or against the Melbourne Cup correlate with age, gender, income and level of education. To provide a more nuanced understanding of attitudes towar...
Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Mukai K, Ohmura H.Exercise intensity during races is considerably high. To understand how Thoroughbreds adapt to fatigue conditions, stride parameters for the first and second lap of the race (2400-m, turf) were compared. A high-speed video system was set in a right lateral position about 20 m before the finishing post, with a field view width of about 16 m. The stride frequency, the length between each limb (hind step, diagonal step, fore step, and airborne step), and stride length were measured and analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model. Compared with the first lap, the mean ± standard deviation val...
Olave CJ, Ivester KM, Couetil LL, Kritchevsky JE, Tinkler SH, Mukhopadhyay A.Respirable dust exposure is linked to airway inflammation in racehorses. Feeding haylage may reduce dust exposure by 60-70%. The objective of this study was to compare dust exposure, airway cytology, and inflammatory cytokine concentrations between horses fed haylage or hay over 6 weeks while in training. Seven healthy Standardbred horses were randomly assigned to be fed alfalfa hay (n = 3) or grass-alfalfa mix haylage (n = 4) for six weeks while training on a treadmill. Dust exposure was measured gravimetrically at the breathing zone. Endotoxin and β-glucan concentrations in respirable dust ...
You Y, Proctor RM, Guo K, Li X, Xue E, Guan F, Robinson MA.High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a very powerful technology for equine doping control analysis. The more recently developed hybrid type of Orbitrap-based HRMS instrument allows for both targeted and non-targeted screening analyses in a single liquid chromatography-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) run. In the present study, an LC-HRMS/MS method was developed and validated to detect prohibited substances in equine sports. The substances were recovered from equine plasma by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using methyl tert-butyl ether and were separated on a C18 rev...
Mann S, Ramsay JD, Wakshlag JJ, Stokol T, Reed S, Divers TJ.High-serum γ-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) activity has been associated with and thought to be a marker of maladaptation to training and possibly poor performance in racehorses, but the cause is unknown. Objective: To investigate possible metabolic and infectious causes for the high GGT syndrome. Methods: Pilot case-control study and nested case-control study. Methods: The case-control study in 2017 included 16 horses (8 cases and 8 controls with median [range] serum GGT 82 [74-148] and 22 [19-28] IU/L, respectively) from the same stable. In 2018, similar testing was performed in a nested case-...
Hansen S, Laustsen L, Otten ND, Skovgaard K, Bech R, Byrgesen S, Hopster-Iversen C, Fjeldborg J.Alternative treatment options to glucocorticoids for equine asthma is desirable due to withdrawal time. The objective was to evaluate if serum and Respiratory Gene Technology (RGT), a commercial kit to produce autologous conditioned serum, was effective in reducing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophils and mast cells in racehorses with cytological evidence of mild equine asthma . Thirty-six Standardbred trotters in active training were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial; a healthy control group (n=11), a RGT group (n=12) and a serum group (n=13). Endoscopy including tracheal wash (T...
Wellard L, Medyk K, Pearson W.Feed additives that accelerate gastrointestinal transit time may help support normal gastrointestinal function in horses at risk for impaction colic. Previous research has demonstrated significant stimulatory effect of a hemp-based nutraceutical product (Gs Formula; GF) on contractility of gastric smooth muscle and gastrin production in vitro. Objective: To quantify effects of GF on indicators of GIT transit time and tight junction proteins. Methods: Randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study. Methods: Eight Standardbreds were administered 200 plastic beads by nasogastric tube before (base...
Weller D, Franklin S, White P, Shea G, Fenner K, Wilson B, Wilkins C, McGreevy P.This article reports on the results of a survey of racehorse trainers (n = 112) outlining the reasons for tongue-tie (TT) and noseband (NB) use by Thoroughbred trainers (TBTs) (n = 72) and Standardbred trainers (SBTs) (n = 40). The study also investigated the reported effectiveness of TTs and possible complications arising from their use. Tongue-tie use was reported by 62.5% (n = 70) of racehorse trainers. The reasons for TT use varied between TBTs and SBTs. For TBTs, the most common reason for TT use was to prevent or reduce airway obstruction (72.3%, n = 34), followed closely by to prevent o...
Rossi TM, Kavsak PA, Maxie MG, Pearl DL, Pyle WG, Physick-Sheard PW.Accumulating evidence indicates intense exercise can be associated with myocardial damage. Investigating the impact of maximal effort on myocardium and exploring possible association of injury with rhythm disturbance requires a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assay. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the effect of racing on serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in Standardbred horses using a high-sensitivity assay; (2) to determine the 99th percentile of cTnI in healthy horses and investigate the effect of demographic variables on cTnI prevailing pre-race in Standardbred horses us...
King L, Cullen SJ, O'Connor S, McGoldrick A, Pugh J, Warrington G, Losty C.Racehorse trainers play an important role within the horseracing industry. Despite this, scarce empirical information exists regarding the mental health of this population. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to explore the prevalence of symptoms related to common mental disorders (CMDs) and their associations with specific risk factors for CMD. Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire. CMDs were assessed including distress, depression, generalized anxiety and adverse alcohol use. The risk factors examined included career dissatisfaction, social support and financial dif...
Nath LC, Elliott AD, Weir J, Curl P, Rosanowski SM, Franklin S.Atrial fibrillation (AF) impacts performance and horse and jockey safety. Understanding the outcomes of AF identified postrace will better inform regulatory policy. Objective: To investigate the outcomes after episodes of AF identified postrace and determine whether affected horses are at increased risk of additional episodes compared to the general racing population. Methods: Total of 4684 Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Race records for Thoroughbred horses racing in Hong Kong from 2007 to 2017 were reviewed. Horses that performed below expectation were examined by cardiac auscultation and ...
Shan R, Johnston AS, Rosanowski SM, O'Shea J, Riggs CM.Transverse stress fracture of the palmar cortex of the distal aspect of the third metacarpal bone (TSF PCD McIII) is poorly documented. Objective: To describe the typical signalment of this injury, the common clinical and radiological signs and prognosis. Methods: A retrospective hospital-based case series with follow-up of racing records. Methods: All cases of TSF PCD McIII diagnosed among racehorses in training at the Hong Kong Jockey Club between 2011 and 2019 were identified. Clinical records were reviewed and documented signs were recorded for each case. Findings from a predefined list of...
Worsman FCF, Miller ZJ, Shaw DJ, Blissitt KJ, Keen JA.Left atrial size predicts cardiac morbidity and mortality in humans and dogs. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) may be reliable for assessing left atrial volume (LAV) in horses. Objective: To determine intra- and interobserver variability estimates of 3DE-LAV and compare it to that of 2DE-LAV estimates. Methods: Method comparison. Methods: 3DE datasets were obtained from 40 horses, then graded for quality, creating a final study population of 22 horses. The 3DE and 2DE maximum LAV (LAV ) and minimum LAV (LAV ) were measured, and left atrial emptying volume (LA EV) and left atr...
Page AE, Adam E, Arthur R, Barker V, Franklin F, Friedman R, Grande T, Hardy M, Howard B, Partridge E, Rutledge M, Scollay M, Stewart JC, Vale A....The ability to identify horses at risk for catastrophic injuries continues to be a pressing issue for the racing industry, especially given recent events in North America. Objective: Since most catastrophic injuries occur in areas of existing pathology and this pathology is likely to elicit an inflammatory response, it was hypothesised that analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression would detect significant changes in select genes in horses at risk for a catastrophic injury. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Five racing jurisdictions across the United States participated in this stu...
Trevisiol S, Moulard Y, Delcourt V, Jaubert M, Boyer S, Tendon S, Haryouli H, Taleb W, Caroff M, Chabot B, Drif L, André F, Garcia P, Loup B....According to international sport institutions, the use of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-δ agonists is forbidden at any time in athlete career due to their capabilities to increase physical and endurance performances. The (PPAR)-δ agonist GW501516 is prohibited for sale but is easily available on internet and can be used by cheaters. In the context of doping control, urine is the preferred matrix because of the non-invasive nature of sampling and providing broader exposure detection times to forbidden molecules but often not detected under its native form due to the organi...
Aldrich K, Velez-Irizarry D, Fenger C, Schott M, Valberg SJ.Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) is a chronic muscle disorder of unknown etiology in racehorses. A potential role of intramuscular calcium (Ca2+) dysregulation in RER has led to the use of dantrolene to prevent episodes of rhabdomyolysis. We examined differentially expressed proteins (DEP) and gene transcripts (DEG) in gluteal muscle of Thoroughbred race-trained mares after exercise among three groups of 5 horses each; 1) horses susceptible to, but not currently experiencing rhabdomyolysis, 2) healthy horses with no history of RER (control), 3) RER-susceptible horses treated with dant...
Logan AA, Nielsen BD.Conflicting research and anecdotal evidence have created disagreement among equestrians as to whether two-year-old horses should be trained and raced. The objective of this literature review is to evaluate epidemiological studies, as well as physiological data on equine bone, articular cartilage, and tendons to better determine the impact of training and racing two-year-old horses. The evaluation of numerous studies on the topic provides evidence that a horse which is trained or raced as a two-year-old has a lower risk of injury and better adapted tissues for the rigors of racing. Unfortunatel...
Mikhail E, Siccardi E, Bawazir A, Rajesh A, Prathyush S, Al Wazani DMK, Sabeek M, John T.IOX-2 is a potent inhibitor of enzyme prolyl hydroxylases-2 (PHD) that plays a critical role in regulating hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) abundance and oxygen homeostasis. Federation for Equestrian Sports has listed HIF activators as prohibited substances to prevent their usage in doping. Consequently, it became essential to develop adequate knowledge and testing methods to detect it in equine sports drug testing samples. The validated method utilizes ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry in order to detect extremely low concentration of the ...
Barnabé A, Moulard Y, Trevisiol S, Boyer S, Caroff M, Taleb W, Tendon S, Drif L, Delcourt V, Popot MA, Bailly-Chouriberry L.The study focuses on the discovery of kavain, a natural-occurring compound of the plant Piper methysticum, in a post-race urine sample of a horse. The researchers traced the potential source […]
Górniak W, Cholewińska P, Szeligowska N, Wołoszyńska M, Soroko M, Czyż K.Exercise significantly affects the body of both animals and humans, including the composition of the digestive microbiome. This study aimed to determine the changes in the composition of the most numerous bacterial phyla (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, as well as the level of the family) in the digestive system of horses under the influence of physical effort. The study included a group of 17 Thoroughbred racehorses at the age of 3 years, fed the same forage, from whom feces samples were collected individually before and 48 h after physical effort. The obtained samples were subjected to DNA is...
Ishii H, Shibuya M, Leung GN, Nozawa S, Yamashita S, Yamada M, Kushiro A, Kasashima Y, Okada J, Kawasaki K, Kijima-Suda I.GW1516 is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ (PPAR-δ) agonist that is banned in horseracing and equestrian sports. Long-term detection and longitudinal distribution of GW1516 in the mane of a horse are reported for the first time and this hair analysis could prolong the detection window of GW1516 for doping control. Methods: Mane hairs were divided into three segments (0-7, 7-15, and >15 cm from the cut end) and completely pulverized and homogenized for analysis. The pulverized hair samples were extracted with methanol followed by further purification and the extracts were a...
McBride SD, Long L.A telephone survey was conducted of 100 racing stables, 100 riding schools and 100 competition establishments (8,427 horses in total) to determine what management practices were being applied to horses showing stereotypic behaviour, and to determine the underlying reasons for them by assessing the perceptions and opinions of the people working with the horses. The results indicated that horse owners are concerned about stereotypic behaviour, first, because it reduces the performance of the animal (31, 30 and 27 per cent of the owners of racing stables, riding schools and competition establishm...
Asheim A, Lindblad G.Forty-five race-horses with arthritis of non-in-fectious type in 54 joints were treated with sodium hyaluronate intra-articularly. All joints had previously been treated without lasting success by conventional methods, such as firing, blistering or intraarticular injection of cortisone. In most cases only 1 injection of 2 ml (20 mg) sodium hyaluronate was needed. To avoid subjective evaluation, the effects of the treatment were based on the joint’s capacity of withstanding extreme stress, which means that the horse should be able to train and race again. The treatment was concentrated on the...
Witte TH, Yeager AE, Nixon AJ.OBJECTIVE-To evaluate outcome after intralesional injection of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) for treatment of superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis in Thoroughbred racehorses. DESIGN-Retrospective case series. ANIMALS-40 Thoroughbred racehorses. PROCEDURES-Medical records of racehorses with SDF tendonitis treated within 13 weeks after injury by intralesional injection of IGF-I (25 or 50 μg every other day for 4 or 5 treatments) were reviewed. Outcome was determined via analysis of race records, owner follow-up, and examination. RESULTS-Mean age of the horses was 3.1 years (range,...
Marfe G, Rotta G, De Martino L, Tafani M, Fiorito F, Di Stefano C, Polettini M, Ranalli M, Russo MA, Gambacurta A.In this study, we present an innovative therapy using stem cells that were obtained from the peripheral blood of racehorses affected by uninduced superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries. Methods: Blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) were generated from the blood samples of three horses in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The racehorses received a single autologous BDSC treatment, which resulted in the successful repair of the tendons injuries. Results: The results demonstrated that the BDSCs injection into the damaged tendon stimulated the regeneration of nor...
Parkin TD, Clegg PD, French NP, Proudman CJ, Riggs CM, Singer ER, Webbon PM, Morgan KL.The objective of this study was to identify risk factors, during racing, associated with imminent fatal distal limb fracture in Thoroughbreds. One hundred and nine cases of fatal distal limb fracture were identified from all 59 UK racecourses over a 2-year period (February 1999-January 2001). Three uninjured control horses were randomly selected from the same race as the case horse. Videos of races in which fractures occurred were viewed using a defined protocol. Fractures in flat races occurred at any time during the race, whereas 74% (45/61) of cases in national hunt type races occurred in t...
Moore JM, Timperio AF, Crawford DA, Burns CM, Cameron-Smith D.Jockeys are required to maintain very low body weight and precise weight control during competition. This study examined the weight loss and weight management strategies of professional horseracing jockeys in the state of Victoria, Australia. An anonymous, self-completed questionnaire was administered (55% response rate, n = 116). Almost half (43%) reported that maintaining riding weight was difficult or very difficult, with 75% routinely skipping meals. In preparation for racing, 60% reported that they typically required additional weight loss, with 81% restricting food intake in the 24 hours...
Davie AL, Evans DJ.The associations between velocity during a standardized, submaximal 800-m exercise test and blood lactate concentration after exercise were investigated in Thoroughbred racehorses on sand and grass racetracks. Predicted lactate concentrations for each horse's exercise test velocity were calculated from the line of best fit derived from results at each racetrack. The repeatability of the differences between the measured and predicted blood lactate response to exercise was also investigated. Exercise tests were conducted at speeds ranging from 12.8 to 16.6 m/s. The variability of velocity within...
Millerick-May ML, Karmaus W, Derksen FJ, Berthold B, Robinson NE.Particle mapping within stalls has demonstrated a relationship between particulate concentrations and visible accumulations of tracheal mucus. However, measurement of breathing zone particulate concentrations, which is the most accurate way to measure exposure, has not been performed to determine the relationship between exposures and accumulations of tracheal mucus sufficient to affect performance. Objective: To compare breathing zone particulate exposures between horses with tracheal mucus scores (MS) previously demonstrated to affect performance (MS≥2) and those without (MS = 0) visible t...
Nath L, Stent A, Elliott A, La Gerche A, Franklin S.Cardiac arrhythmias resulting in sudden cardiac death (SCD) are an important cause of racehorse fatalities. The objective of this study was to determine risk factors for SCD in Thoroughbreds by evaluating a sample with a policy of mandatory post-mortem following racing or training fatalities. Risk factors were compared between case horses with SCD (n = 57) and control horses with other fatal injury (OFI, n = 188) by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Survival in years for horses with SCD was compared to OFI using the Kaplan−Meier method with log rank test. The following varia...
Ricard A.Recently, a mutation was discovered in the DMRT3 gene that controls pacing in horses. The mutant allele A is fixed in the American Standardbred trotter breed, while in the French trotter breed, the frequency of the wild-type allele C is still 24%. This study aimed at measuring the effect of DMRT3 genotypes on the performance of French trotters and explaining why the polymorphism still occurs in this breed. Using a mixed animal model, genetic parameters and environmental effects on performance traits were estimated from data on 173 176 French trotter races. The effect of the DMRT3 gene was then...
Blott SC, Swinburne JE, Sibbons C, Fox-Clipsham LY, Helwegen M, Hillyer L, Parkin TD, Newton JR, Vaudin M.Thoroughbred racehorses are subject to non-traumatic distal limb bone fractures that occur during racing and exercise. Susceptibility to fracture may be due to underlying disturbances in bone metabolism which have a genetic cause. Fracture risk has been shown to be heritable in several species but this study is the first genetic analysis of fracture risk in the horse. Results: Fracture cases (n = 269) were horses that sustained catastrophic distal limb fractures while racing on UK racecourses, necessitating euthanasia. Control horses (n = 253) were over 4 years of age, were racing during the s...
Slack J, Boston RC, Soma L, Reef VB.Upper reference limits for cTnI have not been established for healthy Standardbred racehorses. Objective: To establish cTnI upper reference limits for Standardbred racehorses and determine if increases in plasma cTnI concentration can be detected in 1-2 hours after a race. Methods: Samples were obtained from 586 apparently healthy Standardbreds aged 2-14 years before racing and from the winners of 144 races 1-2 hours after the end of the race. Methods: Prospective, observational study; convenience sampling; assay validation; and reference limits determinations were performed according to ASCVP...
Mallardo K, Nizza S, Fiorito F, Pagnini U, De Martino L.To investigate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) which is a potencial risk factor of transmission between animals and humans in different types of horses (harness racing-horses, breeding mares and riding-horses) and to compare the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates. Methods: A total of 191 healthy horses, housed at different locations of the Campania Region (Italy), were included in the study. Nasal swab samples were collected from each nostril of the horses. The mecA gene was detected by a nested PCR technique. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested for each isol...
Ramzan PH, Palmer L, Dallas RS, Shepherd MC.Ultrasonographic (US) abnormalities of the suspensory ligament branch (SLB) have been poorly investigated but can have considerable impact on market value and career path when encountered in athletic horses. There is a need for determination of the prevalence and relationship to clinical injury of these US abnormalities in the Thoroughbred (TB) racehorse. Objective: To establish the prevalence of, and the repeatability of an US grading system for, subclinical US abnormalities of the forelimb SLB in a population of UK TB flat racehorses. Methods: Ultrasonographic assessment of the forelimb SLBs...
Kingston JK, Soppet GM, Rogers CW, Firth EC.Training is an important variable for determining athletic success. Nonetheless, there has been minimal scientific evaluation of racehorse training programmes. Training of racehorses focuses on running the horses at certain speeds using a combination of a stopwatch and rider's 'feel' for a horse's work intensity. Consequently, actual work intensity for individual horses is not clearly defined. Objective: To 1) utilise a combined global positioning system (GPS) and heart rate monitor system to quantify training intensity and physiological responses of a group of racehorses undergoing training a...
Barrey E, Evans SE, Evans DL, Curtis RA, Quinton R, Rose RJ.The potential racing and locomotory profile of a Thoroughbred yearling should be taken into account for its training programme and racing career. A gait test has been designed to assist the trainer in this task. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal and kinetic locomotory variables of Thoroughbreds at the gallop, in relationship to their racing ability. Thirty Thoroughbred horses in race training were tested at maximal speed during a training session. The training exercise consisted of a warming-up session at trot and canter for 10 min followed by a gallop session at increasing...
Stick JA, Peloso JG, Morehead JP, Lloyd J, Eberhart S, Padungtod P, Derksen FJ.To compare endoscopic findings of the upper portion of the respiratory tract in Thoroughbred yearlings with their subsequent race records to determine whether subjective assessment of airway function may be used as a predictor of future racing performance. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 427 Thoroughbred yearlings. Methods: Endoscopic examination findings were obtained from the medical records and the videoendoscopic repository of the Keeneland 1996 September yearling sales. Racing records were requested for the yearlings through the end of their 4-year-old racing season (1997-2000). Tw...
Legg KA, Cochrane DJ, Bolwell CF, Gee EK, Rogers CW.To determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, race-day jockey falls occurring in Thoroughbred flat and jumps (hurdle and steeplechase) racing. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Incidence rates for race-day jockey falls over 14 racing seasons in New Zealand (n=421,596 race-day starts) were calculated per 1000 rides. Univariable and multivariable analyses of jockey, horse and race level risk factors were conducted with Poisson regression in a generalized linear mixed model. Results: Most races (97%, n=407,948 race starts) were flat racing with 10 races/race-day, whilst most ju...
Witte S, Dedman C, Harriss F, Kelly G, Chang YM, Witte TH.Superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis is a common injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. Injuries require prolonged rehabilitation, with unpredictable outcomes and a high incidence of re-injury. This observational case-control study aimed to compare race outcomes after commonly advocated treatments for tendon healing. Clinical and racing records were evaluated for 127 National Hunt racehorses treated between 2007 and 2011 for an SDF tendon injury. Two age- and sex-matched control horses were selected for each case horse to analyse the effect on post-injury racing outcomes of pre-injury data,...
Molesan A, Wang M, Sun Q, Pierce V, Desideri R, Palmer S, Todhunter R, Kelly K.Postmortem evaluation of racehorses has focused primarily on musculoskeletal injuries; however, horses also die suddenly on the track (sudden death [SD]). Although cardiac conditions are frequently suspected as a cause of death, SD racehorses are often autopsy negative; however, previous studies have been limited due to inconsistent or insufficient cardiac sampling and lack of controls. SD in New York (NY) and Maryland (MD) racehorses was evaluated in an observational case vs control study comparing clinical information, postmortem evaluation including cardiac dissection, and cardiac conductio...
Salz RO, Elliott CRB, Zuffa T, Bennet ED, Ahern BJ.Overstrain of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is a common Thoroughbred racehorse limb injury requiring treatment. Objective: To determine whether treatment of SDFT lesions in flat Thoroughbred racehorses with autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) or allogenic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (A-MSCs) is associated with improved likelihood of returning to racing, when compared to racehorses managed with a controlled exercise rehabilitation program (CERP) alone. Methods: Retrospective cohort study combining clinical treatment records with race records...
Da Costa Gómez TM, Barrett JG, Sample SJ, Radtke CL, Kalscheur VL, Lu Y, Markel MD, Santschi EM, Scollay MC, Muir P.Functional adaptation of bone normally protects the skeleton from fracture during daily activity. Accumulation of microcracking and loss of osteocytes have been implicated in the regulation and initiation of targeted (reparative) remodeling of bone and, in certain situations, the development of fatigue or stress fracture. We performed a histologic study of the dorsal cortex of the mid-diaphysis of the third metacarpal (Mc-III) bone of Thoroughbred racehorses after bones were bulk-stained in basic fuchsin and transverse calcified sections were prepared. The Thoroughbred racehorse is an extreme ...
Kristoffersen M, Parkin TD, Singer ER.Catastrophic biaxial proximal sesamoid bone fractures (PSBF) have not yet been described in detail in the UK racing population. Objective: To determine the incidence and relative risk (RR) of PSBF in different types of racing in the UK; and to describe horse-level characteristics and racing histories of horses sustaining these injuries. Methods: Distal limbs were collected from all racehorses suffering catastrophic fractures during racing at all 59 racecourses in the UK, in a prospective study from February 1999 to December 2004. Post mortem investigation identified the anatomical location and...
Richards N, Hinch G, Rowe J.A survey of 72 thoroughbred trainers in several regions of NSW was conducted to better define current grain feeding practices, and the risks involved with grain feeding in the Australian thoroughbred racing industry. Results from the survey indicate that horses in the industry are currently being fed an average of 7.3 +/- 0.23 kg of grain concentrate per day, with oats, commercial pre-mixed diets and corn most commonly used. The feeding of extruded, micronised and steam flaked grains was uncommon. The results of grain and faecal sample analyses conducted during the survey indicate that incompl...
Kiryu K, Machida N, Kashida Y, Yoshihara T, Amada A, Yamamoto T.Five racehorses in apparently normal condition succumbed to sudden cardiac death (SCD) during or shortly after intensive training exercise. Cardiopathologic examination was performed. In 1 of the 5 horses, the use of an electrocardiogram (ECG) recording taken continuously for 440 sec enabled us to analyze some of the arrhythmias in the terminal event of SCD. The ECG tracing exhibited the R-on-T phenomenon following a pair of ventricular premature contractions (VPCs). The phenomenon rapidly degenerated into ventricular fibrillation, which led to cardiac arrest. In all 5 horses cardiopathologic ...
Yamazaki M, Kusano K, Ishibashi T, Kiuchi M, Koyama K.Upon intensive, exhaustive exercise, exercise-induced reactive oxygen species may exceed the antioxidant defence threshold, consequently resulting in muscular damage or late-onset chronic inflammation. Recently, the therapeutic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) for human rheumatoid arthritis have been demonstrated. However, it is also important to clarify the effects of administrating H2 in large animals other than humans, as H2 is thought to reach the target organ by passive diffusion upon delivery from the blood flow, indicating that the distance from the a...
Lester GD, Smith RL, Robertson ID.To compare the effects of oral administration of omeprazole and ranitidine on gastric squamous ulceration in Thoroughbreds in race training. Methods: Modified crossover study. Methods: 60 Thoroughbreds in race training with gastric squamous mucosal ulceration. Methods: Horses were randomly allocated into 3 groups. Group 1 received no treatment for 28 days followed by administration of omeprazole (4 mg/kg [1.8 mg/lb], PO, once daily) for 28 days; group 2 received omeprazole (4 mg/kg, PO, once daily) for 28 days followed by no treatment for 28 days; and group 3 received ranitidine (6.6 mg/kg [3....
Ropka-Molik K, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Z Ukowski K, Piórkowska K, Bugno-Poniewierska M.It has been found that Arabian and Thoroughbred horses differ in muscle fiber structure and thus in physiological changes occurring in muscles during exercise. The aim of the present study was to identify the global gene expression modifications that occur in skeletal muscle following a training regime to prepare for flat racing. Whole transcriptomes of muscle (gluteus medius) were compared between three time points of tissue collection: T (untrained horses), T (horses after intense gallop phase), and T (horses at the end of racing season), 23 samples in total. The numerous groups of exercise-...
Cogger N, Evans DL, Hodgson DR, Reid SW, Perkins N.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-yea...
Perkins NR, Reid SW, Morris RS.To describe patterns in training, racing, and general health in a population of Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand. Methods: A longitudinal study was designed to collect data on horses training under the care of 20 selected trainers from 20 different stables and five regional training venues in the mid to lower regions of the North Island. Data were collected from trainers at approximately monthly intervals between October 1997 and July 2000, and electronic data containing race and trial results for all starts in New Zealand for the same time period were obtained from New Zealand Thoroughb...
