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PloS one2020; 15(8); e0237003; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237003

Barriers to entering race training before 4 years of age for Thoroughbred horses born in the 2014 Australian foal crop.

Abstract: Currently, there is a paucity of data on the barriers for Australian Thoroughbred horses transitioning from stud farm to racetrack. This paper reports the reasons why horses failed to enter race training and documents their exit destinations. Biographical records of Australian Thoroughbred horses born in 2014 were investigated to determine the number of horses that had not officially entered race training by the start of the 4-year old racing season (1 August 2018). Of the 13,677 foals born in 2014, 66% had commenced training and 51% had raced before the beginning of their 4-year-old season in Australia. A sampling frame based on the post code of the premises where foals were born and records from Racing Australia were used to select a geographically representative sample of the 2014 Australian Thoroughbred foal crop (n = 4,124). From the population eligible for sampling 1,275 horses that had not entered training were enrolled in the survey and their breeders were sent an online questionnaire with follow-up phone calls for those who had not responded. Of the 633 responses (50% of 1275) the most frequent outcomes for horses were: death (38%, n = 239), participation in the racing industry in their 4-year old racing season (24%, n = 154) and retirement (16%, n = 100) either as Australian Stud Book (ASB) bloodstock (n = 17), or as horses rehomed outside the Thoroughbred industry (n = 83). Illness or injury was the most frequent reason for horses not entering race training that were ASB bloodstock, rehomed or deceased. There was a loss of traceability at the point of sale with most horses sold at 1 year of age. This study provides important information on the reasons, alternative outcomes and gaps in traceability for horses not entering training prior to the 4-year-old racing season.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-05 PubMed ID: 32756576PubMed Central: PMC7406052DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237003Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigated the factors that prevent Australian Thoroughbred horses from entering race training by the time they are four years old. Results from a 2014 foal crop sample showed prominent reasons for failure mostly included illness or injury, with many horses also lost to traceability at the point of sale.

Objective and Methodology

  • The aim of this study was to uncover the obstacles that prevent thoroughbred horses in Australia from starting race training before they are four years old.
  • The researchers collected biographical data about Australian Thoroughbred horses born in 2014 and tracked how many had entered official race training by the start of the 4-year old racing season on 1 August 2018.
  • The sample size amounted to 4,124 foals based on geographical reference points corresponding to the places where the foals were bred. Records from Racing Australia were also involved in the selection process.
  • An online survey was sent to the breeders of 1,275 horses which hadn’t begun training, and those who didn’t respond got eventual follow-up phone calls.

Findings and Analysis

  • Among the 633 breeders who responded, the eventual outcomes for their horses that hadn’t entered race training varied; 38% died, 24% eventually participated in racing in their 4-year-old season, and 16% retired (either as Australian Stud Book (ASB) bloodstock or rehomed outside the Thoroughbred industry).
  • The primary reason these horses hadn’t begun race training was illness or injury.
  • At the point of sale, most of the horses were one year old and there was a significant loss of traceability, creating a gap in the data.

Conclusions

  • This study sheds light on the key factors that stop Thoroughbred horses from entering race training by the time they are four. Health problems are a key issue, but traceability problems at the point of sale also inhibit the progress of many horses.
  • The results could be crucial for the industry in addressing these hurdles and improving the percentage of horses that start race training before they are four years old.
  • In addition to exploring the reasons why some horses don’t enter race training, the study also documents the alternate paths these horses take. This information can help shape policy and practical guidelines to aid the industry.

Cite This Article

APA
Flash ML, Wong ASM, Stevenson MA, Gilkerson JR. (2020). Barriers to entering race training before 4 years of age for Thoroughbred horses born in the 2014 Australian foal crop. PLoS One, 15(8), e0237003. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237003

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 8
Pages: e0237003
PII: e0237003

Researcher Affiliations

Flash, Meredith L
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Wong, Adelene S M
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
Stevenson, Mark A
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Gilkerson, James R
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Australia
  • Breeding / economics
  • Breeding / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / economics
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / economics
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / methods
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / statistics & numerical data
  • Pregnancy
  • Sports / economics
  • Sports / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following competing interests to declare: Racing Victoria Ltd. provided support for MLF in the form of a thesis stipend. However, the stipend is part of a research contract for a separate project (Racing Vic 045083 15/16) and not associated with this study. Racing Victoria Ltd. also provided support to ASMW to work on an unrelated project with a separate research group in the Melbourne Veterinary School. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products associated with this research to declare.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Hill EW, Stoffel MA, McGivney BA, MacHugh DE, Pemberton JM. Inbreeding depression and the probability of racing in the Thoroughbred horse. Proc Biol Sci 2022 Jun 29;289(1977):20220487.
    doi: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0487pubmed: 35765835google scholar: lookup
  2. Shrestha K, Gilkerson JR, Stevenson MA, Flash ML. Drivers of exit and outcomes for Thoroughbred racehorses participating in the 2017-2018 Australian racing season. PLoS One 2021;16(9):e0257581.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257581pubmed: 34547036google scholar: lookup
  3. Flash ML, Renwick M, Gilkerson JR, Stevenson MA. Descriptive analysis of Thoroughbred horses born in Victoria, Australia, in 2010; barriers to entering training and outcomes on exiting training and racing. PLoS One 2020;15(10):e0241273.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241273pubmed: 33112903google scholar: lookup
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