Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. III. Influence of temporary absence from racing and season.
Abstract: The objective of the study was to examine the career profile of the average racehorse in order to establish normal values for performance. Records of race performance for a population of 762 horses randomly selected from the 1972 registrations of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society were summarized and the pattern of racing by year and month from 1974 to 1983 inclusive recorded. Results were analyzed to determine the influence of sex, gait, age, and year of first race (starting year). The transformation log (1 + X) was used to achieve normality where necessary. Of the 762 horses, 507 raced, 56 (11.0%) of which took one or more complete seasons (years) off. No age predisposition was detected, and no significant difference in mean career performance between the group taking a season off and the remaining horses were found, with the exception of career length, which was longer for those temporarily absent from racing (p less than 0.001). No influence upon career pattern for horses off early in their career was observed but those off late showed indications of a subsequent fall in number of races per year and in times for the mile. Mean career duration was 25.66 to 28.38 months (95% confidence limits for the mean, n = 507). Absence from racing of at least one months duration was taken by 437 horses, mean percentage of career off 42.36 +/- 0.94% (mean +/- SEM), mean duration of periods off 4.43 to 4.71 months. Career duration in months and percentage off were only weakly related (r = -0.16).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1986-10-01 PubMed ID: 3791073PubMed Central: PMC1255251
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigated the career profiles of standardbred racehorses in Canada and assessed how taking temporary breaks from racing affected their performance. The researchers found that horses taking seasonal breaks did not show significant differences in performance, though their career lengths were slightly extended.
Study Objective and Methodology
- The aim of the study was to create career profile baselines for the average racehorse using performance metrics.
- Analyzed performance records from a group of 762 horses randomly chosen from 1972 registrations of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society covered a ten-year period (1974 to 1983).
- The researchers considered factors such as sex, gait, age, and the year of first race.
Key Research Findings
- Out of the 762 horses, 507 actually raced, with 56 (11.0%) taking a complete break for one or more seasons.
- There was no discernable age bias, and no noticeable variation in average performance between the group that took a seasonal break and the remaining horses, apart from a slight increase in career length.
- Horses that took a break early in their careers didn’t show significant changes in their career pattern. However, those that took breaks later showed a slight decrease in the number of races per year and in race times.
- The mean (or average) career duration ranged from 25.66 to 28.38 months.
- A total of 437 horses took a break from racing for at least one month, sporting an average off-career percentage of 42.36%.
- The average break duration ranged from 4.43 to 4.71 months.
- There was a weak correlation (r=-0.16) between career duration in months and percentage off.
Conclusions
- The study provided important baseline values about the performance and career profiles of standardbred racehorses in Canada.
- Temporary breaks from racing did not limit performance significantly but appeared to increase career length slightly.
- Further research may be needed to better understand the weak relationship between career duration and the percentage of time a horse is off.
Cite This Article
APA
Physick-Sheard PW, Russell M.
(1986).
Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. III. Influence of temporary absence from racing and season.
Can J Vet Res, 50(4), 471-478.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Female
- Gait
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Seasons
- Sex Factors
References
This article includes 2 references
- Physick-Sheard PW. Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. I. Influence of age, gait and sex upon chances of racing.. Can J Vet Res 1986 Oct;50(4):449-56.
- Physick-Sheard PW. Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. II. Influence of age, gait and sex upon number of races, money won and race times.. Can J Vet Res 1986 Oct;50(4):457-70.
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Mortality in Ontario Standardbred Racing: 2003-2015.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 5;11(4).
- McCoy AM, Ralston SL, McCue ME. Short- and long-term racing performance of Standardbred pacers and trotters after early surgical intervention for tarsal osteochondrosis.. Equine Vet J 2015 Jul;47(4):438-44.
- Physick-Sheard PW. Career profile of the Canadian Standardbred. I. Influence of age, gait and sex upon chances of racing.. Can J Vet Res 1986 Oct;50(4):449-56.
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