Effects of training on blood lactate-running speed relationship in thoroughbred racehorses.

This research investigated how the training history of thoroughbred racehorses affects their speed and blood lactate levels during a racing season. The study shows that certain aspects of training, like gallop workouts and total training time, can have a significant impact on blood lactate levels in horses and consequently affect their running speed.

Study Method and Variables

• Researchers tracked the training regimen of nine thoroughbreds over 1,755 training days during a racing season.
• Each horse participated in a standardized two-speed field test at intervals of 6-8 weeks to measure its running velocity when blood lactate concentrations were at either 4 mmol/l (v4) or 12 mmol/l (v12).
• The changes in v4 and v12 for each horse between consecutive tests were used to investigate the relationship with training history variables.

Key Findings

• The percentage of training days that included gallop workouts between consecutive tests correlated significantly with changes in v4 and v12. This indicates that the frequency of gallop workouts could affect the horse’s speed and lactate levels.
• The number of gallop workouts and the total training time also showed a significant correlation with changes in v4, suggesting that these factors play a role in the horse’s performance.
• Conversely, the percentage of days without training negatively correlated with changes in v4 and v12, indicating that decreased training could adversely affect the performance of the horse.

Conclusions and Future Work

• The study demonstrates that the actual training regimen of a thoroughbred racehorse, including the volume, intensity, and frequency, has effects on the blood lactate-running speed relationship.
• However, the researchers suggest that future studies are needed to evaluate how these training variables can be adjusted to enhance the effect of training on the same relationship in competing thoroughbreds.