Estimation of performance potential of standardbred trotters from blood lactate concentrations measured in field conditions.

The research examines the relationship between the velocity associated with a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l (V4), age, and racing performance in Standardbred trotters. The study finds that V4 values, which are a reliable marker for a horse’s racing potential, increase significantly with age and vary depending on the type of track.

Objective of the Research

• The research aims to establish the connection between V4, the speed at which a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l is attained, the age of the horse, and its racing performance.
• The study also attempts to establish normal V4 values for good and poor performing trotters, and to understand how different types of tracks, specifically racing and training tracks, influence V4.

Methodology

• The study involved 159 Standardbred trotters, divided into five age-groups ranging from two to six years and over.
• Evaluation was done based on 330 standardized exercise tests comprising three steps at increasing speeds.
• Trotter velocity was measured using a tachometer attached to the sulky, while blood lactate concentrations were acquired from the jugular vein after each test step.

Findings

• The study found that the mean V4 values showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) with the age of the horses, particularly in the age range between two and four years. However, this increase reduced and became statistically insignificant after the age of five years.
• Further findings revealed that the highest V4 values were seen on the racing track, while the lowest were noted on one of the training tracks. However, there was no significant difference in V4 values between the racing track and the other training track, nor between the two training tracks.
• Horses performing better (finishing a race among the top five) displayed significantly higher V4 values than those with poorer performances.
• Setting the standard for normal V4 values for both good and poor performers was achieved, accounting for a 95% data confidence interval.

Conclusion and Implications

• The study concludes that V4, a parameter dependent on the age of the horse and the track type, is crucial in evaluating a trotter’s racing potential.
• This research has significant implications for training and selection processes in horse racing, offering a reliable physiological marker to determine a trotter’s performance potential.