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Home / Equine Research Bank / Aust Vet J / Factors associated with racing performance and career durati...
Australian veterinary journal2021; 100(1-2); 48-55; doi: 10.1111/avj.13128

Factors associated with racing performance and career duration for Victorian-born Thoroughbreds.

Abstract: The number of horses leaving the Australian Thoroughbred (TB) racing industry each year is of concern to animal welfare advocates, public and regulators. A horse's previous athletic performance is a significant driver of retirement from racing. Racehorse performance can be measured in terms of the total number of starts, duration of racing and prize money earned. This study investigated Australian racing records for the 2005 and 2010 Victorian TB foal crops to identify factors associated with total number of starts, racing career duration, prize money earned and age of last race start-up to the 10-year-old racing season. Racing Australia registered 4,577 TB horses born in Victoria in 2005 (n = 2,506) and 2010 (n = 2,071) that raced in Australia. Horses that started racing at 2-years of age had fewer race starts in their first racing season but an increased total number of starts, prize money and duration of racing. The median age of last start (LS) was five (Q1 4; Q3 7) years. Horses that had won a race, had a maximum handicap rating of 61 or above and those racing over distances of more than 2,400 m had an increased racing career duration and an age of last race start greater than 6-years of age. Horses participating in jumps races (n = 63) had the longest careers and older age of LS. These horses were more likely to have had a handicap rating over 80 and were just as likely to start their racing careers as 2-years-olds.
© 2021 Australian Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2021-10-14 PubMed ID: 34651302DOI: 10.1111/avj.13128Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research investigates the factors associated with the performance and career duration of Thoroughbred racehorses born in Victoria, Australia. It discovered that attributes like the age the horse started racing, race victories, and the distance covered in a race, significantly influence the total number of starts, earnings, and overall career longevity of the horses.

Research Context

  • The study is prompted by the concern over the number of horses leaving the Thoroughbred racing industry in Australia each year. Animal welfare advocates, the public, and regulators all show concern over this pattern, as a horse’s retirement is apparently tied to its previous athletic performance.
  • Performance in this context is evaluated based on a combination of factors: total number of starts, duration of racing, and the amount of prize money earned.
  • The study examined the racing records of Thoroughbred foal crops born in Victoria in the years 2005 and 2010, with the aim of identifying factors that affect overall career longevity, total number of starts, the prize money they earned, and age of last race start by the 10-year-old racing season.

Methodology and Findings

  • Racing Australia registered 4,577 Thoroughbred horses born in Victoria in 2005 and 2010 that raced in Australia.
  • The findings showed that horses that started racing at the age of 2 had fewer race starts in their first racing season. However, these horses had a greater overall number of starts, earned more prize money, and had a longer duration of racing.
  • It was observed that the median age of last start was five years, and horses that had won a race, had a maximum handicap rating of 61 or more, and those that raced over distances more than 2,400 m had an increased racing career duration and an age of last race start greater than six years.
  • Interestingly, horses participating in jump races had the longest careers and older age of last start. It was found that these horses were more likely to have a handicap rating over 80 and were equally likely to start their racing careers as 2-year-olds.

Implication of the Study

  • This research gives racehorse owners and trainers valuable insights. They can leverage these findings to make data-driven decisions on when to start a horse’s racing career, what kind of races to enter, and when is the optimal age of retirement in order to improve the horses’ performance and extend their career duration.
  • For animal welfare advocates, this study offers useful information about factors that influence a horse’s racing career, which could serve as baselines when advocating for policy changes in the racing industry.

Cite This Article

APA
Flash ML, Crabb HK, Hitchens PL, Firestone SM, Stevenson MA, Gilkerson JR. (2021). Factors associated with racing performance and career duration for Victorian-born Thoroughbreds. Aust Vet J, 100(1-2), 48-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13128

Publication

Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 1751-0813
NlmUniqueID: 0370616
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 100
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 48-55

Researcher Affiliations

Flash, M L
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Crabb, H K
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Hitchens, P L
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
Firestone, S M
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Stevenson, M A
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Gilkerson, J R
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Sports
  • Victoria

Grant Funding

  • Racing Victoria

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Knox AL, Fenner K, Zsoldos RR, Wilson B, McGreevy P. Owner-Observed Behavioral Characteristics in Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTTBs) in Equestrian Second Careers. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 11;15(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15142046pubmed: 40723508google scholar: lookup
  2. Hardwick JL, Ahern BJ, Crawford KL, Allen KJ, Anderson BH, Rose KJ, Franklin SH. Yearling laryngeal function grades II.2 and below are not associated with reduced performance. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):953-966.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14452pubmed: 39837796google scholar: lookup
  3. McGivney CL, McGivney BA, Farries G, Gough KF, Han H, Holtby AR, MacHugh DE, Katz LM, Hill EW. A genome-wide association study for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in the Thoroughbred horse identifies a candidate gene that regulates myelin structure. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):943-952.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14461pubmed: 39791379google scholar: lookup
  4. Legg KA, Gee EK, Breheny M, Gibson MJ, Rogers CW. A Bioeconomic Model for the Thoroughbred Racing Industry-Optimisation of the Production Cycle with a Horse Centric Welfare Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 30;13(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13030479pubmed: 36766368google scholar: lookup
  5. 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.
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