Improving the predictability of performance by prerace detection of dorsal metacarpal disease in thoroughbred racehorses.

The research studied the prevalence of dorsal metacarpal disease in young Thoroughbred horses by prerace inspection, and evaluated the impact of this detection program on the predictability of race performance and the distance between the first and last placed horse.

Methodology

A retrospective study was conducted, focussing on client-owned horses. These horses were subjected to a prerace detection program for dorsal metacarpal disease (a condition involving pain in the back part of a particular bone in the forelimbs) at the Ascot racecourse. This program involved the digital palpation (examination by touch) of the relevant part of the limb.

• If any horse reacted significantly to this palpation, it was inferred that the horse was suffering from dorsal metacarpal disease.
• Such horses were immediately withdrawn from the race and were prevented from racing for a period of six weeks thereafter.

The performance records of all such horses at the Ascot racecourse from December 1993 to December 1995 were compared with the records from December 1995 to March 1997, after the disease detection programme had commenced.

Findings

• The implementation of the detection program had a noticeable effect on the predictability of race performance, particularly in races over distances of 1100m and 1200m. This means that it was easier to forecast the order in which the horses in these races would finish, based on their previous performances.
• Additionally, the gap between the first and last horses was reduced in races over these distances.
• However, it is important to note that these results were not statistically significant in 1000m races. The program did not have a significant effect on either the predictability of performance or the distance between the first and last horses in these races.

The study concluded that the prerace detection program was beneficial, and it improved the predictability of performance in 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses racing over distances of 1100m and 1200m.