Metabolic responses to submaximal field exercise tests and relationships with racing performance in pacing Standardbreds.
Abstract: This study was undertaken to invesigate the application of submaximal field tests in assessment of performance. A submaximal field exercise test consisting of 2 bouts of pacing for 1600 m, with 5 min rest or walking between runs was performed on Standardbred racehorses at 2 training centres (A and B). Performance indices were compiled for each horse: number of race starts, number of race wins, number of race placings (1, 2 or 3), and lifetime earnings. Regression analysis was conducted to describe the relationship between plasma lactate concentrations and speed for tests one, 2 and pooled results. Using the regression equation, observed (measured) minus expected (predicted) (O-E) lactate concentrations for tests were calculated and plotted against performance indices to determine their relationship. For stables A and B the association between lactate and velocity for the 2 runs was best described by the exponential equations: y = 0.0014(e07306x) (r2 = 0.54, P<0.001) and y = 0.002(e06812x) (r2 = 0.42, P<0.001), respectively, where y is lactate concentration (mmol/l) and x is speed (m/s). For the pooled results for heat 1 and heat 2 for stables A and B the relationship between lactate and velocity was best described by an exponential equation y = 0.0016(e07117x) (r2 = 0.47, P<0.001). This study found no relationship between (O-E) and performance indices (number of race wins, number of race placings, lifetime earnings and average $/start) at stables A or B for test run 1, 2 or pooled lactates. At stable A, there was a significant association between V(La4) and log lifetime earnings (r = 0.51, P = 0.053) and log average $/start (r = 0.54, P = 0.036). There were no significant correlations at stable B. In conclusion a 2-step determination method of V(La4) is a possible means for studying limits to performance in pacing Standardbred racehorses.
Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405669DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05401.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research investigates the relationship between metabolic responses to exercise tests and racing performance in pacing Standardbreds. No significant connection was found between measured and expected lactate levels and performance indices, with the exception of one metric at one stable.
Research Method
- The researchers carried out a submaximal field exercise test on Standardbred racehorses from two different training centers, labeled as A and B.
- This exercise test included two bouts of pacing for 1600 meters with a 5-minute interval of rest or walking between the runs.
- For each horse, performance indices were compiled, such as the number of races started, won, placed (1, 2 or 3), and lifetime earnings.
- The researchers obtained data on plasma lactate concentrations and speed for the two test runs. A regression analysis was conducted to describe the relationship between these two factors.
- By using the regression equation, they calculated and plotted the difference between the observed (measured) and expected (predicted) lactate concentrations for these tests against performance indices to determine their relationship.
Results
- At both stables A and B, the relationship between lactate and velocity for the two runs was found to be best described by exponential equations.
- However, there was no significant relationship discovered between the measured and expected lactate concentrations and performance indices at either Stable A or B for any of the test run scenarios.
- The only significant correlation found was at stable A, where there was a noteworthy association between V(La4) – a measure of an athlete’s anaerobic threshold – and log lifetime earnings and average earnings per start.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that a two-step determination method of V(La4) may serve as a potential method for studying performance limitations in pacing Standardbred racehorses.
- No other significant correlations were found linking the metabolic responses to submaximal field exercise tests and racing performance in pacing Standardbreds.
Cite This Article
APA
Davie AJ, Priddle TL, Evans DL.
(2002).
Metabolic responses to submaximal field exercise tests and relationships with racing performance in pacing Standardbreds.
Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 112-115.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05401.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Lactates / blood
- Male
- Models, Theoretical
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Endurance / physiology
- Regression Analysis
- Reproducibility of Results
- Sports
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Medical causes of poor performance and their associations with fitness in Standardbred racehorses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):1514-1527.
- Kirsch K, Fercher C, Horstmann S, von Reitzenstein C, Augustin J, Lagershausen H. Monitoring Performance in Show Jumping Horses: Validity of Non-specific and Discipline-specific Field Exercise Tests for a Practicable Assessment of Aerobic Performance. Front Physiol 2021;12:818381.
- Léguillette R, Bond SL, Lawlor K, Haan T, Weber LM. Comparison of physiological demands in Warmblood show jumping horses over a standardized 1.10 m jumping course versus a standardized exercise test on a track. BMC Vet Res 2020 Jun 8;16(1):182.
- Fraipont A, Van Erck E, Ramery E, Fortier G, Lekeux P, Art T. Assessing fitness in endurance horses. Can Vet J 2012 Mar;53(3):311-4.
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Conturba B, Bozzola C, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Evaluation of fitness parameters in relation to racing results in 245 Standardbred trotter horses submitted for poor performance examination: A retrospective study. PLoS One 2023;18(10):e0293202.
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