Plasma lactate and uric acid responses to racing in pacing Standardbreds and relationships with performance.
Abstract: Relationships between racing performance and plasma lactate and uric acid concentrations after racing were investigated in pacing Standardbred racehorses. The study was undertaken in order to better understand factors that limit racing performance. Twenty horses were tested after races of 1760 m and 28 horses after races over 2160 m. Blood samples were taken 30-60 min before and 8 and 30 min after a race. There were no significant differences between the race distances for prerace and 8 min postrace plasma lactates. Significant low correlations were obtained for plasma lactate concentration 8 min postrace and the number of race wins (r = 0.29, P = 0.04), number of race placings (1st, 2nd or 3rd; r = 0.34, P = 0.02) and lifetime earnings (r = 0.29, P = 0.04). Net lactate was correlated with the number of race placings (r = 0.31, P = 0.03). There were no significant correlations between performance indices and plasma uric acid concentrations in races of 1760 m. For races over 2160 m, correlations were found between plasma uric acid concentration at 8 min postrace and the number of race wins (r = 0.37, P = 0.06, 95% confidence limits 0-0.65). As well, there was a significant correlation between uric acid concentration at 8 min postrace and lifetime earnings (r = 0.35, P = 0.07, 95% confidence limits 0.06-0.64). Only 10-15% of the variability in retrospective career performance in pacing Standardbreds can be explained by these metabolic markers of the muscle anaerobic response to racing. Plasma lactate and uric acid responses to maximal exercise are unlikely to be useful for evaluating racing performance in pacing Standardbreds in univariate analysis.
Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405673DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05405.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research explored the correlation between plasma lactate and uric acid levels in Standardbred racehorses with their racing performance. The study concluded that these metabolic markers, present as a response to maximum exercise, aren’t significant in evaluating the animals’ performance.
Study Overview
- This research focused on performance of Standardbred racehorses, and how it relates to plasma lactate and uric acid concentrations following a race. The aim was to examine and comprehend the factors impacting racing performance.
- There were two distance groups for races in the study – 1760 m and 2160 m. A total of 20 horses were scrutinized after 1760 m races and 28 horses were assessed post 2160 m races.
- Blood samples were collected 30-60 minutes before, and 8 and 30 minutes after a race.
Findings
- No significant discrepancies were observed in plasma lactate concentrations before and 8 minutes after the race between the two race distances.
- A relatively weak but significant correlation was identified between the post-race plasma lactate concentration after 8 minutes and the multiple performance descriptors – such as number of wins, number of top three placings (1st, 2nd, or 3rd), and lifetime earnings of the horses.
- There were no significant correlations found between uric acid levels and performance parameters in 1760 m races. However, these correlations were found between uric acid concentration and the post-race performance in 2160 m race categories.
Conclusion
- Only 10-15% of the variation in career performance in the pacing Standardbreds could be explained by these metabolic markers, which indicate the muscle’s anaerobic response to racing.
- The study concluded that plasma lactate and uric acid responses to maximum exercise are unlikely to be beneficial for evaluating racing performance in pacing Standardbreds through univariate analysis.
Cite This Article
APA
Evans DL, Priddle TL, Davie AJ.
(2002).
Plasma lactate and uric acid responses to racing in pacing Standardbreds and relationships with performance.
Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 131-134.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05405.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Lactates / blood
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Endurance / physiology
- Running / physiology
- Statistics as Topic
- Uric Acid / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Vincelette A. The Characteristics, Distribution, Function, and Origin of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 8;13(16).
- James C, Sheahan J, Arthur P. Stable Levels of Thiol-Oxidised Plasma Albumin, a Biomarker of Oxidative Stress, Is Correlated with Enhanced Performance in Australian Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 12;15(24).
- Schrurs C, Dubois G, Van Erck-Westergren E, Gardner DS. Cardiovascular Fitness and Stride Acceleration in Race-Pace Workouts for the Prediction of Performance in Thoroughbreds. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 29;14(9).
- 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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