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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(10); 2807; doi: 10.3390/ani11102807

Preliminary Examination of the Biological and Industry Constraints on the Structure and Pattern of Thoroughbred Racing in New Zealand over Thirteen Seasons: 2005/06-2017/18.

Abstract: This study aimed to examine thirteen seasons of flat racing starts ( = 388,964) in the context of an ecological system and identify metrics that describe the inherent characteristics and constraints of the New Zealand Thoroughbred racing industry. During the thirteen years examined, there was a 2-3% per year reduction in the number of races, starts and number of horses. There was a significant shift in the racing population with a greater number of fillies (aged 2-4 years) having a race start, and subsequent longer racing careers due to the inclusion of one more racing preparation post 2008 ( < 0.05). Additionally, there was an increasingly ageing population of racehorses. These changes resulted in more race starts in a career, but possibly because of biological constraints, there was no change in the number of race starts per season, starts per preparation, or days spelling between preparations ( < 0.05). There was no change in the proportion of horses having just one race start (14% of new entrants), indicating that the screening for suitability for a racing career remained consistent. These data identify key industry parameters which provide a basis for future modelling of intervention strategies to improve economic performance and reduce horse injury. Consideration of the racing industry as a bio-economic or ecological model provides framework to test how the industry may respond to intervention strategies and signal where changes in system dynamics may alter existing risk factors for injury.
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Publication Date: 2021-09-27 PubMed ID: 34679829PubMed Central: PMC8532836DOI: 10.3390/ani11102807Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 looks into the structure and pattern of thoroughbred flat racing in New Zealand over thirteen seasons, from 2005/06 to 2017/18. The study investigates the changes in the racing population and their effect on the industry’s economy and the horses’ wellbeing.

Study Context and Aim

  • This study seeks to evaluate data from thirteen seasons of flat racing in New Zealand as an ecological model. The researchers aim to identify elements that demonstrate the inherent features and limitations of the Thoroughbred racing industry in the country.

Findings

  • The researchers observed a yearly decrease of 2-3% in the number of races, starts, and participating horses over the period examined.
  • A shift in the racing population was noted. More fillies, aged between 2 to 4 years, have started to participate in races. This led to lengthier racing careers due to the addition of one more racing preparation post 2008.
  • The population of racehorses is aging. As a result, horses started more races in their career. However, biological constraints restricted change in the number of race starts per season, starts per preparation, or the number of break days between preparations.
  • The proportion of horses having just one race start (14% of new entrants) remained constant. This shows that the process of screening horses for suitability for a racing career has not changed over the years.

Implication of the Findings

  • The findings offer insight into significant industry metrics, which could be used to devise intervention strategies, aiming at improving economic efficiency and reducing horse injuries.
  • Viewing the racing industry as a bio-economic or ecological model could serve as a framework on which tests on intervention strategies can be based. This perspective could also allow researchers to observe how the industry might react to such strategies and identify changes in system dynamics that could modify the risk factors for horse injuries.

Cite This Article

APA
Legg KA, Gee EK, Cochrane DJ, Rogers CW. (2021). Preliminary Examination of the Biological and Industry Constraints on the Structure and Pattern of Thoroughbred Racing in New Zealand over Thirteen Seasons: 2005/06-2017/18. Animals (Basel), 11(10), 2807. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102807

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 10
PII: 2807

Researcher Affiliations

Legg, Kylie A
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Gee, Erica K
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Cochrane, Darryl J
  • School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Rogers, Chris W
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
  • School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

Grant Funding

  • 9/2017 / New Zealand Equine Trust

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Gibson MJ, Legg KA, Gee EK, Rogers CW. The Reporting of Racehorse Fatalities in New Zealand Thoroughbred Flat Racing in the 2011/12-2021/22 Seasons. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 9;13(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13040612pubmed: 36830402google scholar: lookup
  2. 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
  3. Gibson MJ, Legg KA, Gee EK, Rogers CW. Race-Level Reporting of Incidents Using an Online System during Three Seasons (2019/2020-2021/2022) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 3;12(21).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12213028pubmed: 36359152google scholar: lookup
  4. Gibson MJ, Bolwell CF, Gee EK, Legg KA, Rogers CW. Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 15;12(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12081033pubmed: 35454278google scholar: lookup
  5. Gibson MJ, Roca Fraga FJ, Bolwell CF, Gee EK, Rogers CW. Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Harness Racing in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 11;12(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12040433pubmed: 35203141google scholar: lookup
  6. Legg KA, Cochrane DJ, Gee EK, Chin YY, Rogers CW. Relationship between experience and head kinematics in race riding jockeys. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 26;15(1):14686.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-98683-9pubmed: 40287497google scholar: lookup
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