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Equine veterinary journal2012; 45(1); 20-24; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00534.x

The association of 2-year-old training milestones with career length and racing success in a sample of Thoroughbred horses in New Zealand.

Abstract: There is increasing evidence that exercise early in life has a positive effect on musculoskeletal health. At present, there is little whole population research investigating the effect of racing as 2-year-olds on future racing career. Objective: To investigate the association between attaining training milestones as 2-year-olds with length of career and racing success in Thoroughbred horses in New Zealand. Methods: Retrospective data were obtained of the 2001/02-born Thoroughbred foal crop. The 3 training milestones were: registered with a trainer, trialled and raced. The association of the training milestones with career length was measured using the outcomes: number of race starts and number of years raced, in a Cox regression model. Logistic regression models analysed the association of the training milestones with the outcomes: won or placed in a race. Linear regression was performed to assess the association of training milestones with total career earnings. Results: Of 4683 horses in the population; 3152 horses were registered with a trainer, 2661 horses trialled and 2109 horses raced. Horses that raced as 2-year-olds had significantly (P<0.001) more race starts than those first raced as 3-year-olds or older, this was also true when the 2-year-old year data were omitted. Horses that raced as 2-year-olds had significantly (P<0.001) more years racing. Horses registered with a trainer, trialled or raced as 2-year-olds were more likely to have won or been placed in a race than those that achieved the milestones as 3-year-olds or older. Horses that first trialled and raced as 2-year-olds had greater total earnings than those that first trialled or raced at a later age. Conclusions: Two-year-old training milestones had a strong association with positive racing career outcomes. Horses in training or racing as 2-year-olds may have better musculoskeletal health throughout life than horses that are first in training or racing at a later age.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2012-02-10 PubMed ID: 22320408DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00534.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 studies the correlation between training milestones achieved as 2-year-olds and the length of career and racing success in Thoroughbred horses. A clear association was found indicating that earlier training might result in a longer and more successful racing career, possibly due to enhanced musculoskeletal health.

Methodology

  • The study was based on retrospective data from the 2001/02-born Thoroughbred foal crop in New Zealand, comprising 4683 horses.
  • The three critical training milestones focused on were registering with a trainer, trialling, and racing.
  • The association between these milestones and career length was evaluated using the number of race starts and the number of years raced, analysed through a Cox regression model.
  • A logistic regression model was employed to investigate the connection between training milestones and race performance, namely winning or securing a place in a race.
  • A linear regression analysis was done to examine the correlation between training milestones and total career earnings.

Results

  • Out of the total population, 3152 horses were registered with a trainer, 2661 horses trialled, and 2109 horses raced.
  • Horses that trained, trialled, or raced as 2-year-olds had significantly more race starts and extended racing careers compared to those who started at a later age, even when data from the two-year-old year was removed.
  • Two-year-old milestone achievers had a significantly higher probability of winning or being placed in a race than those who reached the milestones as 3-year-olds or older.
  • Horses that first trialled and raced as 2-year-olds had greater total earnings than those that first trialled or raced at a later age.

Conclusion

  • The study draws a crucial conclusion regarding the positive impact of achieving training milestones at an early age of two years on a horse’s racing career.
  • Horses that started their training or racing as 2-year-olds potentially possess better musculoskeletal health throughout their life, enhancing their racing ability and contributing positively to their career longevity and success.

Cite This Article

APA
Tanner JC, Rogers CW, Firth EC. (2012). The association of 2-year-old training milestones with career length and racing success in a sample of Thoroughbred horses in New Zealand. Equine Vet J, 45(1), 20-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00534.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 1
Pages: 20-24

Researcher Affiliations

Tanner, J C
  • Massey Equine, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. J.C.Tanner@massey.ac.nz
Rogers, C W
    Firth, E C

      MeSH Terms

      • Aging
      • Animals
      • Female
      • Horses / physiology
      • Male
      • New Zealand
      • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
      • Running
      • Sports

      Citations

      This article has been cited 18 times.
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      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).
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        doi: 10.3390/ani12091139pubmed: 35565565google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.3390/ani11123402pubmed: 34944179google scholar: lookup
      6. Furtado T, Preshaw L, Hockenhull J, Wathan J, Douglas J, Horseman S, Smith R, Pollard D, Pinchbeck G, Rogers J, Hall C. How Happy Are Equine Athletes? Stakeholder Perceptions of Equine Welfare Issues Associated with Equestrian Sport. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 12;11(11).
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        doi: 10.3390/ani11113130pubmed: 34827862google scholar: lookup
      8. Legg KA, Gee EK, Cochrane DJ, Rogers CW. 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) 2021 Sep 27;11(10).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11102807pubmed: 34679829google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.3390/ani10112046pubmed: 33167429google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.3390/ani10050796pubmed: 32380681google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.3390/ani9070466pubmed: 31336595google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.3390/ani9040162pubmed: 31013846google scholar: lookup
      14. Tanner J, Rogers C, Bolwell C, Cogger N, Gee E, Mcllwraith W. Analysis of Failure to Finish a Race in a Cohort of Thoroughbred Racehorses in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2016 May 25;6(6).
        doi: 10.3390/ani6060036pubmed: 27231944google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.3390/ani2040640pubmed: 26487168google scholar: lookup
      16. Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Boyde A, Barr ED, Riggs CM. Horse-, training- and race-level risk factors for palmar/plantar osteochondral disease in the racing Thoroughbred. Equine Vet J 2013 Sep;45(5):582-6.
        doi: 10.1111/evj.12038pubmed: 23425384google scholar: lookup
      17. Wong D, Sahoo DK, Faivre C, Kopper J, Dersh K, Beachler T, Esser M. Oxidative stress in critically ill neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):e17297.
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      18. Ishimaru M, Okano A, Matsui A, Murase H, Korosue K, Akiyama K, Taya K. Effects of an extended photoperiod on body composition of young Thoroughbreds in training. J Vet Med Sci 2024 Jan 10;86(1):58-65.
        doi: 10.1292/jvms.23-0349pubmed: 37967974google scholar: lookup
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