How to make Thoroughbred Racehorses Better

 

It is no secret I love horses, and Thoroughbred racing. I read magazines and watch racing shows. I have a nice collection of reference books about the sport. Over the years I have come to the same conclusion many breeding experts have: the Thoroughbred has peaked in its speed, endurance /soundness, and longevity in the sport.

 

Black Caviar

Winx

Where are the modern equivalents of Citation, Kincsem, Forego, the Black Caviar, Kelso, Dr. Fager, or the Secretariat?  Winx, Zenyatta, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Beholder, Wise Dan, Miesque, Stadavariaus, and Frankel have wowed us in recent years.  Ask sportswriters and each will provide a list of their “top ten”. At least three of these runners will be on the list.

 

Forego

Frankel

Miesque

Kincsem

Why is that?

  

Kelso

Let’s start with longevity. That is easy: big money is the cause. Syndication really took its hold in the 1970’s with Secretariat. The horse was deemed “too valuable” to continue his racing career after age three, and he was retired to stud.  He ran in 21 races at two and three years of age (same as the illustrious Man o’War). Compare that to Flightline in 2022. Flightline ran in six. The money invested was just too much to let the horse run as a four-year-old. Prior to the 21rst century, horses just ran more. It wasn’t unusual for horses to race 2-3 times a month. Today’s horses rarely race more than once a month.

 

Flightline

Endurance and soundness can be blamed on many factors. In the USA, the Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Act (HISA) was enacted to ensure safety and integrity rules for racing. These regulations include drugs administered to the horses. Most other countries do not allow race-day medications and strictly regulated what could be given prior to a race. Unlike the US, grass racing predominates.  No drugs meant unsound horses kept off the track.  With HISA, medications are not only restricted, but testing is now consistent. Other countries also run longer distance races, as compared to the shorter, speed races in the US. Granted, 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th century racing had its share of illegal activity, and even today unscrupulous personnel look for ways to cheat the system. Soundness also comes from inbreeding. Some lines seem to have more issues than others, but unfortunately; those sire lines are also popular.

 

Byerly Turk

The problem with speed has many causes as well. Track variances, weather, inbreeding, and race-day medication. Does a horse running under the influence of meds really run faster, or just run without regard to any injuries? Sore horses don’t break records.  Secretariat’s Belmont record will probably stay in the books. His Triple Crown records for each race will also stick for a while. Track records have been broken, but combine the distances with longevity, endurance, and speed and it is likely we will not see any new streaks for a while.

 

Eclipse

Even the mare and sire lines, world-wide, have become limited. The sire lines of the Godolphin Arabian and Byerly Turk are in decline. At least the Godolphin Arabian is trudging on through In Reality. Byerly is in danger. The Darley Arabian is predominant. Yes, there were other “eastern-bred” horses, probably Turkomene, Akhal-Teke, or Barbs used, but the three Founding sires are given the most credit for developing the breed in England.

 

Godolphin Arabian

How can the Thoroughbred improve? Tracks have tried switching from dirt to synthetic surface, partly to help prevent injuries. Performance didn’t increase as hoped, and many tracks reverted back to dirt again.  How can soundness and endurance get better? Out-cross breeding is the answer. Rare lines to Godolphin or Byerly need to be found and used. And here is an idea: allow outcrossing from original desert breeds.

Dr. Fager

 

Yes, you heard me. Allow Arabian or Akhal-Teke into the Stud Books for breeding purposes only. Of course, unlike Arabian Registries, only natural covers would be allowed. Any stallion or mare would need to be blood-typed (for any congenital diseases) and dna checked for breed “purity”. Bloodstock cleared for hereditary diseases and from an approved Breed Registry could then be utilized for out-cross breeding. Bring in some hybrid-vigor. Anglo-Arabians and Arabians do race. Arabians are known for endurance and stamina. Allow the horses in for a limited amount of time and mark the progeny with a special registration number. Once they are proved on the track, and no physical conditions are apparent, permanent registration numbers could be issued.

 

Crazy? Sure, but this is how the Thoroughbred began in the first place.