Cardiovascular Fitness and Stride Acceleration in Race-Pace Workouts for the Prediction of Performance in Thoroughbreds

Schrurs, Charlotte; Dubois, Guillaume; Van Erck-Westergren, Emmanuelle; Gardner, David S.

Abstract

In-training racehorse physiological data can be leveraged to further explore race-day performance prediction. To date, no large retrospective, observational study has analysed whether in-training speed and heart rate recovery can predict racehorse success. Speed (categorised as ‘slow’ to ‘fast’ according to the time taken to cover the last 600 m from a virtual finish line) and heart rate recovery (from gallop to 1 min after exercise) of flat racehorses (n = 485) of varying age, sex and type according to distance (e.g., sprinter, miler and stayer) were obtained using a fitness tracker from a single racing yard in Australia. Race-pace training sessions on turf comprised ‘fast gallop’ (n = 3418 sessions) or ‘jumpout’ (n = 1419). A posteriori racing information (n = 3810 races) for all 485 racehorses was extracted and combined with training data. Race performance was categorised as win/not-win or podium or not, each analysed by logistic regression. Colts (p < 0.001), stayers (p < 0.001) and being relatively fast over the last 600 m of a benchmark test in training (p < 0.008) were all predictive of race performance. Heart rate recovery after exercise (p = 0.21) and speed recorded at 600 m of a 1 km benchmark test in training (p = 0.94) were not predictive. In-training physiological data analytics used along with subjective experience may help trainers identify promising horses and improve decision-making.

Citation

Schrurs, C., Dubois, G., Van Erck-Westergren, E., & Gardner, D. S. (2024). Cardiovascular Fitness and Stride Acceleration in Race-Pace Workouts for the Prediction of Performance in Thoroughbreds. Animals, 14(9), Article 1342. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091342

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 26, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 29, 2024
• Publication Date: Apr 29, 2024
• Deposit Date: May 4, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: May 7, 2024
• Journal: Animals
• Electronic ISSN: 2076-2615
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 9
• Article Number: 1342
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091342
• Keywords: exercise, training, speed, horse, heart rate
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/34350546
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/9/1342