The Eddie Lynam story appears to be one of overnight success, but like all overnight success stories, it was 30 years in the making. His story illustrates how tough things really are for most trainers, while highlighting why it is that they persevere. Success hinges on the right horse coming along and, for Lynam, they’re now coming along in their droves.

Over the last two decades the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has funded substantial research to understand how various body systems respond to training. For example, because of this HBLB investment we now know that the hearts of thoroughbred racehorses get bigger as a response to athletic training and that big hearts are typically associated with better performers. We also know that bones respond to training by remodelling and hence become better prepared for the strains associated with galloping.

Worldwide, when there are new disease outbreaks – human or horse – there seems to be a link between climate change and infectious disease risk.  Warmer environment and changing weather patterns influence many factors that encourage disease outbreaks, disease transmission, and the emergence of new diseases.