Smaller nations - the challenges facing trainers in Denmark, Poland and Spain

In the last issue, we featured a table of champion trainers and jockeys across Europe, compiled by Slovakia’s Dr Marian Surda. In this one, we have selected three of those champion trainers—those of Denmark, Poland and Spain—and tried to find out a little more about them and what it is like to be at the top of the training tree in their respective countries. While there is plenty of positivity and success to report, the challenges of sustaining viable businesses in the ‘smaller’ racing nations of our region, even for those at the top of their profession, are evident. It is a salutary finding that two of the three are looking to move on from the countries in which they have made their names.

Of our chosen trio, Guillermo Arizkorreta was the most highly ranked (by earnings), finishing 7th of 19 with earnings of €886,250 achieved through 61 winners at a strike rate of 19.3%. Niels Petersen not only finished 9th with his €311,537 in Denmark, but he also finished 8th as champion in Norway, with a further €443,856. And Cornelia ‘Conny’ Fraisl, one of only two females on the list, came in at No 14, earning €131,791 from her 50 wins in Poland.There are many similarities between the three. All happen to be of a similar ‘vintage’, being in their late 40’s or 50’s. 

Denmark has the fewest horses in training but has ready access to those trained in neighbouring Sweden and Norway. The number of trainers among whom these horses are divided are roughly comparable, as are the numbers of their owners. There is some disparity in prize money, with Poland some way adrift of the other two countries. None has a thriving thoroughbred breeding industry, producing limited numbers of foals and therefore relying on foreign-bred imports and foreign-trained runners to achieve the near-identical average field sizes of eight runners per race.

Denmark has one thoroughbred-only track (Copenhagen’s Klampenborg) and three dual gallop and trotting courses. In Poland, Sluzewiec—the main track at the country’s capital—is joined by three others, including Wroclav (where most Polish jump races are run) and the seaside track at Sopot. Spain has four traditional tracks, headed by La Zarzuela in Madrid and, in addition, has three beach racecourses and two ‘pop-up’ tracks.

NIELS PETERSEN

Niels Petersen can claim a unique achievement among current European trainers, in that he is Champion Trainer not only in Denmark, but also in Norway. While Petersen was born and raised in Denmark, he has lived in Norway for the past 25 years, from which base he has stewarded a stellar training career. He has earned the title of multiple champion trainer in all three Scandinavian countries, with combined annual prize money often exceeding €1M and peaking at around €1.7M. Over the years, he has garnered 788 winners in Scandinavia, at a strike rate of around 16%.

Petersen is a prolific winner of Scandinavia’s richest race, the Group III Stockholm Cup International. Square de Luynes ran up a hat-trick of wins.from 2019 to 2021, and Bank of Burden was a four-time victor in a long career. “My most consistent horse was probably Bank of Burden, but my best horse has been Square du Luynes. The Racing Post called him ‘Frankel of the Fjords’”!

Asked for his view of the best trainers in Europe, he says, “People like to say it’s a numbers game, and of course it is, and I know they have the firepower; but the way Aiden O’Brien and John Gosden place their horses, and the level they maintain year after year is just amazing and fantastic to watch. And I greatly admire Karl Burke. To have bounced back and actually raised his game, as he has, after all he’s been through…”.

As for the riders: “Frankie Dettori is special, of course, and I think William Buick, whom I know very well, is a fantastic jockey”. And turning to racetracks: “Ascot and Longchamp are absolutely fantastic tracks, and here in Scandinavia, Bro Park is very level and fair”.

Petersen’s move to Norway was by way of circumstance, not planning. Having completed his education and military service, he worked in Baden-Baden, (alongside friends who included jockey William Buick’s father) for a couple of years, before returning to his homeland, where he suffered a serious riding accident. Forced to seek work opportunities which did not involve riding, his knowledge of the German language came in handy, and he was asked to accompany Scandinavian-trained horses when they raced in Germany. There he met a Norwegian trainer who invited Petersen to join him in Norway to help train his jump horses.  

Last year and the year before, Petersen operated a satellite yard in Denmark, (just as once he did also in Sweden). Around 15 of his 55 horses were based at Klampenborg racecourse, and in both those years he claimed the Danish championship. However, despite that success, adverse exchange rate movements have led him to abandon the Danish base. “The Danish customers actually preferred to put the horse up with me in Norway. I haven’t lost any clients, and all their horses I have with me in Norway now.” 

Petersen is quick to praise the integrated race planning across the Scandinavian nations, making it practicable for trainers to map out campaigns for their horses. So, for example “if you have an outstanding miler, you can target all the big mile races, more or less.”

Securing owners in any one country is challenging enough—how does Petersen approach the task of finding owners in three countries? He is clear that the trainer’s job is not simply to train the horses—the social component is also vitally important. For example, the path to Dubai for its Carnival is a well-trod one—its purpose for Petersen being as much to enrich social relations with and amongst his owners as the pursuit of prize money. 

“I’ve got to make people enjoy the hobby I can provide them with. You do sacrifice a lot of time in doing that. But when you’ve sat on the beach and shared a bottle of wine in your swimming trunks, you become better friends!” 

The travel and the socialising place a premium on having excellent staff back at base and has been fortunate to have had a long-standing assistant in the business in the shape of his elder sister. “I make sure that my staff are well paid, and I’m strict in observing proper working hours. It has become more difficult to find good staff, but word of mouth has ensured we have an excellent team, including a number from South America”.

Petersen has noticed a reduction in horses in training in all three countries. “I’m a bit pessimistic as to the future of racing here, especially in Norway, because our government is not supporting the industry at all. It classifies it as a hobby and, unlike in Sweden and Denmark and elsewhere, you cannot own horses as part of a business. It means owners have to pay 25% VAT on top of imports, which they can’t get back.”  

Dubai’s allure is, of course, all the greater in the contrast it provides to the long, harsh Scandinavian winters. Petersen rues the fact that, from November to April, the Scandinavian climate renders virtually impossible the effective preparation of horses and, despite his huge success there, he has an eye out for opportunities abroad. “I would like to say I’m not looking for something outside, but I am. I live and breathe Scandinavian racing, but do I see myself here in five years’ time? I don’t think so. I don't see myself being here in five years’ time. I'm only 51 years old—not even at my peak—and I want the opportunity to challenge myself where I know I should be: on the bigger international scene”.

Until then, Scandinavia has given Petersen many special memories. What was his best day? “In Denmark, on Derby Day 2021, I had runners in seven races, and I won all seven of them!” If Square de Luynes was ‘Frankel of the Fjords’, then, after that ‘magnificent seven’, one could almost be forgiven for dubbing Niels Petersen ‘Frankie of the Fjords’.

CONNY FRAISL 

Fraisl’s rise to the top in Poland has been meteoric. Her first year with a public trainer’s licence was as recent as 2020, when, with 44 winners, she finished second in the trainers’ table. Two years later, she was crowned Champion, with 50 winners. Fraisl is alone among our trio in concentrating almost exclusively on Arabian, rather than thoroughbred racing.

“I was born in beautiful Salzburg, Austria”, she explains. “My grandparents had a little farm and, when I was three, my dad bought me my first pony. It was a ‘typical’ stubborn Shetland Pony; and once I’d landed on the ground several times, I asked my dad to ‘sell this pony and buy me a guinea pig’!”

But the lure of riding returned a decade later. “Close to the place I lived, there was a training stable for trotters where I spent every free afternoon, all my holidays from the age of 13. Racing always was fascinating for me. Flat racing In particular but, due to the fact that there was no flat racing stable in my area, I stayed the next seven years with trotters. But I always had an eye on flat racing and, in 1996, when I moved from Salzburg to Vienna, I was finally close to a racetrack where regular flat races were held. So, I made contact with one of the trainers, started to ride regularly in daily training there, gained my amateur licence and bought my first own racehorse.”

“I had the possibility of riding work in Florida for several weeks, and I could learn a lot about starting young horses there. During my earlier days in the trotting stable, I learned a lot about intensity of training, interval training, feeding and the general needs of racehorses”.

As an amateur, Fraisl notched up around 25 winners in Austria and Hungary, where she rode for two seasons for different trainers. Turning professional in 2006, she has amassed 208 winners in the saddle to date, riding in countries as far afield as Malaysia.

For her training career, Fraisl moved to Poland, her then-partner’s homeland, where she set up a private breeding and training facility in Strzegom, not far from Wroclav. “At the beginning, we had in training only homebred horses, thoroughbreds. Step by step, one by one, came some Arabians from Austria, Germany, Sweden.... and when they started to win more and more races. Owners from different countries recognised the job we were doing and sent us more and more Arabian horses to be trained in Poland. Today, she has some 80 boxes and 40 places for youngstock. She is an advocate of turnout for horses’ well-being.  “Twenty-five huge grass paddocks can be used all year round and all of our horses—including the racehorses—enjoy several hours outside every day. This is the most positive aspect for mental health. We also have an indoor arena and a horse walker as well as many possibilities to ride out into fields and forest to create the most individual training for our horses as possible”.
These days, Fraisl continues to ride out for nearly all the lots. “This is the best possibility for me to see how the horses in training work, how they behave—simply to ‘feel’ them”.

However, in Fraisl, we find another champion trainer wanting to move on from the country of their triumphs. “Actually we are dramatically reducing the number of our horses, and we are not accepting new horses and owners. The reason is that I am leaving Poland soon and will stop my job as a trainer here”. 

Fraisl cites a multitude of reasons for this bombshell decision which, she says, she has taken after lengthy consideration. “The number of foreign Arabian horses—as we mainly have them in training—is also getting smaller and smaller. This means that we are forced to enter three, four or five horses from our stable together in one race, or that race will be cancelled. This makes no sense for us and our owners any more”.  

Stagnant prize money and rising costs (of staff, transport, feed, bedding and veterinary and blacksmith services) are another factor. In addition, “there is a big lack of work riders. Most trainers work with a handful of enthusiastic amateurs, mainly young girls, who come to ride some lots before school or study or during holidays”. Fraisl also rues the talent drain of the best jockeys in Poland to other countries. She claims that drug and alcohol misuse is a real issue amongst riders and also that black-economy practices are common in the capital, with staff being employed without legal papers or insurance. “We have all our staff employed on a legal basis, and this is why we are the most expensive stable in Poland. We are already tired [of] explaining to the potential new owners why the prices of others are much lower—that's why we finally decided to close our training stable”.

These points were put to the Polish Jockey Club (PJC) racing secretary and the EMHF executive council member, Jakub Kasprzak. Kasprzak points to the fact that Poland is not alone in facing economic challenges, with high inflation being experienced generally across the continent. “It is true that prize money has not risen for some years, but it still compares favourably with that in, for example, Czechia or Slovakia. We are currently trying to support breeders and owners of Polish-bred horses. We have put in place a five-year programme to help this group of people. Ms Fraisl’s yard has 95% foreign-bred horses, so she is unable to participate in that programme. We have been paying transport only to horses to travel to Sopot (just four days’ racing per year) because there are no horses in training within 100km of that racecourse.”

“It is true that Polish riders, of all levels of ability, will often seek happiness abroad. But a shortage of racing staff is something that is being experienced throughout Europe. We are now seeing many staff coming from countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. However, I don’t recognise her point about insurance and illegal workers. Every rider MUST have official insurance to be licenced. We at the PJC are very exacting about it. And as to drug and alcohol problems, every rider has a medical control before the start of a race. If the medical officer sees anything incorrect, he will report it to the stewards. Two years ago, one rider was suspended for one year for being drunk on race day”.

Where will Fraisl relocate to? “Time will tell. I hope to find a nice place where I can continue my work with Arabian horses.” 

Fraisl has not been averse to sending horses abroad to compete ‘whenever it makes sense’. Indeed it has been the forays abroad that have provided her with her most treasured racing memories. “As key moments, I would mention the experience [of taking] part and finishing fifth in the UAE President Cup - UK Derby in Doncaster this year with Bahwan and especially our first Group winner last year in Jägersro, Sweden. For me as a trainer, this was the first Group race abroad. For our young stable jockey it was the first big chance to ride a Group race and show his talent abroad so we said ‘let's go and try’. We had no idea how the colt would do on a dirt track and without the whip (in accordance with the rules in Sweden). In the event, it was the first Group win for me as trainer, for our jockey, and for the breeder....it was an unforgettable day for all of us”.

GUILLERMO ARIZKORRETA

One man has enjoyed a stranglehold on the Trainers’ Championship in Spain for over a decade. Guillermo Arizkorreta first topped the table in 2012 and has remained there ever since. 

By contrast with the other featured trainers, Arizkorreta trains at shared facilities, with some 25 others, at the La Zarzuela racetrack, very close to Madrid. It helps contain costs and has in turn contributed to the fact that Arizkorreta’s owners have enjoyed an enviable return on their annual costs, of over 75%. “It is very easy for the trainer. The owner pays €200/month to the racecourse, and it includes stabling, water supply, electricity, use of gallops, etc. Overall, having a horse in the yard costs around €1500/month, all included. It means that it is not that difficult to cover the cost of having a racehorse. On average, my horses have earned €13.500/year since I started”.

His operation supports some 70 horses in training and a workforce of around 25. “We have very nice staff, from many countries: Germany, Chile, Czech Republic, Italy, Nicaragua, Bolivia. As everywhere, there is a shortage, and it is not easy to find good riders. We have around 17 full-timers who work approximately 40 hours a week, a couple of part-timers, and some jockeys who are self-employed. The staff that work full-time work one weekend in two and the same for the evening stables. The basic wage for a full-time rider is around €19.000/year”.

“I started in a pony club in Oiartzun (close to San Sebastian) which was owned by a racehorse owner. There I met (four-time French Champion jockey) Ioritz Mendizabal, who had a keen interest in racing; and we started to ride racehorses in our local track in San Sebastian. From then on, I started following Spanish racing, and afterwards I started to follow racing and breeding around the globe, which became my passion”.

Arizkorreta singles out three key events in his rise to the top. “First, being able to compete in the FEGENTRI series as an amateur rider opened my eyes, and I was lucky to ride in many countries. Secondly, after finishing my degree, I spent nearly six years working as [an] assistant in the UK to Mr Cumani and in France to Mr Laffon Parias; and I learned a lot with them. 

“Lastly, Madrid racecourse was closed between 1996 and 2005, and I was lucky to be ready to start my career at the same time as the racecourse reopened. I was known as an amateur rider in Spain, and all the background from my experience abroad helped me a lot to get some clients in very exciting times”.

“We have won 878 races from 4,450 runners. In Spain, we have won all the major races and probably our biggest achievement abroad was to win a Gp3 and a Gp2 on the same weekend in Baden Baden in 2021”.

Loyal support from some of the country’s biggest owners has been a hallmark of Arizkorreta’s career. “I have a good bunch of owners. The majority of them have been with the yard for a long time. At the moment, we have around 20 different ownership entities—33% sole ownership and the rest partnerships. The majority of them used to come racing when they were children and have a good knowledge of the sport”.

Arizkorreta has not been shy of campaigning his horses abroad and has reaped healthy rewards, capped by that dual Group-winning day in Germany. “Since I started, I have always tried to race as much as possible abroad. We have had 112 winners abroad—mainly in France, but we have also won in Dubai, Germany, Morocco and Switzerland; and we have had runners in Saudi, Sweden, UK, and Italy”.

“I feel we have done pretty well abroad, and in the right races, our horses are usually competitive”.  

The trainer has much that is positive to say about racing in his country. “Madrid Racecourse is our ‘shield’, classified, as it is, as a monument. It is a fabulous racecourse, with lovely stands, a good turf track and a good crowd of people every meeting. It is very close to the city centre and is a track definitely worth visiting. Prize money could be better for the big races but in general is good, especially for the low-grade races. Being close to France helps us find suitable races for some horses”. 

As to what could be improved, Arizkorreta would welcome improved planning of the race programme and greater unity between trainers, jockeys, and owners to “push in the same direction and to improve the basics of our industry”. And financial structures also mean that there is not the opportunity to access horse walkers or equine swimming pools.

All in all for Arizkorreta, the future, if not stellar, looks stable. “I think in five years’ time we will be in a similar position. Things could be much better but, realistically, with politicians not giving us the tools to develop the betting and our industry; it is hard to imagine an improvement in the short term. We need them to make a long-term plan for racing and breeding and to consider it as an industry that can create wealth and employment in many areas. Since 2005, the ruling government has helped us with prize money, which covers nearly all the races run in the year; and I see no reason why it should change, especially in Madrid.     

“We have some lovely racecourses, which are always attended by a good crowd. In our biggest racecourse in Madrid, the weather is usually lovely, and it is becoming very popular in the city. There is scope to improve in many areas, and I can see it being one of the nicest racecourses in Europe. San Sebastian needs more support from the local government, but it is a historic racecourse in an amazing city. And I hope Mijas racecourse will reopen at some point”! 

It was heartening to find that at least one of our ‘smaller nations’ champion trainers shows no signs of wishing to leave the country. 

Amy Murphy – Thinking Outside the Box

Equuis Photography / Jason Bax

Article by Katherine Ford

“I’m a bit choked up; this horse means the absolute world to me…” Amy Murphy was close to tears at Auteuil in March as she welcomed stable stalwart Kalashnikov back into the Winners’ Enclosure with Jack Quinlan aboard. It was a first success in almost four years for the ten-year-old, although the intervening months had seen the popular gelding performing creditably at Graded level in campaigns interrupted by injury. Connections pocketed €26,680 for the winners’ share of the €58,000 conditions hurdle; but the satisfaction far surpassed the prize money. 

“An awful lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into getting him back, but don’t get me wrong: if at any point we thought that he wasn’t still at the top of his game, we’d have stopped because he doesn’t owe us anything.” Runner-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2018 Festival and a Grade 1 winner at Aintree the following season, Kalashnikov put Amy Murphy—with her refreshing enthusiasm and undeniable horsemanship—on the map from the start of their respective careers. 

“He is very much a people’s horse. He was campaigned from the early days at the highest level, and he had some real good battles as a young horse; and I think that those types of horses that don’t go down without a fight, people lock onto them and follow them.”

From veterans to juveniles

Equuis Photography / Jason Bax

While the achievement of keeping a ten-year-old on form and identifying a winnable race at Auteuil for his French debut is considerable, the success was all the more notable as it came just three days after Myconian had earned connections €15,000 for victory in the Prix du Début at Saint-Cloud—the first juvenile contest of the Parisian season. It is rare to find a trainer with success at both ends of the age spectrum, in two different disciplines, but when you add in the fact that Amy Murphy had crossed the Channel to complete this unusual double, it demonstrates a laudable versatility. 

“We try and work with everything we get sent. We’re in a fortunate position where we’ve got the best of both worlds with lots of lovely young horses; but Kalashnikov, Mercian Prince and some of the old brigade have been with us since we started. I started training six years ago, and they were two of the first horses in my yard so they’ve been a big part of my career and still are.” 

Twelve-year-old Mercian Prince has racked up a total of 13 wins for Amy since arriving in her fledgling yard from France in 2016, with three of these coming in the past 12 months and including one in Clairefontaine last summer. As with Kalashnikov, patience has reaped rewards with this veteran. 

“Mercian Prince is very tricky to train at home—he has a mind of his own, and everything’s got to be on his terms. We do lots of different things with him. He will go three or four times during the year to the beach at Holkham, which is about an hour down the road. It keeps him mentally active. I’m a big believer in freshening them up. I like to string a couple of races together and then give them a week or ten days out in the field at the farm—things like that. It’s fine if you’ve got two-year-olds and it’s a short-term game; but with older horses that you know are going to stick around, you’ve got to keep them fresh.”

From pony-mad to the youngest trainer in Newmarket

Ambitious and determined, Amy Murphy spent her childhood on her father’s Wychnor Park Stud in Staffordshire. “My dad bred National Hunt horses as a hobby. I always had ponies and hunted and showjumped until I was about 16; then I started riding out for local trainers and got bitten by the racing bug. I spent all of my weekends and holidays riding out for as many people as would let me in. My dad wouldn’t let me leave school without any qualifications, so I went to Hartpury College and did a diploma in equine science. The day after that finished, I was in a racing yard.” 

After a stint with Nicky Henderson, Amy’s now-characteristic adventurous spirit led her to Australia and an educational season with Gai Waterhouse. “Australia was where I learnt more about spelling horses. Their horses will only have three or four runs together and their seasons are split up so they can campaign them with breaks in between the different carnivals. Gai is obviously brilliant with her two-year-olds and does lots of stalls work with them, and that was another important thing I learnt with her.” 

On returning to the UK, Amy joined Tom Dascombe as pupil assistant at Michael Owen’s Manor House in Cheshire, which opened the doors to France for the first time, overseeing his satellite base in Deauville during a summer. Her racing education was completed with four years at Luca Cumani’s stable in Newmarket before setting out on her own in 2016, at age 24—the youngest trainer in Newmarket. 

“One of the biggest things I learnt from Luca was making sure a horse is ready before you run. As you become a more mature trainer, you relax more into it; you learn that patience pays off. If you think something needs a bit more time or something’s not quite right, then nine times out of ten, you need to be patient.” 

Patience is a virtue

Amy with Pride Of America & Lemos with Miss Cantik.

Amy Murphy may have learnt patience with her horses, but she is impatient with a system that she has had to seek and find alternative campaigns for her horses due to low prize money in the UK. “As William Haggas said to me the other day, I’ve got off my rear end and done something about the situation.” She continues, “It’s very hard to make it pay in England, sadly, so it’s either sit here and struggle or do something outside the box.” 

Amy’s first Stakes success came in France in just her second season training, thanks to £14,000 breeze-up purchase Happy Odyssey, winner of a juvenile Listed contest at Maisons-Laffitte and who quickly added more profit by selling for €300,000 at Arqana’s Arc Sale just days later. “From very early on, we’ve targeted France. To start with, it was just the black-type horses; but once I got to know the programme a bit better, we started to bring a few of the others across too.”

The ”we” referred to includes Amy’s husband, former Brazilian champion apprentice Lemos de Souza, whom she met when working for Luca Cumani and who now plays a vital role at Amy’s Southgate Stables. “He’s a very good rider and a very good judge of a horse, and is a great asset to have with the two-year-olds. It’s nice having someone to work with and bounce ideas off. He has travelled all over the world—Dubai, Japan, Hong Kong—for Luca Cumani with all of his good horses.”

French flair

Tenrai & Jade Joyce.

Last year, the pair widened their horizons further with the decision to take out a provisional licence in France, renting a yard from trainer Myriam Bollack-Badel in Lamorlaye. “We were going into the complete unknown. My travelling head girl Jade Joyce was based out there along with another girl; and we basically sent out twelve horses on the first day and between them, they had a fantastic three months. The two-year-olds were where our forte lay and what we tried to take advantage of, whereas we had never had horses run in handicaps in France. So, we had to get the older horses handicapped, and the system is completely different. 

Amy with racing secretary, Cat Elliott.

There were plenty of administrative errors early on, as my secretary Cat Elliot was doing everything from in Newmarket; so there were plenty of teething problems and plenty of pens being thrown across the office… For example, I didn’t know you couldn’t run a two-year-old twice in five days, so I tried to declare one twice in five days … little things like that. It was all a learning process, like going back to square one again.”

The operation was declared a resounding success, with eight wins and 15 placed runners during the three-month period, amassing a hefty share of the €276,927 earned by the stable during 2022 in France. Among the success stories, juvenile filly Manhattan Jungle was snapped up by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners after two wins at Chantilly and Lyon Parilly and was later to take Murphy and team to Royal Ascot, the Prix Morny and the Breeders’ Cup. Meanwhile, another juvenile filly, Havana Angel, earned black type in the Gp.3 Prix du Bois, entered Arqana’s Summer Sale as a wild-card and changed hands for €320,000. 

The sole regret is that France Galop only allows trainers one chance with the provisional licence. “We tried to apply again this year but sadly got turned down. Moving over full time is not out of the question in the future.” 

Vive la Difference

During her stint at Lamorlaye, Amy had the chance to observe some of the French professionals; and although she stresses, “I wasn’t up at Chantilly so didn’t get to see the likes of André Fabre…,” she also notes, “The gallops men would be very surprised by how quick our two-year-olds would be going regularly. The French seem to work at a slower pace, whereas we are more short and sharp; and we use the turf as much as we can. We would work our two-year-olds in a last piece of work with older horses to make sure that they know their job.” 

Impressed by the jumps schooling facilities in Lamorlaye, Amy was also complimentary about other aspects of the training centre. “I like the way that you can get the stalls men that work in the afternoon to come and put your two-year-olds through in the morning. That’s all very beneficial to both the horse and to the handlers because they know each other. Another big thing which I love over in France is that when the turf is too quick, they water it so that you can still train on it in the mornings, even at the height of the summer.”

Even without the provisional licence, Amy Murphy’s name is still a familiar sight on French racecards. At the time of writing in late May, her stable has earned €117,446 in prize money and owners’ premiums in 2023, from 18 runners of which four have won and eight placed. 

To reduce travel costs, organisation is key. “I had a filly that ran well in a €50,000 maiden at Chantilly recently, and she travelled over with a filly that ran and won at Saint-Cloud three days later. They were based at Chantilly racecourse for the week and moved across to Saint-Cloud on the morning of the race and then came home together on Friday night. It takes a bit more logistics but financially it makes sense to send two together.” As for the owners, they have made no complaints about seeing their horses race further afield. “Plenty of my owners have been over to France; they love it. I haven’t had one person say they don’t want to go to France yet, anyway!”

Defending an industry

Closer to home, a subject dear to Amy’s heart is horse welfare and the image of racing. On her social media accounts, she promotes the cause and has invited the public to visit her stable to see for themselves the care that racehorses are given. “I’ve had a couple of contacts but nowhere near as many as I’d like. As an industry, we have to show that this image that so many people have of racing is just not true. The only way we can do that is by getting people behind the scenes and letting them see just how well these animals are loved and cared for by all of the girls and guys in the yards. Events like the Newmarket Open Day, when we get thousands of people in to visit the years, are the kind of thing that we need to keep pushing. I want to be in this sport for a long time, so I want to do anything I can to help promote it.” 

With advocates like Amy and a generation of motivated young trainers, the sport of horse racing can count on some highly professional, hard-working and modern ambassadors, in the UK, France and beyond. 

Assessment of historical worldwide fracture & fatality rates and their implications for thoroughbred racing’s social licence

Article by Ian Wright MRCVS

Racing’s social licence is a major source of debate and is under increasing threat. The principal public concern is that racing exposes horses to significant risk of injury including catastrophic (life-ending) injuries of which fractures are the commonest cause. The most recent studies in the UK indicate that fractures account for approximately 75% of racecourse fatalities. Recent events highlight the need for urgent stakeholder discussion, which necessarily will be uncomfortable, in order to create cogent justification for the sport and reliant breeding industry.

A necessary prelude to discussion and debate is an objective assessment of risk. All and any steps to reduce risks and mitigate their impact are important and must be embraced by the horseracing industry (and quite possibly all other horse sports). To begin this, a here and now assessment is important: put simply, does the price paid (risk) justify the benefit (human pleasure, culture, financial gain, employment, tax revenue, etc). Objective data provides perspective for all interested parties and the voting public via their elected representatives, who ultimately provide social licence, with other welfare issues—both human and animal—on which society must pass judgement. 

The data in Tables 1 to 12 report a country by country survey of fracture and fatality rates reported in scientific journals and documented as injuries/fatalities per starters. It may be argued that little of the data is contemporary; the studies range from the years 1980 to 2013. However, the tabulated data provided below is the most up to date that can be sourced from independently published, scrutinised scientific papers with clear—albeit sometimes differing—metric definitions and assessable risk rates.

In assimilating and understanding the information, and in order to make comparisons, some explanatory points are important. The first, and probably the most important, is identification of the metric. Although at first glance, descriptor differences may appear nuanced, what is being recorded massively influences the data. 

These include fatality, catastrophic injury, fracture, orthopaedic injury, catastrophic distal limb fracture, fatal musculoskeletal injury, serious musculoskeletal injury, and catastrophic fracture. The influence of the metric in Japanese racing represents the most extreme example of this: ‘fracture’ in the reporting papers included everything from major injuries to fragments (chips) identified after racing in fetlocks and knees, i.e. injuries from which recovery to racing soundness is now an expectation.  At the opposite pole, studies in other countries document ‘catastrophic’, i.e. life-ending fractures which have a substantially lower incidence. The spectrum of metric definitions will all produce different injury numbers and must be taken into account when analysing and using the data. 

Studies also differ in the methods of data collection that will skew numbers in an undetermined manner. Some only record information available at the racecourse, others by identifying horses that fail to race again within varying time periods, horses requiring hospitalisation following racing, etc. The diagnostic criteria for inclusion of horses also vary between reports: some document officially reported incidents only, some are based only on clinical observations of racecourse veterinary surgeons, while others require radiographic corroboration of injuries. 

From a UK perspective, the data is quite robust in concluding that risks differ significantly between race types. The majority of fractures that occur in flat racing, and between obstacles in jump racing, are the result of stress or fatigue failure of bone. They are not associated with traumatic events, occur during high speed exercise, are site specific and have repeatable configurations. In large part these result from a horse’s unique athleticism: in the domesticated species, the thoroughbred racehorse represents the pinnacle of flight-based evolution. Fractures that result from falls in jump racing are monotonic—unpredictable, single-event injuries in which large forces are applied to bone(s) in an abnormal direction. 

This categorisation is complicated slightly as fatigue failure at one site, which may be bone or supportive soft tissue, can result in abnormal loads and therefore monotonic fracture at another. The increased fracture rate in jump racing is explained in part by cumulative risk. However, it is complicated by euthanasia of horses with injuries with greater post injury commercial value and/or breeding potential that might be treated. Catastrophic injuries and fatality rates in NH flat races are most logically explained by a combination of the economic skew seen in jump racing and compromise of musculoskeletal adaptation.

Racing surface influences both injury frequency and type. Studies in the UK have consistently documented an increased fatality rate and incidence of lower limb injury on synthetic (all weather) surfaces compared to turf.  Although risk differences are clear, confounding issues, such as horse quality and trainer demographic, mean that the surface per se may not be the explanation. In the United States, studies reporting data from the same geographic location have produced mixed results. In New York, these documented greater risks on dirt than turf surfaces; while a California study found no difference, and a study in Florida found a higher risk on turf. A more recent study gathering data from the whole of the U.S. reported an increased risk on dirt surfaces. Variations in the nature of injury between surfaces may go some way toward explaining fatality differences.

Much has been done to reduce recognisable risk factors particularly in jump racing; but in the UK, it is likely (for obvious data supported reasons) that it will come under the greatest scrutiny. The incidence of fractures and fatalities in flat racing are low, and the number of currently identified risk factors are high. Over 300 potential influences have been investigated, and over 50 individual factors demonstrated statistically are associated with increased risk of catastrophic injury. 

The majority of fractures occurring in flat racing (and non-fall related fractures in jump racing) are now also treatable, enabling horses to return to racing and/or to have other comfortable post-racing lives. 

The common public presumption that fractures in horses are inevitably life-ending injuries is a misconception that could readily be remedied. An indeterminate number of horses are euthanised on the basis of economic viability and/or ability to care for horses retired from racing. On this point, persistence with a paternalistic approach is a dangerous tactic in an educated society. Statements that euthanasia is ‘the kindest’ or ‘best’ thing to do, that it is an ‘unavoidable’ consequence of fracture or that only ‘horsemen understand or know what is best’ can be seen as patronising and will not stand public scrutiny. 

At some point, data to distinguish between horses euthanised as a result of genuinely irreparable injuries and those with fractures amenable to repair will become available. Before this point is reached, the consequences require discussion and debate within the racing industry.

Decisions on acceptable policies will have to be made and responsibility taken. In its simplest form, this is a binary decision. Either economic euthanasia of horses, as with agricultural animals, is considered and justified as an acceptable principle by the industry or a mechanism for financing treatment and lifetime care of injured horses who are unlikely to return to economic productivity will have to be identified.  The general public understands career-ending injuries in human athletes: These appear, albeit with ongoing development of sophisticated treatments at reducing frequency, in mainstream news. 

Death as a direct result of any sporting activity is a difficult concept in any situation and draws headlines. Removal of the treatable but economically non-viable group of injuries from data sets would reduce, albeit by a currently indeterminate number, the frequency of race course fatalities. However, saving horses' lives whenever possible will not solve the problem: it will simply open an ethical debate viz is it acceptable to save horses that will be lame? In order to preserve life, permanent lameness is considered acceptable in people and is not generally considered inhumane in pets. Two questions arise immediately: (i) How lame can a horse be in retirement for this to be considered humane? (ii) Who decides? There is unquestionably a spectrum of opinion, all of which is subjective and most of it personal. It will not be an easy debate and is likely to be complicated further by consideration of sentience, which now is enshrined in UK law (Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022); but it requires honest ownership of principles and an agreed policy.

For the avoidance of doubt, while the focus of this article and welfare groups’ concerns are on racecourse injuries, those sustained in training follow a parallel pathway. These currently escape attention simply by being, for the most part, out of sight and/or publicity seeking glare. 

Within racing, there is unquestionably a collective desire to minimise injury rates. Progress has been made predominantly by identification of extrinsic (i.e. not related to the individual horse) risk factors followed by logical amendments. In jump racing (monotonic fractures), obstacle modification, re-siting and changing ground topography are obvious examples of risk-reducing measures that have been employed. 

In flat racing progress has involved identification risk factors such as race type and scheduling, surface, numbers of runners, track conditions etc which have guided changes. However, despite substantial research and investment, progress in identification of intrinsic (ie relating to the individual horse) risk factors is slow. While scientifically frustrating, a major reason for this is the low incidence of severe fractures: this dictates that the number of horses (race starters) that need to be studied in order to assess the impact of any intervention is (possibly impractically) high. Nonetheless, scientific justification is necessary to exclude a horse from racing and to withstand subsequent scrutiny.

Review of potential screening techniques to identify horses at increased risk of sustaining a fracture while racing is not within the scope of this article, but to date none are yet able, either individually or in combination, to provide a practical solution and/or sufficiently reliable information to make a short-term impact. It is also important to accept that the risk of horses sustaining fractures in racing can never be eliminated. Mitigation of impact is therefore critical. 

When fractures occur, it is imperative that horses are evaluated to be given the best possible on course care. This may, albeit uncommonly be euthanasia. Much more commonly, horses can be triaged on the course and appropriate support applied before they are moved to the racecourse clinical facility for considered evaluation and discussion. The provision of fracture support equipment to all British racecourses in 2022 marked a substantial step forward in optimising injured horse care.

Neither racing enthusiasts nor fervent objectors are likely to change their opinions. The preservation of social licence will be determined by the open-minded majority who lie between: it is the proverbial ‘man on the street’ who must be convinced. The task of all who appreciate horse racing's contributions to society and wish to see it continue is to remain focussed on horse welfare, if necessary to adjust historical dogmas, absorb necessary costs and to encourage open, considered, honest (factually correct) risks versus benefits discussion.

Warsaw finally hosts EMHF assembly and stewards' conference

Article by Paull Khan

It’s just possible that the main benefit of the EMHF to its racing administrator members is the social dividend. Many of us have been involved for a dozen years or more, and the bonds that have developed within our network allow easy and unhesitating communication whenever some international issue or other should crop up in our racing lives. This column’s regular reader will know that the EMHF seeks to enrich our members’ education by moving our biannual meetings around the region and combining them with attending the races in the host country. In this issue, following a successful gathering in Poland, we try to convey a little of the flavour of an EMHF General Assembly reunion.

Back in 2019, when we gathered in Oslo and memorably celebrated Norway’s exuberant May 17th National Day celebrations, it was announced that, the following year, we would reconvene in Warsaw. That was not to happen, due to COVID, and the next two years were Zoom affairs. When the pandemic’s grasp began to ease, the Polish plan was back on the table— only for the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine to put an end to those hopes. Ireland manfully stepped in to host us at The Curragh in 2022; and so, when our party—of 48, from 19 countries—finally descended on the Polish capital on the middle weekend of May, there was a palpable feeling of relief.

By common consent, it was worth the wait.

Following the pattern introduced in Ireland, the event was split across two days. The first afternoon was devoted to all the things that one associates with a General Assembly: financial, membership and administrative matters, together with updates, from each member country present, on the state of racing in their respective nations, as well as from various relevant committees and sister organisations. The hosts also gave a colourful account of the rollercoaster that is the history of racing in their homeland.

We were pleased to welcome, once again, representatives of the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders’ Associations (EFTBA) and the European and African Stud Book Committee (EASBC). Because the EMHF has long taken the view that we in the equine sector should avoid operating in isolation, and instead benefit from cross-fertilisation of knowledge and ideas, these organisations, together with the European Trotting Union (UET) and European Equestrian Federation (EEF), are standing invitees to our General Assemblies.

After an excellent dinner that evening at the elegant Rozana restaurant in the Konstancin area of the city, our second morning was wider in its scope, and the floor was given to a number of experts who presented on a range of matters of current interest or concern. 

Police involvement in French racing

Those who followed the high-profile rape allegations against Pierre Charles Boudot or the arrests of the Rossi trainer brothers might have been struck and intrigued by the closeness of the involvement of the French police. Henri Pouret, EMHF executive council member for France, explained how there is a branch of the national French police force—the Service Centrale Courses et Jeux—dedicated to racing and gaming matters. No licenced or registered participant in French racing—be they owner, trainer, jockey or breeder—is allowed to participate unless their registration is authorised by the ‘racing police’. Then, once registered, if such an individual becomes subject to judicial proceedings, the racing police may require France Galop, or its trotting equivalent, Le Trot, to withdraw or suspend their licence. This is not just a theoretical power—on no fewer than 25 occasions did they do just this in the course of last year.

It is only for the past three years that doping a racehorse has been a criminal act in France. It seems likely that the racing police will play an ever more central part in the regulation of French racing.

FEGENTRI and the International Pony Racing Championship

With EMHF’s formation last year of the European Pony Racing Association (EPRA) and the launch in 2023 of FEGENTRI’s Junior Championship, never has there been a more opportune time to explore and develop the relationship between the amateur and professional communities in European racing. It was therefore a pleasure to receive FEGENTRI’s secretary-general, Charlotte Rinckenbach, to explain the work and relevance of her organisation.

FEGENTRI, the international federation of gentlemen and lady riders, has a history that stretches back to 1955. It is therefore longer established, not only longer  than the EMHF, but also longer than both the IFHA and the Asian Racing Federation. It organises amateur races around the world, across four main championships, and prides itself on providing a distinct and effective route by which to involve people in our sport from diverse walks of life.

FEGENTRI Junior is the first international pony racing championship of its kind. It has started in a modest way, with four countries each fielding two young riders, aged between 14 and 16 years. (The competition, which has the full support of the EPRA, is open to those of 12 years and over; but no-one younger than 14 was chosen this year). Their level of experience varies greatly—some have only ridden in a dozen races; others have 150 rides and over 50 winners under their belts. These eight trail-blazing youngsters have the wonderful opportunity of riding competitively in Florence, Bro Park, Chantilly, Livorno and Kincsem Park. And who’s to say that, from amongst them, we will not see a champion of the future?

Gene doping and its implications for EMHF members

‘Gene doping is not a rumour anymore’, was the stark opening warning from Dr Kanichi Kusano of the Japan Racing Association, one of the world’s experts in this sphere. He explained that the abuse of genetic therapies is a major threat to racing’s integrity. In the worst-case scenario, the heritable genome of a thoroughbred would be changed through genetic modification at the breeding stage—of the eggs, sperm or embryo. The good news is that, in this race, the ‘good guys’ are up with the pace, and already there are out of competition (OOC) tests for gene doping that are being deployed. 

Smaller countries, without extensive resources to direct towards research or detection, were advised to prepare by ensuring their rules adequately outlawed the practice and to publicise and start a programme of deterrent sample collection, followed by OOC testing as soon as the leading racing nations offer a suitable commercial service.

The World Pool

Tallulah Wilson, UK Tote Group’s head of international racing, spoke of the burgeoning impact of the World Pool and how EMHF countries could get involved through the World Tote Association (WoTA). World Pool, the Hong Kong-based system for commingling bets placed on key international races, is only four years old; but it has already demonstrated that races selected for inclusion enjoy a startling increase in pool betting turnover. 

Higher liquidity attracts the high-rollers and creates a virtuous circle from which the participating racecourses benefit, potentially boosting prize money. However, legislative restrictions in Hong Kong mean that the races included do not number in the thousands, or even hundreds. Just 25 race days, predominantly in Britain and Ireland, will form the 2023 roster. While this number is growing, the prospects of most EMHF member countries having a race included in the near term are only distant (although fresh ground has been broken this year through the inclusion—as a single race from a different country within a World Pool Day—of the German Derby).

However, Wilson’s message was that ‘everyone is welcome’ within WoTA. Member countries’ Tote operators were encouraged to apply to join, opening up the possibility of their punters being able to bet into the commingled World Pools and earning that pool operator and its racing industry a slice of the take-out.

Racing to school and National Racehorse Week

For over 20 years, a British programme has been introducing racing to schoolchildren, presenting aspects of their school curriculum through the lens of a visit to a racecourse, training yard or stud. John Blake, CEO of Racing to School, spoke of 16,000 children who attended such a course last year, instilling in many of them a positive sentiment towards the sport, which may hopefully translate in time into ownership or professional involvement. 

The third National Racehorse Week in Britain will take place in September, when racing yards and stud farms will open their doors to welcome members of the public. Over 10,000 took up the offer last year, of whom one-fifth were new to racing. 

At a time when our sport’s public image is under increasing pressure, these positive interactions with the public are initiatives which many member countries could look to replicate.

Racing at Sluzewiec 

With the business affairs completed, it was off to the races. The approach to Sluzewiec Racecourse is through a proud avenue of mature trees, and the whole expansive site was lush and green. The stands were indeed grand, completed, with unfortunate timing, in 1939—just before the onset of war. An attractive feature of the main grandstand is a sloping, stepless zigzag by which one ascends and descends from floor to floor. It makes for a photogenic feature—ideal for the fashion catwalks that are sometimes staged there.

The EMHF Cup was run over a mile for unraced three-year-olds worth €3,200. It attracted a field of eight runners. The winner, Sopot was one of only two Polish-breds, taking on horses foaled in Great Britain, France, Czech Republic and Ukraine.

The nine-race card was worth a total of €24,000. A mixed programme comprised thoroughbred, trotting and Arab races, from 1300m (6 1/2f) up to 2400m (1 1/2m). No race attracted fewer than seven runners and the largest field was 11. Interestingly, in an apprentice race, for riders who had ridden fewer than 25 winners, the whip was not allowed to be carried, let alone used.

Horserace betting is not ingrained in Polish society, and there was little evidence of avid form study, or raucous cheering. However, the crowd’s demographic was a revelation: it was hard to spot a grey hair, with patrons almost exclusively families or young adults. It made for a beguilingly relaxed atmosphere.

Our horizons have been broadened by the experience of witnessing racing in such diverse settings across the EuroMed region as Waregem, (Belgium), La Zarzuela (Madrid, Spain), Kincsem Park (Budapest, Hungary), Casablanca (Morocco), Leopardstown and The Curragh (Ireland),  St. Moritz (Switzerland), Bro Park (Sweden),  Hamburg (Germany), Marcopoulo (Athens, Greece),  Bratislava (Slovakia), Les Landes (Jersey, Channel Islands), Pardubice (Czech Republic), Ovrevoll (Oslo, Norway), Veliefendi, Istanbul and Izmir (Turkey), Cheltenham (Great Britain) and now Warsaw. 

Seeing the sport flourish in such varied surroundings brings home the need to do all we can to preserve racing in every country in which it currently takes place. Singapore’s decision to draw the curtain down on horseracing was such dispiriting news.  A broad and thriving base to our pyramid enriches us all.

First  EuroMed Stewards’ Conference

Few things in international racing excite as much comment and criticism as comparing decisions taken by stewards around the world. There is a constant cry for consistency in the rules that apply to the running of a race, in the way stewards interpret both the races and the rules, and in the levels of penalty handed down. Harmonisation of such matters is a real challenge, not least because there is nobody in horse racing that sets world rules; each national racing authority sets its own. But that is not to say that substantial efforts are not made constantly to improve things in this area. It is the very raison d’etre of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ (IFHA’s), International Harmonisation of Racing Rules Committee (IHRRC), and is also the subject of much of the discussion at the International Stewards’ Conferences (ISC) that the IFHA has staged, roughly every two years, around the world. 

But these meetings must limit the numbers of delegates in attendance, and it is in practice that only the major racing nations benefit from being party to the discussions. For this reason, it was decided to stage a Stewards’ Conference for the EuroMed region and to welcome all EMHF member countries—large and small. This suggestion, proposed by Germany, was picked up with enthusiasm by Britain. Thus, it came to be that the day after the General Assembly, the BHA’s Brant Dunshea chaired the inaugural EuroMed Stewards’ Conference, which attracted a pleasing turnout of 30 delegates from 12 countries.

Joining from Australia via Zoom was Kim Kelly, who has for many years chaired both the IHRRC and ISC; he set the scene and placed this gathering into its global context. There followed a range of presentations, including the following.

Competency-based training programme

The job of the steward is high-profile, highly-charged and perpetually subject to criticism from both the media and the public. The BHA’s Cathy O’Meara described how Britain has recently introduced a competency-based training programme to ensure that its stewarding workforce, along with all raceday teams, is (and remains) up to the job. Through a combination of interactive on-line learning, shadowing, mentoring and more, stewards learn, and are then assessed on, race reading, the rules, enquiry training and report writing. And, once initial competencies are met, the learning journey is not over. All stewards will be required to complete continued professional development, where half of the content relates directly to their roles and half to general industry-related issues such as equine and human welfare. A next step will be to develop a module for the use of those in the industry, such as trainers and the general public. The BHA also has plans to offer to receive stewards from smaller racing nations to assist in their development.

Illegal betting

The EMHF’s equivalent in the Asian and Oceanian region, the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) and, in particular, Hong Kong, is on the front line in a battle against illegal betting. The ARF has established a Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Financial Crime; and its chair, Martin Purbrick, joined us by video conference.

The stark facts are that illegal betting is growing much more quickly than legal betting and already represents the majority of online betting. Aside from the fact that illegal betting makes no contribution to racing, nor to society at large, through taxation, it is also intrinsically linked to race-fixing and organised crime. While Asia may be the historic hotbed of this activity, Purbrick cautioned that Asian illegal betting has already expanded into Europe.

Online betting is no respecter of national boundaries, and if we are to be successful in this war, it will require a joined-up, cross-border and multi-agency approach, involving governments, racing authorities, gambling authorities and the police. But we cannot leave it to these organisations alone—it is incumbent upon all of us to be aware of the risks of race manipulation and to whistle-blow if ever we encounter it.

Virtual stewards’ room

This column (April 2020) described a novel system of remote stewarding, witnessed by the author in Johannesburg. It looked forward to a day when Stewards are situated at a central location, away from the track, from which they communicate with the principals on-track and view video footage. This might be widely adopted, promising more consistent application of the rules and the opportunity for smaller countries to outsource their stewarding function to larger countries.

The Conference heard how this brave new world might just have moved a step closer. The BHA reported on a system first trialled in 2020 and prompted by the COVID outbreak. The pandemic created a situation in which there was a real risk of stewards being unavailable due to a requirement to isolate. In response, assistant stewards began working remotely, through video conferencing from their homes, but initially without access to the full range of views available to the stewards on-course. The BHA then set about developing a hub, away from the racecourse, which offered the full range of race replays. While it was considered there was still the need to have a senior person on the course, the hub provided resilience against absence, allowed stewards to officiate at afternoon and evening meetings on the same day, etc.

The trial has now been rolled out in Britain, such that all assistant stewards have the option to work from home, improving their work/life balance. Around 25 percent of fixtures are covered by the technology, and it is planned to expand this further in the future.

Anti-doping activities

It has long been appreciated that trainers, when racing in different jurisdictions, should, as far as is practicable, be assured of facing similar treatment regarding medication control. To that end, the European Horseracing Scientific Liaison Committee (EHSLC) was set up over 30 years ago and continues to lead on this area of racing administration in our region. The Conference heard how the EHSLC (which is comprised of the chief veterinary officer/anti-doping manager from the member countries, representatives of the national laboratories, which carry out regulatory work for those countries, specialist pharmacologists and senior administrators from the racing authorities)  has generated a significant amount of data relating to common use medications and has published detection times for many substances. The science underlying these data is rigorous and the subject of considerable review and has often been accepted by the wider global racing community, forming the basis of international screening limits.

Feedback on the inaugural EuroMed Stewards’ Conference has been universally positive, and there is much enthusiasm to make this a regular event, perhaps again being staged alongside our General Assemblies.

Train, Race, Recover and Repeat – How targeted nutrition can support the recovery process to optimise performance

Article by Dr Andy Richardson BVSc CertAVP(ESM) MRCVS

Introduction

Horses evolved as herd-living herbivores with a digestive tract designed to cope with a near continuous dietary input of forage in the form of a wide range of plant species. A large hindgut acts as a fermentation vessel where gut microbiota (predominantly a mix of bacteria, protozoa and fungi) exist in harmony with the horse in order to digest the fibre rich plant material.

Fibre is important to the horse for several reasons. The digestion of fibre releases energy and other key nutrients to the horse. Fibre also acts to provide bulk in the digestive tract, thus helping maintain the passage of faecal material through the system. Fibre also acts like a sponge to absorb water in the gut for release when required.

As horses became domesticated and used for work or sporting purposes, more energy-dense feeds in the form of cereal grains were introduced to their diet, as simple forage did not provide for all the caloric requirements. Cereal grains are rich in starch, which is an energy-dense form of nutrition. However, too much starch can cause problems to a digestive tract that remains designed for a pasture-based diet. The issues that can be caused by the trend away from a solely pasture-based diet can be digestive, behavioural or clinical.

Nonetheless, the combination of forage and cereal-based concentrates remains the mainstay approach for the majority of horses in training today, in order to maximise performance. A great deal of research and expertise are utilised by the major feed companies to ensure that modern racehorse concentrate feeds provide adequate provision of the major nutrients required and minimise unwanted effects of starch in the diet.

This article aims to discuss some scenarios where targeted or supplemented nutrition can act to help overcome some of the nutritional challenges faced by the modern horse in training, as they “Train, Race, Recover and Repeat.”

Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS)

EGUS occurrence in racehorses is well documented, with prevalence shown to be over 80% in horses in training (Vatistas 1999). With a volume of approximately 2–4 gallons (7.53–15 litres), the stomach in horses is relatively small compared to their overall size due to its functional role in accommodating trickle feeding that occurs during their natural grazing behaviour. 

As a horse chews, it produces saliva, which is a natural buffer for stomach acid. When the horse goes for a period of time without chewing, the production of saliva ceases, and stomach acid is not as effectively neutralised. The lower half of the stomach is better protected from acid due to its more resistant glandular surface. The upper, or squamous, region does not have such good protection, however, and this can be a problem during exercise when acid will physically splash upwards, potentially leading to gastric ulceration.

In practice, this can presentrepresent a challenge for horses in training. Typically, they will be fed a concentrate-based feed in the early morning that stimulates a large influx of acid in order to help digest the starch. This may be followed by a period without ad-lib access to hay, thus reducing the amount of saliva subsequently produced to act as a buffer. When the horse is subsequently worked, there is a risk of acid damaging the upper squamous region of the stomach. There is some evidence to suggest that the provision of hay in advance of exercise may act like a sponge for the acid, as well as helping form a fibrous matt to minimise upward splash.

Gastric ulceration can go undetected in horses in training and may not lead to any obvious clinical signs. In other horses, it can lead to colic, poor appetite, dull coat and behavioural changes. In both scenarios, it is likely that the ulceration will have an impact on their performance, with decreased stride length, reduced stamina and inability to relax at speed all being possible consequences (Nieto 2009). Gastric ulceration can therefore have a significant impact on the ability of a horse to perform optimally day in day out in a training environment. This is exacerbated when ulceration leads to a reduction in appetite, with the obvious downside of a reduction in calorie intake leading to condition loss and further drop in performance.

This is an area where targeted nutrition has been clinically proven to play an important role. Ingredients such as pectin, lecithin, magnesium hydroxide, live yeast, calcium carbonate, zinc and liquorice have all been studied as having beneficial effects on gastric ulceration (Berger 2002, Loftin 2012, Sykes 2013). It is likely that a combination of the active ingredients will be most efficacious, with benefits noted when the supplement is added to the feed ration to help neutralise acid and form a gel-like protective coating on the stomach surface.

The daily administration of a targeted gastric supplement can be an important part of daily nutrition of the horse in training, alongside the use of pharmaceuticals such as omeprazole or esomeprazole when required.

Sweat loss

Horses have one of the highest rates of sweat loss of any animal, with sweat being comprised of both water and electrolyte ions such as sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and calcium. Therefore, it is not surprising that horses in training are at risk of unwanted issues should sweat loss not be replaced.

It is also worth noting that transportation can also lead to excessive sweat loss, with studies showing sweat rates of 5 litres per hour of travel on a warm day (van den berg 1998).

If the electrolytes lost in sweat are not adequately replaced, a drop in performance can result, as well as clinical issues such as thumps, dehydration and colic.

Electrolytes play key roles in the contraction of muscle fibres and transmission of nerve impulses. Horses without adequate electrolyte levels are at risk of early onset fatigue that may result in reduced stamina. It is also worth noting that horses that train on furosemide will have higher levels of key electrolyte losses, so will require targeted support to help maintain performance levels (Pagan 2014).

There is also evidence to suggest that pre-loading of electrolytes may be beneficial (Waller 2022). For horses in daily work, the addition of electrolytes to the evening feed will not only replace losses but also help optimise levels for the following day’s travel or race. The benefit of providing electrolytes with feed is that it will minimise the risk of the electrolyte salts irritating the stomach lining, which can occur if given immediately after exercise on an empty stomach. Feeding electrolytes when the horse is relaxed back in the stable will also allow them to drink freely, with the added benefit that electrolytes will stimulate the thirst reflex when they are relaxed, ensuring they are adequately hydrated for the following day.

Products should be chosen on the basis of adequate key electrolyte provision as not all products will provide meaningful levels of all the key electrolyte ions.

Muscle soreness

The process of muscle breakdown and repair is a normal adaptive response to training. This process can lead to inflammation and soreness or stiffness after exercise. In humans, there is a well-recognised condition called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).

Further research is required to fully understand the impact of DOMS in horses. DOMS is the muscular pain that develops 24–72 hours after a period of intense exercise. There is no pain felt by the muscles at the time of exercise, in contrast to a ‘torn muscle’ or ‘tying-up’ for example.

In humans, DOMS is thought to be the result of tiny microscopic fractures in muscle cells. This happens when doing an activity that the muscles are not used to doing or have done it in a more strenuous way than they are used to.

The muscles quickly adapt to being able to handle new activities, thus avoiding further damage in the future; this is known as the “repeated-bout effect”. When this happens, the micro-fractures will not typically develop unless the activity has changed in some substantial way. As a general rule, as long as the change to the exercise is under what is normally done, DOMS are not experienced as a result of the activity.

In practice, avoiding any post-exercise muscle soreness in a training programme may be unavoidable, as exercise intensity and duration increases. Horses are far from being machines, so there is a fine balance between a programme that gets a horse fit for purpose without some post-exercise muscle discomfort. Physiotherapy, swimming and turnout will all likely benefit horses experiencing muscle discomfort. Whilst non-steroidal anti-inflammatories will always have their place for horses in training, one area of advancement is the use of plant-based phytochemicals to support the anti-inflammatory response (Pekacar 2021). These may have the benefit of not leading to unwanted gastrointestinal side effects and not having prolonged withdrawal times, although this should always be checked with any supplement particularly with the recent update regarding MSM on the BHA prohibited substance list.

Exercise will also lead to a process of muscle cell damage caused by oxidative stress. This is an inflammatory process and recovery from oxidative stress is key to allow for muscle cell repair and growth. Antioxidants are compounds that help recovery and repair of muscle cells following periods of intense exercise. The process of oxidative stress in muscle cells can lead to muscle fatigue and inflammation if left unsupported. Antioxidant supplementation in the form of Vitamin E or plant-based compounds can help protect against excessive oxidative stress and support muscle repair after exercise (Siciliano 1997).

Conclusion

Nutritional management of horses in training is a complex topic, not least as every horse is an individual and so often needs feeding accordingly. Whilst there is a lot of science available on the subject, the ‘art of feeding’ a racehorse—something that trainers and their staff often have in-depth knowledge of— remains an incredibly important aspect. Targeted nutritional supplements undoubtedly have their place, as discussed in, but not limited to, the scenarios above. 

Veterinarians, physiotherapists, other paraprofessionals and nutritionists all play a role in minimising health issues and maximising performance. In the quest for optimal performance on the track, nutritional support is one of the cornerstones of the ‘marginal gains’ theory that has long been adopted in elite human athletes. There is no doubt that racehorses themselves are supreme athletes that live by the mantra of Train, Race, Recover, and Repeat.

References

Berger, S. et al (2002). The effect of acid protection in therapy of peptic ulcer in trotting horses in active training. Pferdeheilkunde 27 (1), 26-30,

Loftin, P. et al (2012). Evaluating replacement of supplemental inorganic minerals with Zinpro Performance Minerals on prevention of gastric ulcers in horses. J.Vet. Int. Med. 26, 737-738

McCutcheon, L.J. and geor R.J. (1996). Sweat fluid and ion losses in horses during training and competition in cool vs. hot ambient conditions: implications for ion supplementation. Equine Veterinary Journal 28, Issue S22.

Nieto, J.E. et al (2009). Effect of gastric ulceration on physiologic responses to exercise in horses. Am. J. Vet. Res.70, 787-795.

Pagan, J.D. et al (2014). Furosemide administration affects mineral excretion in exercised Thoroughbreds. In: Proc. International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology S46:4.

Pekacar, S. et al (2021). Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Rosehip in Inflammatory Musculoskeletal Disorders and Its Active Molecules. Curr Mol Pharmacol. 14(5), 731-745.

Rivero, J.-L.L. et al (2007). ‘Effects of intensity and duration of exercise on muscular responses to training of thoroughbred racehorses’. Journal of Applied Physiology 102(5), 1871–1882.

Siciliano, P.D. et al (1997). Effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation on the integrity of skeletal muscle in exercised horses. J Anim Sci.75(6), 1553-60.

Sykes, B. et al (2013). Efficacy of a combination of a unique, pectin-lecithin complex, live yeast, and magnesium hydroxide in the prevention of EGUS and faecal acidosis in thoroughbred racehorses: A randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Equine Veterinary Journal, 45, 16.

van den Berg, J. et al (1998). Water and electrolyte intake and output in conditioned Thoroughbred horses transported by road. Equine Vet J. 30(4), 316-23.

Vatistas, N.J. et al (1999) Cross-sectional study of gastric ulcers of the squamous mucosa in thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J Suppl. 29, 34–39.

Waller, A.P., and M.I. Lindinger. (2022). Tracing acid-base variables in exercising horses: Effects of pre-loading oral electrolytes. Animals (Basel) 13(1), 73.

Thermoregulation in horses

Article by Adam Jackson - MRCVS

Exertional heat illness (EHI) is a complex disease where thoroughbred racehorses are at significant risk due to the fact that their workload is intensive in combination with the high rate of heat production associated with its metabolism.  In order to understand how this disease manifests and to develop preventative measures and treatments, it is important to understand thermoregulation in horses. 

What is thermoregulation?

With continuous alteration in the surrounding temperature, thermoregulation allows the horse to maintain its body temperature within certain limits.  Thermoregulation is part of the greater process of homeostasis, which is a number of self-regulating processes the horse uses to maintain body stability in the face of changing external conditions.  Homeostasis and thermoregulation are vital for the horse to maintain its internal environment to ensure its health while disruption of these processes leads to diseases. 

The horse’s normal temperature range is 37.5–38.5°C (99–101°F).  Hyperthermia is the condition in which the body temperature increases above normal due to heat increasing faster than the body can reduce it. Hypothermia is the opposite condition, where the body temperature decreases below normal levels as the body is losing heat faster than producing it.   These conditions are due to the malfunction of thermoregulatory and homeostatic control mechanisms.

Horses are colloquially referred to as warm-blooded mammals—also known as endotherms because they maintain and regulate their core body, and this is opposite ectotherms such as reptiles.  The exercising horse converts stored chemical energy into mechanical energy when contracting various muscles in its body. However, this process is relatively inefficient because it loses roughly 80% of energy released from energy stores as heat. The horse must have effective ways to dissipate this generated heat; otherwise, the raised body temperatures may be life threatening.

Transfer of body heat

There are multiple ways heat may be transferred, and this will flow from one area to another by:

1. Evaporation 

The main way body heat is lost during warm temperatures is through the process of evaporation of water from the horse’s body surface. It is a combination of perspiration, sweating and panting that allows evaporation to occur.

Sweating is an inefficient process because the evaporation rate may exceed the body heat produced by the horse, resulting in the horse becoming covered and dripping sweat. This phenomenon occurs faster with humid weather (high pressure).

Insensible perspiration is the loss of water through the skin, which does not occur as perceivable sweat. Insensible perspiration takes place at an almost constant rate and is the evaporative loss from skin; but unlike sweating, the fluid loss is pure water with no solutes (salts) lost. The horse uses insensible perspiration to cool its body.

It is not common for horses to pant in order to dissipate heat; however, there is evidence that the respiratory tract of the horse can aid in evaporative heat loss through panting.

2. Conduction

Conduction is the process where heat is transferred from a hot object to a colder object, and in the case of the horse, this heat transfer is between its body and the air.  However, the air has poor thermal conductivity, meaning that conduction plays a small role in thermoregulation of the horse.   Conduction may help if the horse is lying in a cool area or is bathed in cool water.  

The horse has the greatest temperature changes occurring at its extremities, such as its distal limbs and head.  The horse can alter its blood flow by constricting or dilating its blood vessels in order to prevent heat loss or overheating, respectively. 

Interestingly, the horse will lie down and draw its limbs close to its body in order to reduce its surface area and to control conduction. There also have been some adaptive changes in other equids like mules and burros, where shorter limbs, longer ears and leaner bodies increase its surface area to help in heat loss tolerance.

3. Convection 

Convection is the rising motion of warmer areas of a liquid or gas and the sinking motion of cooler areas of the liquid or gas.  Convection is continuously taking place between the surface of the body and the surrounding air. Free convection at the skin surface causes heat loss if the temperature is low with additional forced convective heat transfer with wind blowing across the body surface.

When faced with cold weather, a thick hair coat insulates and resists heat transfer because it traps air close to the skin; thus, preventing heat loss. Whereas, the horse has a fine hair coat in the summer to help in heat loss.

4. Radiation

Radiation is the movement of heat between objects without direct physical contact.  Solar radiation is received from the sun and can be significant in hot environments, especially if the horse is exposed for long periods of time.  A horse standing in bright sunlight can absorb a large amount of solar radiation that can exceed its metabolic heat production, which may cause heat stress. 

How the horse regulates its body temperature

The horse must regulate its heat production and heat loss using thermoregulatory mechanisms.  There are many peripheral thermoreceptors that detect changes in temperature, which leads to the production of proportional nerve impulses. These thermoregulators are located in the skin skeletal muscles, the abdomen, the spinal cord and the midbrain with the hypothalamus being instrumental in regulating the internal temperature of the horse.   A coordinating centre in the central nervous system receives these nerve incoming impulses and produces output signals to organs that will alter the body temperature by acting to reduce heat loss or eliminate accumulated heat.  

The racehorse and thermoregulation

The main source of body heat accumulation in the racehorse is associated with muscular contraction.  At the initiation of exercise, the racehorse’s metabolic heat production, arising from muscle contraction, increases abruptly.  The heat production does alter the level of intensity of the work as well as the type of exercise undertaken.  

During exercise, the core body temperature increases because heat is generated and the horse’s blood system distributes this heat throughout the body. Hodgson and colleagues have theorised and confirmed via treadmill studies that the racehorse has the highest rate of heat production compared to other sporting horses. In fact, the racehorse’s body temperature can rise 0.8°C per minute, reaching 42.0°C. But what core temperature can the horse tolerate and not succumb to heat illness and mortality?  The critical temperature for EHI (exertional heat illness) is not known, but studies have demonstrated that a racehorse can be found to have core temperatures between 42–43°C without any clinical symptoms. Currently, anecdotal evidence is only available, suggesting that a core temperature of 43.5°C will result in manifestation of EHI with the horse demonstrating central nervous system dysfunction such as ataxia (incoordination).  In addition, temperatures greater than 44°C result in collapse. 

Heat loss in horses

A horse loses heat to the environment by a combination of convection, evaporation and radiation, which is magnified during racing due to airflow across the body. However, if body heat gained through racing is not minimised by convection, then the racehorse’s body temperature is regulated entirely by evaporation of sweat. This evaporation takes place on the horse’s skin surface and respiratory tract.  

The horse has highly effective sweat glands found in both haired and hairless skin, which produces sweat rates that are highest in the animal kingdom.   Efficient evaporative cooling is present in the horse because its sweat has a protein called latherin, which acts as a wetting agent (surfactant); this allows the sweat to move from its skin to the hair.

Because of the horse’s highly blood-rich mucosa of its upper respiratory tract, the horse has a very efficient and effective heat exchange system.  Estimates suggest this pathway dissipates 30% of generated heat by the horse during exercise.  As the horse exercises, there is blood vessel dilation, which increases blood flow to the mucosa that allows more heat to be dissipated to the environment. When the respiratory tract maximises evaporative heat loss, the horse begins to pant. Panting is a respiratory rate greater than 120 breaths per minute with the presence of dilated nostrils; and the horse adopts a rocking motion. However, if humidity is high, the ability to evaporate heat via the respiratory route and skin surface is impaired. The respiratory evaporative heat loss allows the cooling of venous blood that drains from the face and scalp. This blood may be up to 3.0°C cooler than the core body temperature of 42.0°C. And as it enters the central circulatory system, it can significantly have a whole-body cooling effect. This system is likely an underestimated and significant means to cool the horse.

Pathophysiology of EHI  in the thoroughbred

Although it is inconsistent to determine what temperature may lead to exertional heat illness (EHI), it is known that strenuous exercise, especially during heat stress conditions leads to this disease.  In human medicine, this disease is recognised when nervous system dysfunction becomes apparent.  There are two suggested pathways that lead to EHI, which may work independently or in combination depending on the environmental factors that are present during racing/training.

1. Heat toxicity pathway

Heat is known to detrimentally affect cells by denaturing proteins leading to irreversible damage.  In general, heat causes damage to cells of the vascular system leading to widespread intravascular coagulation (blood clot formation), pathologically observed as micro thrombi (miniature blood clots) deposits in the kidneys, heart, lungs and liver.  Ultimately, this leads to damaged organs and their failure.

Heat tissue damage depends on the degree of heat as well as the exposure time to this heat. Mammalian tissue has a level of thermal damage at 240 minutes at 42°C, 60 minutes at 43°C, 30 minutes at 44°C or 15 minutes at 45°C.  This heat damage must be borne in mind following a race requiring suitable and appropriate cooling methods, otherwise inadequate cooling may lead to extended periods of thermal damage causing disease. 

The traditional viewpoint is that EHI is caused by strenuous exercise in extreme heat and/or humidity.  However, recent studies have revealed that environmental conditions may only cause 43% of EHI cases, thus, suggesting that other factors are involved.

2. Heat sepsis pathway

In some instances. a horse suffering from EHI may present with symptoms and clinical signs similar to sepsis like that seen in an acute bacterial infection. 

A bacterial infection leading to sepsis causes an extreme body response and a life threatening medical emergency.  Sepsis triggers a chain reaction throughout the body particularly affecting the lungs, urinary tract, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

Strenuous exercise in combination with adverse environmental conditions may lead to sepsis without the presence of a bacterial infection— also known as an endotoxemic pathway—causing poor oxygen supply to the mucosal gastrointestinal barrier. Ultimately, the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract is compromised, allowing endotoxins to enter the blood system and resulting in exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (EIGS).

However, researchers have observed that EHI in racehorses is unpredictable as EHI may develop in horses following exercise despite “safe” environmental conditions.  Even with adequate cooling and resuscitative therapies, tissue damage that occurs demonstrates that thermoregulatory and inflammatory pathways may vary, and hyperthermia may be the trigger but may not necessarily be driving the condition.

Diagnosis of EHI

The diagnosis of EHI is based on the malfunctioning of the central nervous system.

Initially, hyperthermia reduces the blood flow to the cerebrum of the brain, leading to a decrease of oxygen to that area—also known as ischemia. As a result, the clinical signs are:

• Extreme restlessness

• Confusion

• Substantial headache

If this hyperthermia continues, then the blood-brain barrier (an immunological barrier between circulating blood that may contain microorganisms like bacteria and viruses to the central nervous system) begins to leak plasma proteins, resulting in cerebral oedema (build up of fluid causing affected organ to become swollen). If treatment is not initiated at this point, then neuronal injury will result especially in the cerebellum.

EHI follows and involves serious CNS dysfunction.  The clinical signs associated with EHI are:

• Delirium

• Horses unaware of their surroundings

The final stage of EHI occurs when the swollen oedematous brain compresses vital tissue causing cellular damage. The clinical signs of end-stage EHI are:

• Collapse

• Unconsciousness

• Coma

• Death

Definition of EHI

EHI most commonly occurs immediately after a race when the horse is panting, sweating profusely and may be dripping with sweat. The most reliable indication of EHI is clinical signs associated with the dysfunction of the central nervous system in the presence of hyperthermia. Researchers have provided descriptions of levels of CNS dysfunction, ranging from level 1 to level 4.

Level 1 – The earliest recognizable signs of CNS dysfunction

The horse becomes restless, agitated and irritable. There is often head nodding or head shaking. The horse is difficult to restrain and will not stand still.  Therapeutic intervention such as cooling can resolve these clinical signs, but if the horse is inadequately cooled then the disease can escalate. 

Level 2 – Obvious neurological dysfunction

Often misdiagnosed as colic symptoms, the horse becomes further agitated and irritable with the horse kicking out without any particular stimulus present. This stage is dangerous to all handlers involved as the horse’s behaviour is unpredictable. 

Level 3 – Bizarre neurological signs

At this stage, the horse has an altered mentation appearing vacant, glassy-eyed and “spaced-out”.  In addition, there is extreme disorientation with a head tilt and leaning to one side with varying levels of ataxia (wobbly).  It has been observed that horses may walk forward, stop, rear and throw themselves backwards.  It is a very dangerous stage, as horses are known to run at fences, obstacles and people. Horses may also present as having a hind limb lameness appearing as a fractured leg with hopping on the good limb.  These clinical signs may resolve with treatment intervention.

Level 4 – Severe CNS dysfunction

There is severe CNS dysfunction at this stage of EHI with extreme ataxia, disorientation and lack of unawareness of its surroundings. The horse will continuously stagger and repeatedly fall down and get up while possibly colliding with people or objects with a plunging action. Unsurprising, the horse is at risk of severe and significant injury.  Eventual collapse with the loss of consciousness and even death may arise.

Treatment of EHI

In order to achieve success in the treatment of EHI, it is imperative that there is early detection, rapid assessment and aggressive cooling. The shorter the period is between recognising the condition and treatment, the greater the chance of a successful outcome.  In particular settings such as racecourses or on particularly hot and humid days, events must be properly equipped with easily accessible veterinary care and cooling devices. It is highly effective if a trained worker inspects every horse in order to identify those horses at risk or exhibiting symptoms. 

If EHI is recognised, veterinary intervention will be paramount in the recovery to prevent further illness and suppress symptoms. It will be important to note any withdrawal periods of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and analgesics before returning to racing. There are a number of effective ways to cool the horse with easily accessible resources.

Whole body cooling systems

Cooling the horse with ice-cold water is an effective way to draw heat from the underlying tissues. In addition, cooling the skin redistributes cooled blood back to the central circulatory system thus reducing thermal strain with the cooling of core body temperature.

The system that works best for horses due to its size is spray cooling heat transfer. It is ideal to have two operators to spray either side of the horse. It is recommended to begin at the head and neck followed by the chest and forelimbs then the body, hind limbs and between the legs. Spray nozzles are recommended to provide an even coverage of the skin surface.   

Dousing is another technique in which horses are placed in stalls and showered continuously until the condition resolves. Pouring buckets over the entire body of the horse is not recommended as most of the water falls to the ground, thus, not efficient at cooling the horse. 

Because most horses suffer from EHI immediately after the race, the appropriate location for inspection, cooling systems and veterinary care should be in the dismounting yard and tie-up stalls.  There must be an adequate supply of ice to ensure ice-cold water treatment. 

When treating a horse with EHI, there must be continuous and uninterrupted cooling until the CNS dysfunction has disappeared. 
When the skin surface temperature decreases to 30°C, cutaneous skin vessels begin to disappear; CNS function returns to normal, and there is the normalisation of behaviour. Cooling can be stopped, and the horse can be walked once CNS abnormalities have resolved. It must remain closely monitored for a further 30 minutes in a well-ventilated and shaded region. It is important that they are not unattended.

Scraping sweat off of the horse must only be done if the conditions are humid with no airflow.  However, if it is hot and there is good airflow, scraping is unnecessary because the sweat will evaporate.

Cooling collars

During strenuous exercise, there is a combination of heat production in the brain, reduced cerebral blood flow, creating cerebral ischaemia as well as the brain being perfused with hot blood. It is believed that cooling the carotid artery that aids in blood perfusion of the brain might be a strategy to cool the brain. A large collar is placed on either side and around the full length of the horse’s neck and is cooled by crushed ice providing a heat sink around the carotid artery; and it is able to pump cooled blood into the brain. 

Another possible benefit of this device is the cooling of the jugular veins, which lie adjacent to the carotid arteries.  The cooled blood in the jugular veins enter the heart and is pumped to the rest of the body, hence, potentially cooling the whole body. In addition, it is thought that the cooling of the carotid artery causes it to dilate, allowing greater blood flow into the brain. 

Provision of shaded areas

Shaded areas with surfaces that reflect heat, dry fans providing air flow and strategically placed hoses to provide cool water is an important welfare initiative at racecourses in order to minimise risk of EHI and treat when necessary. 

Conclusion

The most effective treatment of EHI is the early detection of the disease as well as post-race infrastructure that allows monitoring of horses in cooling conditions, while providing easily accessible treatment modalities when they are needed.  

Evaluating the horse’s central nervous system dysfunction is essential to recognise both the disease as well as monitoring the progression of the disease. CNS dysfunction allows one to define the severity of the condition. 

Understanding the pathophysiology of EHI is essential. It is important to recognise that it is a complex condition where both the inflammatory and thermoregulatory pathways work in combination. With a better understanding of these pathways, more effective treatment for this disease may be found.

A new mission for Criquette Head

Article by Katherine Ford

Five years after retiring as a trainer, the handler most famous for the Arc double of Trêve wintered in the Bahamas where she devoted herself to caring for her mother Ghislaine during her final months. A figure in French and international racing and bloodstock alongside her late husband Alec, Ghislaine Head was influential in the running of the Haras du Quesnay. Her colours were carried notably by Arc heroine Three Troikas and homebred Prix du Jockey-Club winner Bering; and she passed away peacefully at age 95 in early June.

Horses were far away in the flesh during this time in the Bahamas but still close to Criquette’s heart and very present in her mind. “When would be a convenient time for a chat?” I texted Criquette Head to arrange this interview. The reply pings back, “You can call me at 11.30am French time; I get up at 5am (EST) here every day for my first lot.”

So it is 5.30am in the Bahamas, and Criquette is in fine form as ever with plenty of ideas to discuss. “I’m always wide awake at this time. I can’t get it out of my system. Of course there are no horses here, just water and boats.” When Criquette retired, she announced a plan to sail across the Atlantic in her yacht, named Trêve. However, in typical altruistic style of the former president of the European Trainers Federation, the adventure has been on hold. “My boat is here, but I haven’t done the crossing yet. I will do it one day, but for the moment, my priority is taking care of my mother. I will stay at her side as long as she needs me.” 

While she had no physical contact with horses in the Bahamas, and no imminent trans-Altantic sail to prepare for, Criquette has been devoting time and energy recently to the association CIFCH (Conseil Indépendant pour la Filière des Courses Hippiques, or Independent Council for the Racing Industry), which she created with long-time friend and associate Martine Della Rocca Fasquelle some three years ago and now presides. 

Senator Anne-Catherine Loisier & Martine Della Rocca Fasquelle.

“The idea came about because I found that our politicians didn’t understand the racing world. I said to myself that as I have some spare time, I would create a little association, and I would try to ask our politicians, those who vote for our laws in the National Assembly or the Senate, to understand what racing means. We are completely separate from any official organisation, and we don’t interfere with France Galop or Le Trot (French harness racing authority). I just want to show the decision makers what racing is all about. I have met a lot of people and invited them to the races. That’s all… I try to make them realise the importance of the racing industry, and the reactions have been very positive.”

An eclectic membership 

The CIFCH counts 140 parliamentarians among its membership and supporters, which is a varied panel composed of racing and non-racing people, from a wide professional spectrum. 

As Martine Della Rocca Fasquelle explains, “Our aim is to share ideas and knowledge, and everyone contributes what they can, depending upon their area of expertise.” Criquette adds, “We wanted to surround ourselves with competent people who are all volunteers. They all like horses, not necessarily racehorses but the horse in general, and the association works in favour of the entire equine sector. The VAT issue is an important one for the CIFCH. If we manage to reduce the rate for equine activity to 10%, the entire horse industry will reap the benefit.”

A key supporter is Senator Anne-Catherine Loisier, vice-president of the CIFCH and who notably assisted in opening the doors of the National Assembly for a meeting with French mayors. Criquette continues, “A year ago, we wrote to all the mayors in France with a racecourse in their municipality with a questionnaire, and most of them very kindly replied to us. However, it’s a shame that the mayors with some of our most important racecourses didn’t respond. We asked them about the economic importance of the racecourses for their municipality; and then we organised a meeting at the National Assembly, which was very productive.” Martine Della Rocca Fasquelle adds, “This was the first time that mayors have been heard singing the praises of racing. We were surprised as we received reactions from very high up, including Emmanuel Macron, who congratulated us for the results of the racing industry.”

Spreading the word

Senators Sonia de la Prôvoté and Valérie Letard and spouses with Criquette Head, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2021.

The CIFCH compiled the responses from 27 mayors, representing communes ranging from Chantilly and Cagnes-Sur-Mer, several municipalities in the West of France (which is a hive of activity for both trotting and gallop racing, training and breeding), to the homes of tracks organising just one or two meetings per year, into an album “Une Ville, Un Hippodrome: les maires ont la parole.” (towns and racecourses, in the words of their mayors). The brochure, which has been distributed to members and interested parties, is an advocacy of the benefits of racing to local communities. 

Naturally, Isabelle Wojtoviez, mayoress of Chantilly, underlines the significance of the racecourse and training centre for the town, “It is impossible to imagine Chantilly without horses. The animal is at the centre of our economy, a pillar of our history and a vital tourist attraction...” 

Bertrand de Guébriant, mayor of 5,000-inhabitant Craon in the West of France, where the racecourse hosts 10 meetings for a mixture of jumps, flat and trotting action, says, “Craon is one of the most popular provincial tracks in France, and we welcome 25,000 people for our ‘Trois Glorieuses’ festival each year, making it a major tourist attraction. The notoriety of our racing means that the town has a riding centre and a nearby training centre for employment with horses, whose most famous graduate is certainly (leading jump jockey) Clément Lefebvre. During racing periods, Craon enjoys visibility in the media, and finally, the community receives a share of pari-mutuel turnover, which is a real plus for our budget.”

With 80 meetings per year in the three disciplines, the racecourse at Cagnes-sur-Mer plays an important role in the town’s economy. And with its Côte d’Azur coastline, charming old town and proximity to Nice, it already has plenty of advantages.

Mayor Louis Nègre explains, “The image of Cagnes-sur-Mer is intimately linked to the racecourse, especially on an international level. The opportunity for visitors to enjoy racing in a spectacular environment overlooking the Mediterranean represents a unique experience, which contributes to tourists returning to the town. The economic activity connected to the racecourse and training centre is important year-round, while hotels, restaurants and the property markets benefit notably from racing during otherwise quiet periods of the season (during the winter flat and jumps meetings).”

Senator Anne-Catherine Loisier, vice-president of the CIFCH with Criquette Head and Deputy Géraldine Bannier, vice-president of the CIFCH.

The virtuous pari-mutuel model

For Criquette and her fellow CIFCH members and supporters, it is vital to spread positive messages such as these in order to preserve the favourable French system. “Racing has a colossal impact on the economic and environmental state of our country, and this is thanks to our PMU system which must be protected at all costs; however, I get the impression that it is being destroyed. When I see that (online betting operator) Ze Turf has been bought by (lottery and sports betting operator) La Française des Jeux, I fear that racing punters may be tempted away to bet on poker or other markets. We need the PMU and its financial input, which represents our livelihood and that of our regions, our studs and stables. My aim is to valorise and protect this ecosystem which is an example across Europe. France has by far the highest prize money in Europe, and that needs to be preserved. Our system also brings money in for the state; it’s a win-win system. Indeed during the Covid pandemic, the PMU registered good results because the football and all other activity was stopped. We were lucky that the state understood the need for racing and breeding activity to continue. This is a good demonstration of the importance for government to understand the depth of the racing activity and that it is not just a sport like football, for example.”

Racing across Europe and further afield is faced with issues of perception, either from the general public or government representatives. “An association like the CIFCH would have a role to play in other countries,” says Criquette, “but things are more complicated in nations with bookmakers. If you look at the rising powers in world racing nowadays, such as Hong Kong and Japan, they have adopted the pari-mutuel model. I think that the World Pool is a very good concept, which can contribute to promoting the tote system and help racing to raise its level on a global scale.”

“The CIFCH doesn’t get involved in specific debates such as the whip. Personally, I am in favour of limiting the number of strokes, but we must be careful not to overreact. Those who are against racing are people who have never been close to a horse at the races or in training; and one of the missions of the CIFCH is to demonstrate that horse welfare is at the centre of our profession. We are pleased to show newcomers behind the scenes and the quality of care which racehorses receive.”

Opening doors for future owners

After a series of visits, debates and conferences with decision-makers, the CIFCH is set to widen its contacts further in 2023, when a major focus for the committee will be a two-day event in June in Normandy, aimed at business people and potential owners. 

Criquette explains, “We will invite entrepreneurs and business people who have nothing to do with racing to come and spend time at a stud farm and training centre in Normandy. Like a lot of people today, all they know about horses is that they have four legs, a head and a tail… Throughout my career I always welcomed people into my stable to discover the horses, and the reactions were invariably positive. Many of these [people] went on to become owners, not necessarily with me; and I was always pleased to see them develop their interest. I was brought up to be very open and welcoming, and now [that] I have free time, I want to continue to help people find out more about racing.”

Always renowned for her generosity with time and explanations, Criquette inherited these and many other qualities from her late father, the great breeder and trainer Alec Head who passed away last summer at age 97. 

Criquette and fellow CIFCH members at a meeting in Chantilly, 2021.

“He has left us with a fantastic legacy, and I owe him my success. He always loved his profession and defended the racing industry; and along with Roland de Chambure, he was a precursor in opening up the market with the USA. One thing which struck me when I was younger was that he used to say, ‘You should always try to read your horse. Once you have understood your horse, then the horse will tell you what they are capable of’. I used to say the same thing to all the young assistants who came to work with me and who are now trainers. I told them to pick just one horse and ignore the 80 others; study that one horse, and then tell me what they observed as the horse developed. For me, that is the basis of training. Like people, no two horses are the same, and so you cannot follow the same recipe with them all. You can lose horses by rushing them, and during my era, we were fortunate to have plenty of time. Last year, once again, the examples of Flightline and Baaeed proved that it can be beneficial to wait.”

The family dynasty continues

Criquette’s brother Freddy Head called time on his illustrious training career last year, and the family name is now represented in the profession by his son, Classic-winning Christopher and daughter Victoria. “Papa would have been very proud to see Victoria win her first race recently, and Christopher’s success. Christopher spent time working alongside his father, and two years with me, and Victoria worked for much better trainers than me! She was with Gai Waterhouse, Aidan O’Brien and André Fabre, as well as with her father. We have (French racing channel) Equidia in the Bahamas, so I’m often in front of my TV at 6am here! I keep an eye on everyone, not just my family…” 

In addition to owning horses or shares with a range of trainers in France and former assistant David Menuisier in the UK, Criquette also maintains her interest in breeding, despite the heart-wrenching sale of the family’s celebrated Haras du Quesnay last year. 

“There were a lot of us—five including my mother—and we didn’t all have the same ideas, so it was a family decision to sell. I love breeding, so I will continue with five broodmares. My grandson Fernando (Laffon-Parias) wants to be an agent and is interested in breeding, so this year I planned all the matings with him. I did consider buying a farm myself, but finally my mares will stay at the Quesnay as the new owners are taking in boarders and have kept on all the old staff under manager Vincent Rimaud. So, I decided to stay, and I will enjoy returning to the stud. It will be a very different feeling for me to visit, with no pressure or concerns about managerial issues. I will just be able to go and admire my mares and foals!”

As ever, with Criquette, the love of horses shines through in her words. “We talk endlessly about the people involved with the horses, which is logical in a way, but in the end, everything depends upon the animal. At all levels, whether in breeding, training or racing, the horse always has the last word.” If Criquette has her way, this would also be true for politics! 

What does it take to become a trainer?

Article by Lissa Oliver

While each year we seem to lose many established trainers, often due to financial reasons, the training ranks continue to welcome fresh new faces—many of them particularly young. Those already struggling to make a living might question why, yet a certain amount of optimism is a prerequisite for embarking on any career within the thoroughbred industry.

Are the licencing bodies doing enough to equip new trainers for the reality of the career ahead? Is that even a question we should be asking, given that in most other industries an entrepreneur is free to start up a business as they please? What do our governing bodies consider to be the basic requirements necessary to apply for a trainer’s licence?

Deutscher Galopp manages to encapsulate exactly what is needed to consider applying for a trainer’s licence, pointing out the need for an excellent knowledge of racehorses and the world of horseracing; a capacity for management and personnel management; a mastery of professional relations, particularly with owners; a capacity for analysis in order to develop the performance of his or her horses; a technical and strategic sense; and a great geographical mobility. 

Indeed, few Germany-based trainers would argue with the latter—smaller yards frequently needing to chase prize money in France due to the dominance at home of the larger stables. Interestingly, the traits of coolness and self-confidence are also listed—food for thought, perhaps.

In Germany, the licensing process doesn’t appear to be as bureaucratic as in Britain, for example, with no minimum age or experience criteria or detail of finances required. Deutscher Galopp has bundled its diverse training offerings and further education programme in its own academy—The Deutscher Galopp Academy—which aims to offer and conduct seminars and further education and training in horse racing for all interested groups, even racegoers.

The prerequisite for working as a professional trainer in Germany is completion of the Horse Management Masters examination in the horse racing training section at the Academy. The aim of the course is to acquire the necessary knowledge to run a training company independently, to masterfully carry out the work that occurs there, and to properly educate and equip the trainees for the profession of racehorse trainer. “That course can last a year or more, and not everybody is automatically qualified; the government decides who will be able to take part,” explains Rüdiger Schmanns, director of racing.

France also places emphasis on a robust pre-training course, and candidates must have at least two years’ experience in a racing yard. The Ecole des Courses Hippiques (AFASEC) is the benchmark training organisation for all horse racing professions, with five campuses throughout France as close as possible to the largest training centres. New France Galop Rules in relation to applying for the French trainer’s licence are due to come into effect later this year and are therefore included here. 

The Trainer’s Course serves for both trotting and racing candidates, but the modules are specific to each specialty. The acquired knowledge is considered essential for starting out as a professional trainer in France. Of the maximum of 14 places, seven are reserved for racing applicants. The France Galop licensing department ultimately decides who qualifies for access to the 175-hour training, which takes place over a five-week period in May and June annually. The course fee is €2,275, and candidates must successfully complete a two-hour pre-selection examination on their horse racing knowledge at least six weeks prior to the course.

The bulk of the course is online, with 10 days (70 hours) of in-person classes, including two days of written and oral examinations. The six modules cover accounting and management; hygiene, horse health and equine welfare; social legislation; professional regulation; communication and business development; and human resources, management, awareness of labour law and preventive measures against moral and sexual harassment in the workplace. The candidate must obtain a mark of at least 10 out of 20 in each of these subjects.

Training Licence Requirements

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) relies on a very stringent criteria for those who may apply for a training licence, which reflects the similar training provided by AFASEC. Applicants are required to demonstrate competence and capability to train; access to appropriate training facilities; security of tenure for the premises from which they wish to train; a minimum of three horses in training; compliance with relevant health and safety responsibilities; ability to provide full details of their employment status; compliance with all relevant employment responsibilities; ability to appropriate Public Liability Insurance and, where appropriate, Employers' Liability Insurance; necessary financial resources available; and that they are otherwise in all the circumstances suitable to hold a licence and are deemed ‘fit and proper’.

This means applicants must have a minimum of five years’ experience in a training establishment, including at least two years in a responsible and senior position—preferably as an assistant trainer in a successful racing yard. Alternatively, a track record as a permit holder with at least three wins with a reasonable spread of horses, or having run a Point-to-Point yard for at least two years and having trained a minimum of 10 Point-to-Point/Hunter Chase wins with a reasonable spread of horses.

Applicants must have attained the Level 3 Diploma in Work Based Racecourse Care and Management (WBD) and successfully completed Modules 1, 2 and 3 of the training programme held at the British Racing School or the Northern Racing College. They must also attend a one-day training seminar for potential trainers at Weatherbys’ offices.

Furthermore, the yard and facilities must pass inspection. If the applicant is to train horses for the Flat, he or she will be expected to have access to gallops of six furlongs, including four furlongs straight, within hacking distance of the stables and facilities for schooling horses through starting stalls. National Hunt trainers must have access to gallops of six furlongs within hacking distance of the stables, at least one plain fence and one open ditch with wings, over which two horses are able to school alongside one another, and at least two flights of hurdles with wings, over which two horses can school alongside, as well as access to ‘nursery facilities’, such as poles.

The BHA takes into account the financial track record of the applicant and assesses the likely financial soundness of the proposed training business. A recognised financial reference must show the applicant to have available working capital or overdraft facilities of at least £40,000. A projected profit and loss account and a cash flow projection of the training business for the first 12 months must be provided.

To become a trainer in Ireland, applicants must be at least 21 years of age with a minimum of two years’ experience working in a racing yard. Alternatively, the holder of a rider’s licence with an acceptable number of rides for the same period, or a registered Point-to-Point handler with an acceptable number of runners, may also be eligible to apply. 

Applicants to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) Head of Licensing are required to successfully complete an assessment to establish prior knowledge of the industry in order to qualify for the Pre-Trainer’s Course. The assessment consists of practical, oral, and written elements. The Pre-Trainer’s Course is held twice a year, in spring and autumn, over a three-week period and delivered via a blended approach of sessions online and in-person. 

Following successful completion, a stable inspection is then carried out by the IHRB on the proposed training establishment. The stable inspection report and application, together with all relevant documentation, is assessed by the Licensing Committee, who then arranges an interview with the candidate. The Licensing Committee ultimately decides  whether a licence is granted. The successful completion of the assessments and Pre-Trainers’ Course does not guarantee the issuing of a licence.

If we look at the smaller racing nations, the reliance on courses for trainers remains much the same. In the Czech Republic, for example, an applicant has to successfully graduate from the specialised course for trainers organised by the Czech Jockey Club. He or she must also have graduated at an apprentice training centre for horse breeding, horse racing or equestrian sport; have a school-leaving certificate from secondary school and at least 10 years’ experience in a racing yard; graduated from agricultural university or veterinary university and have at least two years’ experience in a racing yard; or graduated from another type of university and have at least five years’ experience. The Trainer’s Course is organised by the Czech Jockey Club every few years when enough requests from interested people warrant it. Karin Luftmanová tells us that it is also quite common to attend a course in Slovakia, and vice versa.

Interestingly, in Portugal, where the LPTG Professional License Commission is the only entity for issuing a trainer’s licence, applicants must be over 25 years of age and express a wish to try to make the training of racehorses “a permanent and paid activity”. They begin with an obligatory internship, to be completed successfully, with a minimum duration of six months with a foreign trainer, or 12 months with a national trainer. The League's Professional License Commission is made up of four members of the Board, designated by the racing director of the Technical Commission (CT), who has the ultimate say in granting the licence.

The work and knowledge involved in gaining a trainer’s licence is worth noting. In the general sphere of horse racing, the skills and qualifications of a trainer are not widely known or publicised. The public still tends to think in terms of retiring trainers simply handing over the reins to someone with experience, without considering exactly what that experience entails. 

In contrast, media coverage of jockey schools and stable staff apprenticeships are a staple, with those same opportunities commonly going out to schools to encourage school-leavers to embark on a racing career. In the wider world, we think nothing of having to go through various levels of higher education, and the Trainers’ Courses available throughout Europe could be viewed as akin to postgraduate degrees. Should our governing bodies be presenting the professional trainer’s pathway to schools and universities?

Certainly, as the racing world focuses on social licence and presenting itself in a fit way to a growing urban public, no longer in touch with agricultural roots and working animals, more should be made of the strict requirements to train. More to the point, trainers deserve fitting credit for their accomplishment in receiving and retaining their trainer’s licence. It is, indeed, a postgraduate degree to be proud of.

7 Simple Rules for Parasite Control in Racing Yards

Article by James Gibbons

When Benjamin Franklin wrote, in 1789, ‘in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes’, he could, perhaps, have added another certainty to his list – worms in horses. Unlike most other infectious diseases of horses, such as strangles or influenza—which infect a small number of horses relative to the entire horse population at any one time—worms are present in almost all horses all of the time.  This fact leads to two obvious conclusions: first, it is not possible to eradicate parasites and the threat of parasitic disease from our horses; second, worm control is vital in any environment where horses are kept.  

The threat posed by intestinal worms to racehorse performance has long been recognised by horsemen the world over. For many years, regular treatment with anthelmintic drugs (‘dewormers’) was the mainstay of worm control in racing yards, as it was in most in areas of horse breeding and production. The emergence of resistance to these deworming drugs (referred to as ‘anthelmintic resistance’), in the last 10 years in particular, has meant that such regular treatments may no longer be effective and may in fact make the resistance situation in the yard or farm worse. With this in mind, it is important that we consider how best to control worms while preserving the efficacy of the few deworming drugs available to us. This can be achieved using control programs comprised of drug- and non-drug control measures. This article sets out seven points/rules to consider and implement when developing such a worm control programme for racing yards. 

1. Know your enemy

It is not possible to draw up a parasite control program without considering which worms it is you are trying to control. The three main types of worms we are concerned with are strongyles (large and small redworms), ascarids (roundworms) and tapeworms. The role of tapeworms in equine intestinal disease is debated, but they appear to be linked to certain forms of colic when present in high numbers. Notably, there is no evidence of age-related immunity to tapeworms. Ascarids are a cause of disease in foals primarily and yearlings and so are likely to be of less concern in most racing yards. However, unlike redworms, which are transmitted almost exclusively at grass, ascarids can be transmitted in the stable; and ascarid eggs survive for years in the environment so that a single infected animal can infect other young horses for years to come.  

Redworms are the most important parasite of horses and are found in horses of all ages where they can cause anaemia, weight loss, ill-thrift and diarrhoea. Large redworms can burrow into the walls of blood vessels that supply blood to the gut causing a very severe form of colic.  Small red worms can lie dormant in the gut wall for extended periods then emerge en masse to cause an acute shock-like syndrome with severe diarrhoea, which is often fatal.  

Faecal egg count (FEC) testing will identify if redworms or ascarid eggs are present in your horse’s droppings and this, in turn, tells you that the adult worm of that species is present in your horse’s gut. Tapeworm eggs can be detected by FEC testing, but it is not the most reliable method for their detection as the shedding of these eggs is not consistent. As redworms are the most relevant worm present in most yards, most of the information in this article relates specifically to the control of redworms rather than ascarids or tapeworms.

2. Know your horses’ risk

All trainers pride themselves on their knowledge of almost every aspect of their horses’ anatomy and physiology, but not all could tell you which of their horses are at greater or lesser risk of worms. As mentioned above, all horses are likely to carry some worms, but the adult worm burden and the number of worm eggs shed in faeces is far greater in younger horses than in mature stock.  Most horses between the ages of 5 and 15 years will have a lower worm burden, and a lower risk of parasitic disease, than horses below this age due to a degree of age-related immunity. Foals and yearlings can carry particularly high worm burdens and shed large numbers of eggs into the environment to infect other horses. 

It follows that any yard with yearlings—two- or three-year-olds—will need a comprehensive worm control programme; while yards with older stock may get away with less strenuous controls. Horses over the age of 15 may also have higher worm burdens. And while these are unlikely to be in training, they may be used as a riding horse or companion animal and act as a potential source of infection for the string.

3. Know your yard’s weak points

It is not unusual for our lab to get a call from a racehorse trainer wishing to express their disbelief that the faecal egg count test from their horses has tested positive for redworm eggs despite their horses having no access to grass. In these situations, careful questioning as to how the yard operates will usually reveal the use of turn-out paddocks for a short period at some point during the week. Invariably, these are shared, often quite small, paddocks which host many horses over time; and so they are more likely to be contaminated with worm eggs.  

While the intention is for the horse to get ‘a pick of grass’, it may be that it is more ‘a pick of worms’ they are getting in such paddocks! As part of a worm control plan, it is important to first identify high-traffic areas, which may be a pinch-point for worm transmission.  Once identified, the key to reducing the worm burden on such paddocks is ideally through the removal of droppings. This can be a labour-intensive exercise, but it only needs to be done twice weekly rather than daily. And there are now more automated methods for cleaning paddocks than the more traditional wheelbarrow and spade!  

4. Identify high shedders 

FEC testing not only tells you what type of worm is present in your horse’s droppings but also how many eggs there are per gramme of faeces.  Repeated FEC testing allows you to build up a picture of the shedding patterns of the horses within your stable. Horses in racing yards should have FEC testing carried out every three months. It is generally accepted that the shedding of worm eggs in horses follows the 80/20 rule; that is, 20% of the horses shed 80% of the eggs.  

If these high shedders in the group can be identified, then targeted treatment of them may be more beneficial (and cost-effective) than blanket treatment of the entire group.    Horses with a strongyle egg count in excess of 250 eggs per gramme (EPG) on repeated testing may be considered high shedders and require more frequent egg counts and treatment.  It is important to state that this figure of 250EPG is not absolute, and the threshold above which animals are considered high shedders or requiring treatment should be set in conjunction with your vet. Worm eggs are not distributed evenly within the droppings, so when collecting samples for FEC testing, make sure to take at least three faecal balls—each from a different area of the pile. 

FEC testing can only detect egg-laying adult worms, but the egg count is not a reliable indicator of the adult worm burden of the horse, i.e. a horse with a high FEC does not necessarily have a greater worm burden than a horse with a lower FEC; but the horse with the high FEC is more significant in terms of worm transmission to other horses. Immature worms that may be present in the horse are not detected by FEC testing. In recent years, new tests have been developed that can detect antibodies to tapeworms and small redworm in blood and/or saliva. These tests are a useful addition to any worm control programme. Regardless of the type of test used, dewormers are still necessary as part of any worm control programme, in foals and yearlings in particular, but also in high-risk environments, and in order to control the disease risks posed to horses of all ages by large strongyles.  

5. Know which drugs work

While it might seem like there is an endless range of deworming products for horses on the market, the number of active ingredients in these products is very limited with only four drugs (fenbendazole, ivermectin, moxidectin and pyrantel) available for the treatment of redworms and ascarids. With such limited availability, and no prospect of new worm treatments entering the market anytime soon, it is vital that we use the existing drugs judiciously so as to preserve their effectiveness into the future.  

The threat posed by anthelmintic resistance is very real. Already fenbendazole resistance in redworms is widespread, and ivermectin/moxidectin resistance in ascarids is becoming more common. This means that there are only one or two effective treatments remaining for these resistant worms. While thoughts of anthelmintic resistance may not keep any racehorse trainer awake at night, we do expect that the deworming treatments we use to be effective, not least because they cost quite a lot of money!  The only way to determine if our treatments are indeed effective is to carry out a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). 

This test follows on from the FEC test; any horse with a FEC of 500EPG or more should be treated with a dewormer and have a follow-up FEC carried out 10–14 days after that treatment. The percentage reduction in egg numbers is calculated and should be greater than 90–95% (depending on the drug). Reductions less than this are suggestive of a resistance problem. Because of the existing resistance situation, FECRTs should be carried out before using fenbendazole to treat redworms or ivermectin/moxidectin to treat ascarids. Equally, if you have any suspicion that a deworming product is not working effectively in your yard, then a FECRT for that drug should be carried out to investigate this.   

6. Don’t overtreat

Aside from the risk of anthelmintic resistance development and the significant costs incurred by frequent or blanket deworming of all horses in the yard, such treatments can have other effects on the horse, which may ultimately impact performance. Research has shown that anthelmintic administration is associated with a decrease in the diversity and abundance of certain bacteria in the horse’s gut, which may impact digestion and other metabolic processes. 

In humans, changes in the composition of the gut bacterial population have been shown to impact physiology, immunity and behaviour; and, while the structure of the gut may differ greatly between human and horses, there is no reason to believe the equine gut bacteria do not play a similarly important role in horse health. In recent years, the role of parasites in human health has been revaluated. And while they are still recognised as an important cause of disease, it is also accepted that they can play a beneficial role in the development of immunity and the prevention of some diseases. While we don’t have similar evidence of a benefit to horse health from parasites, it is not impossible that such benefits do really exist.  

A study of standardbred trotters in Denmark in 2011 found that horses with higher egg counts had better race finishing position than those with lower egg counts. So,  the presence of parasites does not always lead to poor performance! It was standard practice, in some racing yards, to deworm horses every eight weeks, but this seems excessive when one considers the biology of the worms involved. The small redworms take approximately eight weeks to develop to maturity in the horse, while the large redworms take approximately six months to do so. Treatment every eight weeks could only be justified if there were evidence of overwhelming worm exposure on an ongoing basis—something which is unlikely in a modern racing yard. Even if that were the case, other non-pharmaceutical controls would be necessary to get the situation under control.

7. Manage new arrivals

One of the challenges of worm control in a racing yard is the constant turnover of horses with some leaving the yard for rest or recovery from injury, others returning from such breaks and new horses joining the yard. When a horse leaves the yard, they leave the worm control programme as well. Evem if the yard’s deworming programme is followed while they are away, the risk factors in their new environment may be totally different and require an entirely different approach to treatment. More worrisome, the arrival of new horses or the return of others also risks the introduction of new or resistant parasites to the yard. In order to minimise this risk, all new arrivals should be isolated, tested and treated. Ideally, all new arrivals would be isolated for two weeks while a FECRT is carried out to ensure treatment has been effective.  

This may not be practical in all yards, but an isolation of period of at least three days after deworming should be observed to ensure all worms are shed before the horse joins the group. Treatment without isolation is not recommended as treated horses can shed viable eggs for a few days after deworming. There may be a temptation to let horses out to turnout paddocks for exercise or grass during the isolation period, but we have seen cases where this has led to the introduction of new parasites to the yard despite the horse being treated before it was turned out.   

There was a time when parasite control in racing yards was relatively simple and relied primarily on the regular use of deworming drugs. As with many aspects of horse racing, what was once considered acceptable is no longer so. Effective parasite control is not as simple anymore, and an overall plan designed to meet the needs of the individual yard is required. That is not to say that any trainer should be daunted by the prospect of drawing up such a plan. The seven points discussed here provide a basis to work from and your vet and laboratory are well placed to assist in building on this.  

Equine Neck CT: Advancing diagnostic precision in racehorses

Article by Rachel Tucker MRCVS

Introduction

When considering neck disorders in the racehorse, we most commonly think of severe conditions such as acute neck trauma and cervical vertebral myelopathy (Wobbler Syndrome). These represent the most severe end of the scale of orthopaedic and neurologic injury to the neck; and a diagnosis, or at least prognosis, is usually clear. However, neck conditions encompass a far wider range of clinical presentations. 

Horse positioned in ct scanner

At the milder end of the scale, signs may be subtle and easily missed, whilst still being responsible for discomfort and reduced performance. The recent ability to perform a computed tomography (CT) scan of a horse’s neck represents a major advancement in our ability to diagnose neck conditions. Timely and accurate diagnosis allows efficient and targeted treatment, the ability to plan schedules and improvement in welfare through the provision of appropriate treatment and earlier return to function. 

In neurologic cases, an accurate diagnosis facilitates risk management for both the horse, their handlers and riders, while improving safety for all.  As conditions and injuries of the neck are being better characterised using CT, new medical and surgical treatment options are being developed, giving the potential for improved outcomes and fewer losses from the racing industry. 

This article summarises how CT is being increasingly used by vets to diagnose conditions of the neck and how it is revealing previously unknown information and providing exciting new treatment opportunities. 

Presentation

Conditions of the neck can cause a range of signs in the horse, which are wide-ranging in their presentation and variable in their severity. The manner in which these conditions present depends on which anatomical structures are affected. Issues affecting the bones, joints and/or soft tissues of the neck can all cause neck pain, which can manifest in a number of ways. Cases of neck pain can be severe, resulting in a horse with a rigid, fixed neck carriage, an unwillingness to walk and struggling to eat, perhaps due to a traumatic event. Neck fractures are thankfully uncommon but can be catastrophic. 

More moderate signs might be displayed as a stiff neck, with reduced range of movement and resentment of ridden work. There may be pain on palpation of the neck and changes in the neck musculature. Increasingly, we are seeing horses with far more subtle signs, which are ultimately revealed to be due to neck pain and neck pathology. Typically, these horses might have an acceptable range of motion of their neck under most circumstances, but they suffer pain or restriction in certain scenarios, resulting in poor performance. This may be seen as tension through the neck, resisting rein contact, a reluctance to extend the neck over fences, or they may struggle on landing. 
Riders might report a feeling of restriction or asymmetry in the mobility of the neck. In addition, these horses may be prone to forelimb tripping or show subtle forelimb lameness. 

Any condition, which causes injury or disease to the spinal cord or nerves within the neck, also causes a specific range of neurologic signs. Compression of the spinal cord is most commonly caused by malformations or fractures of the cervical vertebrae, or enlargement of the adjacent articular process (facet) joints. This results in classic ‘Wobbler’ symptoms, which can range from subtle weakness and gait abnormalities, through to horses that are profoundly weak, ataxic and uncoordinated. This makes them prone to tripping, falling, or they may even become recumbent. 

Peripheral nerve deficits are uncommon but become most relevant if they affect the nerves supplying the forelimbs, which can result in tripping, forelimb lameness, or local sensory deficits. This lameness might be evident only in certain circumstances, such as when ridden in a rein contact. This lameness is difficult to pinpoint as there will be no abnormality to find in the lame limb, indeed a negative response to nerve and joint blocks (diagnostic analgesia) will usually be part of the diagnostic process.

Horses can present with varying combinations and severities of neck pain, neurologic signs and peripheral nerve deficits, creating a wide range of manifestations of neck related disease. 

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of neck pain is based on careful static and dynamic clinical examination and may be supported by seeing a positive response to treatment. Neurologic deficits are noted during a specific neurologic assessment, which includes a series of provocation tests such as asking a horse to walk over obstacles, back up, turn circles and walk up and down a hill. Confirming neck pathology as the cause of signs can be difficult. Until recently, radiography has been the mainstay imaging modality. Radiographs are useful for assessment of the cervical vertebrae and continue to play an important role in diagnosis; however the complex 3-dimensional shape of these bones, the large size of the neck and an inability to take orthogonal (right-angled) x-ray views means that this 2-dimensional imaging modality has significant limitations. High quality, well-positioned images are essential to maximise the diagnostic potential of radiographs. 

A turning point in our diagnostic ability and understanding of neck dysfunction has been the recent adaptation of human CT scanners to allow imaging of the horse’s neck. A number of equine hospitals across the United Kingdom and Northern Europe now offer this imaging modality. We have been providing this service at Liphook Equine Hospital since 2017, with over 150 neck scans performed to date.

The CT procedure

A computed tomography (CT) scan combines a series of x-ray images taken from different angles around the area of interest to create a 3-dimensional volume of imaging data. This data is presented as a grayscale image which can be viewed in any plane and orientation. It provides excellent bone detail, and post processing techniques can provide information on soft tissue structures too. Additional techniques can be employed such as positive contrast myelography to provide greater detail about soft tissue structures. Myelography delineates the spinal cord using contrast medium injected into the subarachnoid space and is indicated in any case showing neurologic signs suggestive of spinal cord compression. 

Neck CT is performed under a short general anaesthetic. Scans without myelography typically take less than 20 minutes to complete. The entire neck is imaged, from the poll to the first thoracic vertebra. The procedure is non-invasive and low risk, with anaesthetic-related complication presenting the main risk factor to the procedure. We have not encountered any significant complications in our plain CT scan caseload to date. Horses showing ataxia, weakness and incoordination (Wobbler’s), undergo CT myelography which adds around 20 minutes to the procedure. These horses are exposed to a greater level of risk due to their neurologic condition, the injection of a contrast agent and the increased chance of destabilising a more severe lesion during the procedure. 

Sagittal and transverse CT myelogram images of a young racing thoroughbred showing neurologic (Wobbler) signs. shows narrowing of the spinal canal at the base of the neck (arrow)

CT is revealing more detailed information about ways that spinal cord compression can occur in Wobbler cases, about compression of spinal nerves resulting in forelimb gait deficits and precise detail about fracture configurations. It gives us detailed images of articular process joint disease, intervertebral disc disease, developmental conditions and anatomic variations. It is also revealing information about rare diseases such as vertebral abscesses or spinal neoplasia. As our caseload and confidence in the imaging modality grows, we are learning more about the value of CT in examining more subtle neck conditions. We are also bringing the benefit of a more accurate diagnosis, allowing precise targeted treatment and a better ability to provide a prognosis about outcomes—likely progression or safety factors. CT myelography allows circumferential imaging of the spinal canal and yields significantly more information than traditional x-ray myelography. As a result, we hope to enable better case selection of horses that may benefit from Wobbler surgery, with the goal of resulting in improved success rates of the surgery.

Innovations in treatment

image shows a fracture of the articular process of the 3rd cervical vertebrae in the mid neck, which was not visible on x-ray. 

New treatment options are emerging as a result of our more accurate diagnoses of neck pathology. Of the first 55 horses which underwent neck CT at our hospital, we were surprised to discover that 13 (24%) had some form of osteochondral fragmentation within the articular process joints of their neck. Some of these horses were young Thoroughbreds, bred to race but showing Wobbler signs. These tended to have convincing CT evidence of type 1 CVM (Wobbler Syndrome) and osteochondrosis affecting their neck. Others had fragments which were larger and more discrete, with evidence of articular process joint enlargement/arthritis but no other bony lesions. These horses were typically older and of a range of breeds and uses. 

In those horses presenting with signs of neck pain but no neurologic deficits, surgical removal of these fragments was proposed. Following further consideration and cadaver training, we have begun to offer this surgery for horses that fit the appropriate criteria and have surgically accessible fragments.  We have performed arthroscopic or arthroscopic-assisted fragment removal from eight articular process joints in six horses to date. No intraoperative or postoperative complications have been encountered; and five of six horses showed complete resolution of neck pain. In the sixth horse, full recovery was not anticipated due to the presence of additional neck pathology, but partial improvement occurred for two years.  Fragment removal has relieved signs of neck pain and stiffness and caused improved performance in these horses. 

Two procedures that are emerging to treat spinal nerve root impingement are a targeted peripheral nerve root injection and a keyhole surgical procedure to widen the intervertebral foramen. Nerve root injection is performed in the standing sedated horse under ultrasound guidance. Surgery is performed under anaesthesia, using specialised minimally invasive equipment to widen the bony foramen using a burr. This surgery is in its infancy but offers an exciting treatment option.  

Additionally, CT gives us the ability to better plan for fracture repair, undoubtedly improving our case selection for Wobbler surgery; it more accurately guides intra-articular injection of the articular process joints. 

Summary

Computed tomography is transforming our ability to diagnose conditions of the horse’s neck. The procedure is low risk and now widely available in the UK and other parts of Europe. It is driving the innovation of novel treatment options with the goal of improving outcomes and reducing losses to conditions of the neck. Our CT findings are posing new questions about neck function, pain and neurologic disease and is an active area of ongoing research.

Anatomy of the cervical vertebrae

The neck vertebrae of the horse

The neck consists of seven cervical vertebrae which form a gentle S-shaped curve to link the skull at the poll to the thoracic vertebrae of the chest. Its primary functions are to protect the spinal cord, support the heavy weight of the head and to allow a large range of movement so that a horse can monitor his environment and run at speed, both being vital to this prey species. 

The first (atlas) and second (axis) cervical vertebrae are highly adapted to allow head mobility. The third to sixth vertebrae are very similar in shape, whereas the seventh is shortened as it starts to show similar features to the vertebrae of the thorax. The typical cervical vertebra consists of a cylindrical column of bone (vertebral body) articulating with adjacent vertebrae via an intervertebral disc. 

Running along the upper surface of this bony column is a bony canal created by the vertebral arch. This canal protects the spinal cord and associated structures that run through the centre. Above and to the side of the spinal canal sit the paired articular processes and below; and to the side sit the transverse processes. These are bony prominences to which muscles attach. The soft tissues of the neck are complex and intrinsically linked to the forelimbs and entire axial skeleton.  

The articular processes also form the articular process joints (facet joints) which create an additional two joints between each vertebra. Although highly adapted, these joints are similar to others in the body consisting of cartilage-lined surfaces, a joint capsule and joint fluid. The joint surfaces are oval in shape, approximately 3-4cm in diameter and sit at an oblique angle to the neck. They provide important additional support and mobility to the neck.

References:

Schulze N., Ehrle, A., Beckmann, I and Lischer, C. (2021) Arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments of the cervical articular process joints in three horses. Vet Surg. ;1-9. 

Swagemakers J-H, Van Daele P, Mageed M. Percutaneous full endoscopic foraminotomy for treatment of cervical spinal nerve compression in horses using a uniportal approach: Feasibility study. Equine Vet J. 2023. 

Tucker R, Parker RA, Meredith LE, Hughes TK, Foote AK. Surgical removal of intra-articular loose bodies from the cervical articular process joints in 5 horses. Veterinary Surgery. 2021;1-9.

Wood AD, Sinovich M, Prutton JSW, Parker RA. Ultrasonographic guidance for perineural injections of the cervical spinal nerves in horses. Veterinary Surgery. 2021; 50:816–822. 

European champion trainers and jockeys

Article by Paull Khan

These tables of the reigning champion jockeys and trainers in a selection of European countries, as measured by the domestic 2022 earnings of the horses they trained or rode, were submitted by the doyen of Central European racing, Dr Marian Surda. Surda is secretary-general of KMET—an association of the Racing Authorities of Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Austria. While this column cannot vouch for the accuracy of the figures, it can attest to Surda’s long-held commitment to promoting and documenting racing in the Central European region.

Placing, within single tables, the achievements of the top trainers and jockeys in these nineteen countries paints a fascinating picture of the patchwork of our continent’s racing; and it causes many a raised eyebrow. 

There may be few surprises at the top of the table—although readers might not have expected the British champion to have achieved greater earnings than his French counterpart, given the considerable disparity in prize money levels in the two countries, in favour of France. But the 1,013 starts of Italian champ Alduino Botti, almost twice the number of his nearest challenger on this measure, stands out as being impressive, indeed. Alduino, together with his brother, Giuseppe, has been a perennial champion in his homeland, following a very successful riding career. They are but part of a remarkable dynasty. Son of trainer and rider Edmondo Botti, Alduino has sired trainers Marco and Stefano, while Giuseppe’s two sons, Alessandro and Endo, also joined the training ranks.

The first name on the list, which may be unknown to the majority of readers is that of the Turkish champion, Ibrahim Bekirogullari, in 6th place. Bekirogullari trains mostly in Ankara and has charge of around 80 horses. His haul last year included 11 domestic group races, and he has been the top money-winner in Turkey for the past five years.

A unique achievement is that of Niels Petersen, the only trainer or jockey to top the table in more than one country—Norway and Denmark. A Dane, living in Norway, Petersen has in the past operated satellite yards not only in Denmark but also in Sweden, in which country he has also enjoyed considerable success.

Austria, once a proud racing nation, provides a sad footnote. The Austrian Derby was first run in 1868 at Vienna’s Freudenau racecourse, whose art nouveau grandstands were some of the most stylish in the world and where the first electronic timing of races took place. Today, just four gallop races are run during the course of the whole year. To become champion there, Sarah Steinberg, the German-licenced trainer, picked up just €1,000 as her 10% trainer’s share of the €10,000 earned by Anonymous, the winner of the country’s top race.

On a lighter note… who knew that the average European champion trainer has a strike rate of 25%, earnings of €1.4M and is 54 years of age! 

TopSpec Trainer of the Quarter

Article by Lissa Oliver

This issue’s Top Spec Trainer of the Quarter boasts a quite unique fact – he is the third member of his family to claim the honour! Had our magazine been running longer, he could easily have been a fifth-family winner, but Christopher Head is unique in his own right and a worthy recipient, having sent out his first Classic winner Blue Rose Cen in May and backed that up in June with her win in the Prix de Diane, in only his fifth full season as a trainer.

"The plan was laid out last year in a very intelligent manner and it has been a case of executing it," said Head. "We have the good fortune that she is a filly who is ready every time we ask her, but the fact that she always shows up in these good races proves it is a good plan."

Head is now based at the former yard of his father Freddy, having previously rented some boxes at Chantilly when first taking out his licence at the end of 2018. The move bodes well, with some Classic magic already rubbing off on the new inmate. It is far from a case of a “silver spoon”, Head starting out with just a handful of horses, but nevertheless sending out his first Group winner last year, Sibila Spain, and champion two-year-old Blue Rose Cen, successfully nurturing her into a champion three-year-old. Add Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Big Rock into the mix, with promise still to come and it’s clear Head is a young trainer going places.

As well as the ability to draw upon vast family experience, and 12 years spent working with his father during a golden era, Head brings new innovations to his training methods, using the latest data-collection technology. Strapped to the girth, a box records stride pattern, speed and cardiovascular activity, which Head finds useful in assessing individual horses, alongside traditional training methods.

The combination of experience and technology has certainly paid off this season, Blue Rose Cen currently unbeaten since winning the Gp.3 Prix de la Grotte, comfortably stepping up in trip to 2000m and now heading to the Gp.1 Nassau Stakes to take on her elders. 

Big Rock, too, maintained a run of four wins this season, rising up from handicap ranks when rated 94, to starting favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club and finding only Ace Impact too good for him. His next target is the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois and potentially the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco Champions Day. 

As to his star filly, Head said, "I'm excited about the programme and we will try her over 2400m because we need to know if she's capable of showing that turn of foot over the longer distance of the Arc. She'll be entered in the Vermeille and after that we'll decide whether to go for the Opera or to supplement her into the Arc."

To date, Head has won 19 races, including two Classics, with just 24 horses, a strike-rate that speaks for itself. It could prove to be a monumental season for Head, despite being a year filled with family loss and sadness.

Willie Browne - trainer profile

Article by Daragh Ó Conchúir

He may be in his 77th year, with a resumé of excellence as an industry pioneer and a well-earned sobriquet, King of the Breeze-Ups, but all along, Willie Browne has had a trainer inside of him, straining to be let off the leash.

Economic pragmatism meant he travelled another route, and it has paid rich dividends. The Grangebarry Stables boss, who operates under the Mocklershill banner in his primary occupation, bought, educated and sold the first ever breeze-up graduate to win a Classic - the 1000 Guineas heroine Speciosa. 

Willie and daughter Jane

That came a year after Penkenna Princess was beaten a short head in the Irish equivalent. Derby runner-up and now darling of National Hunt breeders Walk In The Park and Ascot Gold Cup victor Trip To Paris are other alumnae.

Browne has consigned the top lot at all the marquee sales, breaking the million-pound barrier twice, and in Mill Reef Stakes winner Sakheer, he has a real contender for 2000 Guineas honours in 2023.

Son of Zoffany, Sakheer powers clear to win the 2022 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury for trainer Roger Varian.

Yet greeting a winner of a 0-65 in Dundalk on a wet Friday night would, he insists, give him more of an adrenaline infusion.

Sure, the monetary rewards are oceans apart, but training is about something far more elemental. It is about DNA and who he is.

“I wanted to be a trainer for as long as I can remember,” says Browne over a mug of tea and a plate of sandwiches in his kitchen. Roxy and Chanelle are his two dogs, happy with scratches but with longing eyes on the platter on the table.

“Give me a winner at a small track any day to a big day at the sales, you know? Economically, it doesn’t make sense, but I just love it.”

His father Mickey was a talented jump jockey, who had learned his trade at Athassel House, which is now where trainer Paddy Twomey has built his select but quality-laden empire. From there, Mickey moved on to work for Tim Hyde, father of Camas Park supremo Timmy.

The family moved to Mocklershill from Ballagh when Willie was five. School took a back seat because he was needed to work at home.

“I would regret that now. Apart from the education, in this day and age, it’s so important to go out in the world and see how other people do stuff.”

His equine instruction was top class however, and he would go on to ride around 250 winners in total under Rules and in point-to-points, with the race that became the GPT Galway Amateur Handicap and is now the Connacht Hotel Handicap – Galway’s unofficial amateur riders’ Derby – among the highlights thanks to Troubled Sole in 1965 along with a big handicap hurdle win on Pearl Of Montreal for his father.

With Michael, also a jockey, at home as well, they were struggling to make enough for three families. It was all well and good having this passion and talent but not much use if you were struggling to keep a roof over your head.

Willie noticed Tony O’Callaghan landing a few nice touches by selling two-year-olds he had bought as yearlings. That was in 1976, and he reckoned that maybe it would be worth dipping their toe in this particular water the following year.

It was a life-changing decision; and when the first official breeze-up sales were held in 1978, the Brownes were ready. Willie has been at the sharp end of that sphere since, an amazing feat given how it has changed along with modern trends, demands and fashion. One thing that never changed, of course, was the horseman’s judgement and depth of knowledge.

It was all very satisfying, building houses, putting children through school and all the rest, but it was really just business. 

So, the opportunities that presented themselves in the past 12 months have been manna, miraculous sustenance to satisfy the inner desire. 

After registering a grand total of 18 winners as a trainer in almost 30 years up to the beginning of last season, mostly with horses that didn’t get picked up at the breeze-ups or were not up to scaling the sort of heights some of the clients he pre-trained for (such as Coolmore and the Niarchos family) operated at, Browne has added seven more in 15 months.

Spirit Gal provided two of those, including the most prestigious success of his life as a conditioner when scoring in the Listed Star Appeal Stakes; and she subsequently brought him to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last November, a couple of months after he had been there buying yearlings.

She has now been moved to France to be trained by Andre Fabre, and while he was disappointed to see her go, Browne has another project for the same owner-breeder, Charles ‘Chuck’ Fipke. A geologist and diamond prospector, Fipke has seen his colours carried to victory in 16 Gr.1 contests in America, including at the Breeders’ Cup, and is now keen to do something similar in Europe.

Stormy Entry (blue cap) prevailed at the line in a cracking finish to a recent Winter Series race at Dundalk

That said, Stormy Entry’s initial goal this spring was qualification to the Kentucky Derby. Not seen on the track until last December, the Point Of Entry colt was a promising second on the all-weather to the far more experienced Song For Whoever, who followed up with a facile triumph at odds-on subsequently.

Browne’s charge improved to win his three-year-old maiden in January under the septuagenarian’s go-to jockey Seamie Heffernan and scored again before finishing a close third at in the Listed Patton Stakes won by Killavullan Stakes winner Cairo, a Ballydoyle horse that was runner-up to Spirit Gal in the Star Appeal Stakes.

“It was all by accident really,” Browne explains. “I used to pre-train quite a bit for Chuck Fipke—a very rich Canadian man about the same cut and go as myself age-wise. I met him in Kentucky, 20 years ago; and for some reason, we palled up.

“I’d always be pre-training them to go somewhere else—first John Oxx and now Joseph O’Brien or Mark Prescott—and I was dead happy with that, being honest. I trained one or two horses for him okay, but they didn’t amount to anything.

“Out of the blue last year, at the end of January, he sent me six horses over from Florida, which was unusual at that time of the year, and said he wanted the Invincible Spirit and No Nay Never fillies to be aimed for the Doncaster Breeze-Up.”

The Invincible Spirit would turn out to be “a machine” called Spirit Gal, but after breezing like a “jet”, she developed some lameness due to sore shins and was withdrawn from the sale.

“It was a bit of a blow but I tipped along with her when she came back home, gave her a bit of a break after the breeze-up, and she was flying. I said, ‘Chuck, I’m going to keep this filly for a bit, give her a run and see what happens.’ She had a nice first run at The Curragh, was just touched off in Naas and then she won the two including the Listed race which qualified her for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Fipke wanted an American-based jockey on board, though Heffernan had won the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Secretariat Stakes on board Highland Reel in the past and played a significant role in Spirit Gal becoming more amenable to training and racing.

Ricardo Santana Jnr got the nod, but nothing went right for the pair on the day. Spirit Gal broke like a rocket from the stalls, ironically not the norm for European-trained horses, but raced far too keenly and trailed in 13th of 14.

The race aside, Browne enjoyed the occasion and feels that there is a lot that European racing can learn from their US counterparts when it comes to promoting the sport of horse racing.

“It was a great occasion. It was so much different from sitting down at home in front of the telly watching it. It was fantastic.

“The Americans know how to do it. There were busloads of them there every morning—groupies you could call them—watching the horses. You’d never see that in Europe. They were like film stars—that’s the way they were treating the horses.”

He can’t deny that he would have liked to have kept Spirit Gal, having played such a part in her development, but that’s racing and he is eager to see her take things to the next level under Fabre’s tutelage.

Now, he and Fipke are dreaming with Stormy Entry, he's qualified for both The Preakness and Belmont Stakes - the last two legs of the US Triple Crown.

“He is a good horse in his own right. He ran nicely in the Kentucky Derby qualifier at Dundalk behind a good horse [Cairo] of Aidan (O’Brien’s) that was actually beaten by Spirit Gal but I know they like [him].”

Among the half-dozen horses that arrived in January 2022 was Shirl’s Bee, who was only beaten a length in the Gp.3 UAE Derby in February, on just his second run. 

His half-sister is being put through her paces in Tipperary’s Golden Vale now and will begin her juvenile career at least under Browne’s eagle eye.

This is an extremely busy time for him, with the major breeze-up sales looming into view but he has thoroughly enjoyed proving his ability as a trainer.

“If I died 12 months ago, I’d have died wondering, ‘Would I? Or could I?’, but you know the secret of training horses? Get a few good ones. It’s simple. If you feed them and exercise them, that’s the secret. There’s an awful lot of very good people in Ireland who train horses. The problem is they are training 50-rated horses. And if you are dead lucky, you can win one race a year with a 50-rated horse. Most of the time, you’ll come home and blame the horse or yourself: ‘What am I doing wrong?’”

Spirit Gal’s progress didn’t precipitate any offers to train more racehorses. Would he accept if they came?

“I would,” comes the succinct reply, though he notes that perhaps people view a conflict between training and prepping horses for the sales.

“Maybe people would think I’m keeping the best of them for myself? I’m a straight shooter, but it’s hard to know what people think and maybe they’d think that if I got into it more.”

After all, he has always maintained a full licence. That tells you all you need to know about the kid inside him, bursting to spend his time prepping horses to run at the track with his name alongside them, even though laying the groundwork for someone else to do it leaves him far more handsomely recompensed.

Mind you, he tends to keep some sort of lid on his glee when a horse he trains wins. Unlike Michael, who could be heard in the next county roaring one home from the stands. And he would be as animated for Willie as he would for himself.

“I get a good buzz out of him having a winner, of course, yeah. Not as much as him though, he’s a complete lunatic!”

The older sibling smiles. And he has every right to. It’s been a long road from when his father got the show up and running. He has taken things another level and it must be a source of pride.

But seeing a horse trained by W P Browne being led into the winner’s enclosure? Nothing will ever top that.

Equine Nutrition - be wary of false feeding economies

Article by Louise Jones

Many horses, especially performance horses, breeding stallions, and broodmares at certain stages of production, require additional calories in the form of hard feed. Whilst in the current economic climate, with rising costs and inflation, it might be tempting to look at lower cost feeding options; in reality, this could be a false economy. When choosing a feed, in order to ensure that you are getting the best value for money and are providing your horses with the essential nutrients they require, there are a number of factors to consider.

Quality 

The ingredients included in feed are referred to as the raw materials. These are usually listed on the feed bag or label in descending order by weight. Usually they are listed by name (e.g., oats, barley wheat) but in some cases are listed by category (e.g., cereals). Each raw material will be included for a specific nutritional purpose. For example, full-fat soya is a high-quality source of protein, whilst cereals such as oats are mainly included for their energy content, also contributing towards protein, fibre and to a lesser degree, fat intake.

Waste by-products from human food processing are sometimes used in the manufacture of horse feed. Whilst it is true that they do still hold a nutritional value, in most cases they are predominantly providing fibre but contain poor levels of other essential nutrients. Two of the most commonly used by-products are oatfeed and distillers grains. Oatfeed is the fibrous husks and outer layer of the oat and it mainly provides fibre. Distillers grains are what is left over after yeast fermentation of cereal grains used to produce alcohol. The leftover grain is dried and used in the feed industry as a protein source. Distillers grains can be high in mycotoxins, which are toxic chemicals produced by fungi in certain crops, including maize. Furthermore, despite being used as a protein source, distillers grains are typically low in lysine. As one of the first limiting amino acids, lysine is a very important part of the horse’s diet; horses in work, pregnant mares and youngstock all have increased lysine requirements.

Another ingredient to look out for on the back of your bag of feed is nutritionally improved straw, often referred to as “NIS”. This is straw that has been treated with chemicals such as sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) to break down the structural fibre (lignins) and increase its digestibility. Straw is a good example of a forage which contains filler fibre; in fact, you can think of it as the horse’s equivalent of humans eating celery. Traditionally, oat straw was used to make NIS, however many manufacturers now use cheaper wheat or barley straw due to the rising cost of good quality oat straw.  Not all companies state what straw is used and instead use generic terms such as cereal straw, which again, allows them to vary the ingredients used depending on cost and availability. 

By law, feed manufacturers must declare certain nutrients on the feed bag, one of which is the percentage crude protein. This tells you how much protein the feed contains. However, not all protein is created equal; some protein is of very high quality, whilst other proteins can be so low in quality that they will limit a horse’s ability to grow, reproduce, perform or build muscle. Protein ‘quality’ is often measured by the levels of essential amino acids (e.g., lysine, methionine) it contains. In most cases feed manufacturers do not have to list the amount of these essential amino acids; but looking at the ingredient list will give you a clue as to how good the protein quality is. Good sources of high-quality protein include legumes and soybean meal, whereas by-products often contain moderate- or low-quality protein, even though they may be relatively high in crude protein. 

Understanding more about the ingredients in your bag of horse feed will help you to assess whether they are providing good, quality nutrition. Feeds containing large proportions of lower quality ingredients will obviously be cheaper, but this could compromise quality of the products. The goal therefore is to ensure that the nutritional makeup of the products remains high quality and consistent. 

Cooking for digestibility 

Digestibility is a term used to describe the amount of nutrients that are actually absorbed by a horse and are therefore available for growth, reproduction, and performance. Understanding digestibility of energy sources—such as fibre, fat, starch, and sugar as well as protein, vitamin and mineral digestibility—is important when devising optimal diets for horses. 

Most of the energy in grains is contained in the starch; however, horses cannot fully digest starch from uncooked (raw) grains in the small intestine, which results in this undigested starch traveling into the hindgut where it will ferment and potentially cause hindgut acidosis. Therefore, in order to maximise pre-caecal digestibility, feed manufacturers cook the grain. Similarly, soya beans must be carefully processed prior to feeding them to horses. This is because raw soybeans contain a specific enzyme that blocks the action of trypsin, an enzyme needed for protein absorption.

There are various methods of cooking including pelleting, micronizing, extrusion, and steam-flaking.  This is a fine art as, for example, undercooking soya beans will not deactivate the enzymes correctly, thus resulting in reduced protein absorption. On the other hand, overcooking will destroy essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, threonine, and possibly others.

Variation in cooking methods, and hence digestibility, can have a direct impact on how the finished product performs. Your individual feed manufacturer should be able to tell you more about the cooking processes they use to maximise digestibility.

Micronutrient and functional ingredients specification

The back of your bag of feed should list the inclusion of vitamins, such as vitamin E, and minerals including copper and zinc. A lower vitamin and mineral specification is one way feed companies can keep the cost of their products down. For example, the vitamin E level in one unbranded Stud Cube is just 200 iu/kg—50% lower than in a branded alternative.

For most vitamins and minerals, the levels declared on the back of the bag/label only tell the amount actually added and do not include any background levels provided by the raw materials. In other marketing materials, such as brochures, some companies will combine the added figure with the amount provided by other raw materials in order to elevate the overall figure. For example, a feed with 50 mg/kg of added copper may list the total copper as 60 mg/kg on their website or brochure.  Whilst it is perfectly acceptable to do this, it is equally important to recognise that background levels in different raw materials can vary and hence should not be relied upon to meet requirements. To complicate this slightly further, chelated minerals (e.g., cupric chelate of amino acids hydrate, a copper chelate) may be included. Chelated minerals have a higher bioavailability, and so a feed with a high inclusion of chelated copper may perform as well as one that has an even higher overall copper level but does not include any chelates.

Equally important is the need to verify that any specific functional ingredients such as prebiotics or yeast are included at levels that are likely to be efficacious. 

Feeding rates

Whilst the cost of a bag of feed is undeniably important, another aspect that should be considered is the amount of feed required to achieve the desired body condition and provide a balanced diet. Feeding higher volumes of hard feed not only presents a challenge from a gastrointestinal health point of view but also increases the cost per day of feeding an individual. For example, the daily cost of feeding 8kg of a feed costing £400/€460 per tonne vs 5¼ kg of a feed costing £600/€680 per tonne are exactly the same. Plus, the lower feeding rate of the more expensive product will be a better option in terms of the horse’s digestive health, which is linked to overall health and performance. To keep feeding costs in perspective, look at the cost of feeding a horse per day rather than relying on individual product prices.

Consistency 

When a nutritionist creates a recipe for a horse feed, they can either create a ‘set recipe’ for the feed or a ‘least cost formulation’. A set recipe is one that doesn’t change and will use exactly the same ingredients in the same quantities. The benefit of this is that you can rest assured that each bag will deliver the same nutritional profile as the next. However, the downside is that if the price of a specific ingredient increases, unfortunately, so will the cost of the product.

On the other hand, least-cost formulations use software to make short-term recipes based on the cost of available ingredients. It will use the cheapest ingredient available. When done correctly, they will provide the amount of calories (energy), crude protein, vitamins and minerals as specified on the label. However, the ingredients will change, and protein quality can be compromised. Often feed companies using least-cost formulations will print their ingredients on a label, rather than the bag itself, as the label can be amended quickly and cheaply, should they alter the recipe.

Checking the list of ingredients in your feed regularly should alert you to any formulation changes.  Equally look out for feeds that include vague ingredient listings such as ‘cereal grains and grain by-products, vegetable protein meals and vegetable oil’; these terms are often used to give the flexibility to change the ingredients depending on how costly they are.

Peace of mind

Another important issue is that some companies producing lower-cost feeds may not have invested in the resources required to carry out testing for naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS) such as theophylline, banned substances (e.g., zilpaterol - an anabolic steroid) or mycotoxins (e.g., zearalenone). It is true that, even with the most stringent testing regime, identifying potential contamination is difficult; and over recent years, a number of feed companies have had issues.  However, by choosing a feed manufacturer who is at the top of their game in terms of testing and monitoring for the presence of such substances will give you peace of mind that they are aware of the threat these substances pose, and they are taking significant precautions to prevent their presence in their products. It is important to source horse feed from a BETA NOPS registered feed manufacturer at a minimum. It may also be prudent to ask questions about the feed manufacturer’s testing regime and frequency of testing.  

Supplements – to use or not to use?

A good nutritionist will be able to assess any supplements that are fed, making note of why each is added to the diet and the key nutrients they provide. It is easy to get stuck into the trap of feeding multiple supplements that contain the same nutrients, effectively doubling up on intake. Whilst in many cases this isn’t nutritionally an issue, it is an ineffective financial spend. For example, B vitamins can be a very useful addition to the diet, but if provided in levels much higher than the horse needs, they will simply be excreted in the urine. Reviewing the supplements you are feeding with your nutritionist to ensure they are essential and eliminating nutritional double-ups is one of the simplest ways to shave off some expense.

Review and revise

A periodic review of your horse’s diet ensures that you’re providing the best nutrition in the most cost-effective way. This will require the expertise of a nutritionist. Seeking advice on online forums and social media is not recommended as this can lead to misinformed, biased advice or frankly, dangerous recommendations. On the other hand, a properly qualified and experienced nutritionist will be able to undertake a thorough diet evaluation, carefully collecting information about forages, concentrates, and supplements. 

Working with a nutritionist has many advantages; they will be able to work with you to ensure optimal nutrition, whilst also helping to limit needless expenses. Some nutritionists are better than others, so choose wisely. (Does the person in question have the level of qualifications?) Bear in mind that while qualifications can assure you that the nutritionist has rigorous science-based training, experience is also exceptionally important. Ask them about their industry experience and what other clients they work with to ensure they have the right skill set for your needs. In addition, a competent nutritionist will be willing and able to interact with your vet where and when required to ensure that the health, well-being, and nutrition of your horses is as good as it can be. 

There are independent nutritionists available, but you will likely incur a charge—often quite a significant one. On the other hand, the majority of feed companies employ qualified, experienced nutritionists and offer their advice, free of charge.

Treating 'bucked shins' in the thoroughbred racehorse

Article by Adam Jackson MRCVS 

One of the most common causes of lost days to training and racing in racehorses is dorsal metacarpal disease (DMD), which is often referred to as “bucked shins” or “sore shins”.  

Often a frustration to trainers and owners, this problem rears its ugly head at the time of highest expectations, such as arising the last day of work before a horse’s first race; right after a horse’s first victory; or after a horse was purchased at a two-year old sale.

This disease presents with heat, pain with or without inflammation (swelling) on the dorsal (front) surface or the dorsomedial (front inside) surface of the third metacarpal bone (cannon) referred to as acute periostitis. With rest and reduced exercise, the condition can improve, but catastrophic fractures of the cannon may occur at the site of previous DMD episodes.  A good understanding of this disease and strategies of prevention are vital in order to improve the welfare of the horse and reduce the potential expenses to all shareholders.  

Introduction

The cannon bone is an important structure in the weight-bearing and absorbing shock. As the horse moves, the bone bends a little and then returns to its original shape like an elastic band, often referred to as elastic deformation.  In addition, it has been observed that horses that work slowly have tension on the front of the cannon bone; in other words, the bone is stressed by a stretching force rather than a compressing force. However, at higher speeds, these forces change from stretching to compressing forces.

Repeated bending forces (stress cycle) on the cannon bone causes dorsal metatarsal disease. When the horse is young, it has a thin bone cortex. As the horse grows and is repeatedly subjected to these forces, the bones remodel and the cortex thickens, making it stronger. However, if the bending forces exceed the bone’s ability to remodel, then this leads to stress fatigue and bone damage.

The occurrence of bucked shins is most common when horses are developing, typically two–three years old as training becomes more intensive. But it must be noted that if the horse is not bone fit, any aged racehorse is susceptible to these diseases when they begin training. Roughly at the age of five years old when a horse is fit, they are at a low risk of this disease. Within the first six months of training, DMD may present in one or both front limbs. If the condition does occur in both front limbs and the horse is being trained on a circular track, then it is likely the inside leg is where it will occur first.  In other words, if the training tends to be in a counterclockwise training circuit, then there are greater forces on the left limb than the right; thus the left is more likely to develop the disease before the right limb.

Risk Factors of DMD

Age: DMD occurs most commonly in 2–3 year olds, often within their first 6 months of training. It is rarely seen in horses with a mature skeleton (age 4 and over). However, this disease has been seen in 5 year olds especially if they have been stalled for a long amount of time after weaning and not racing until that age.

Gender: It is believed that the gender of the horse does not alter its risk to DMD.

Breed: Most common in thoroughbreds but may be seen in both standardbreds and quarter horses. 

Genetics: The risk of DMD is influenced by genetics as variation in limb bone geometry (inherited) behaves differently to force/strains on the bone. In addition, the longer the cannon bone, the greater the load is at flexion of the dorsal cortex of the bone, making it more susceptible to DMD.

Training and racing surfaces: The different types of training and racing surface alter the risk to DMD because there are variations in the force applied to limbs as well as the acceleration rates of hoof impact.  Furthermore, the impact of these forces is increased with greater speed.  Dirt tracks tend to be the hardest surface, whereas synthetic tracks reduce hoof and limb impact and loading force.  However, it is important to remember that the hardness of all of these surfaces can be altered by a number of other factors such as:

1. Different surface materials

2. Changes in weather, temperature and humidity

3. Surface maintenance (i.e., soaking, harrowing)

4. Changes in horse body weight

5. Age of surface – wear and tear of surface

6. Human opinion of track’s condition

Training: The length of time for bones to respond to different training practices is unknown. Although further research is required, it is suggested that fast work should be avoided in the early stages of training as it is thought that high-speed exercise introduced too quickly (within 1 month) was detrimental to bone health.

Direction of training: Track direction varies globally. Thoroughbreds tend to lead with the inside forelimb around turns then switch to the outer forelimb on the straight. It has been suggested that due to greater forces on the leading limb on the turn, that limb is more at risk of bucked shins. However, more research is required to make accurate conclusions.

Speed: Current research is contradictory. Some research indicates a reduction in the risk of DMD if the horse is trained at high speeds with every extra mile worked and canter work increases the risk. However, other research suggests that short periods of work (< 1 month) at high speed increases the risk of DMD.

Camber:  European tracks, with turf being the prevalent surface, tend to vary in their design, often including slopes, twists, turns, uphill sections, and cambers. In addition, races may be run straight, clockwise or counterclockwise. This is in contrast to the USA where the tracks are usually flat. Although it is known that this variation in track characteristics alters the horse’s gait, thus altering forces on the forelimbs, further research is needed to understand if these variations increase the risk of DMD.

How does DMD develop?

Buck shin is the formation of tiny stress fractures on the front or inside of the cannon bone of the horse’s front legs. DMD occurs when the stress on the legs with high-speed training exceeds the bone’s ability to adapt to those stresses. 

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is constantly adapting its structure. Once the bone is formed in immature animals, the bone grows and changes shape by a process called modelling. Bone remodelling is different from modelling in that its function is to renew the skeleton and involves both bone resorption and formation to occur at the same location in a sequential manner.   

With high-speed training, there is high-strain fatigue, which causes excessive compression of the bone. During this compression, there is insufficient amount of bone remodelling at the point of stress. At this site, this new bone is much weaker; thus, it is susceptible to inflammation and pain and may lead to fractures.

Treatment of dorsal metacarpal disease

Treatment of DMD is designed to alleviate pain and inflammation while allowing the remodelling process of the bone to catch up with the damage that has been caused from stress cycling.

The core of the treatment is rest and providing pain relief, followed by a slow and gradual increase in exercise levels. 

Fractures of the bone cortex can be treated with surgery using lag screw fixation and osteostixis. Osteostixis is the drilling of many holes around the site of fracture in order to promote bone healing. Lag screw fixation is the drilling of a screw across the fracture line to compress and stabilise the bone. However, fracture recurrence is common with both techniques and requires 5–6 months out of training.

There are additional treatments that may be used to complement core treatments. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is commonly used for treatment and involves a highly concentrated, powerful acoustic (sound) energy source being applied to the site of injury. The rationale is that ESWT increases blood flow, increases growth of new blood vessels and increases the production of natural healing factors in the treated area. The research findings are limited on its effectiveness but anecdotally amongst the veterinary profession, it seems to work on bucked shins and stress fractures. 

In Europe, horses must not have had shock wave therapy on the day of racing, or on any of the five days before the race day in which the horse is declared to run. In North America, horses are not permitted to race or breeze for 30 days following treatment as per the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) rulings. 

With all treatment options, there must be a careful and considered discussion with the veterinarian and all stakeholders on the desired outcome while bearing in mind the important factor of the horse’s welfare and wellbeing.

What about bisphosphonates?

Some clinicians are using a combination of shockwave and bisphosphonates (Tildren TM, OsPhos, TM) to treat DMD. Bisphosphonates were first seen in human medicine and used for osteoporosis. Bones are constantly remodelling in a process that removes old bone cells and deposits new ones. Bisphosphonates help prevent bones from losing calcium and other minerals by slowing or stopping that natural process that dissolves bone tissue, thus, helping bones remain strong and intact. Veterinary surgeons report mixed results with these therapies, and long-term use of bisphosphonates is expensive and has serious consequences. Bisphosphonates are toxic to the gastrointestinal and renal systems, thus, potentially causing colic and kidney disease. Their safety has not been evaluated for the use in horses younger than four years old nor in pregnant and lactating mares.

RULES ARE CHANGING - Bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates are not to be administered to a racehorse under the age of three years and six months as determined by its recorded date of birth, on the day of the race or on any of the 30 days before the day of the race in which the horse is declared to run as per The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities rulings for Europe. 

In America, HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program came into effect on March 27 and with it, new regulations regarding the presence and use of bisphosphonates.

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) states “The ADMC Program regulations categorise bisphosphonates as a Banned Substance, meaning that they are prohibited from being administered to, or present in, covered horses at any time. Covered horses that test positive for bisphosphonates under the ADMC Program are subject to lifetime ineligibility, and associated covered persons may incur an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.”

“HIWU will not pursue disciplinary action against Covered Horses or their associated covered person(s) for the presence of bisphosphonates if the covered person(s) can provide documentation (e.g. medical records or a positive test result) to HIWU of the administration or presence of bisphosphonates prior to the implementation date of the ADMC Program.” 

Training regimens

With DMD, it must be remembered that it is an appropriate response for new bone formation when the cannon endures cyclic stress and injury. This injury cannot be ignored but addressed to reduce the risk of serious consequences.  Exercise is the root of the problem; therefore, the solution is to alter the patterns of exercise.   

Dr David Nunamaker DVM of the University of Pennsylvania has developed a training programme, which is believed to reduce the risk of DMD. The rationale when developing this modified training programme is that horses are not born with the right bone structure for racing. The bones are to develop and adapt to racing. By providing training programmes that mimic racing, the bones can adapt to the forces that are applied during racing, thus reducing the risk of developing bucked shins.

When initiating this training regimen, it is assumed that young horses are broken to ride in autumn and able to gallop a mile by January so that training can start. 

Stage 1 (5 week duration) – Horses finish the gallops two times a week with the last 1/8th of the mile (last 200 metres of 1600 metres) completed in an open gallop in 15 seconds.

Stage 2 (5 week duration) – Twice a week open gallops for ¼ of a mile (400 metres of 1600 metres) in 30 seconds, including a 1 mile (1600 metres) gallop.

Stage 3 (7 week duration) – The addition of speed work once per week.  Breezing (moderate speed) for ¼ mile (400 metres) and daily gallops lengthened to 1 ¼ miles twice per week for 4 weeks. The following 3 weeks, the ¼ mile breeze is continued with a strong gallop out for another furlong (roughly 40 seconds total for a breeze).

Conclusion

The findings of exercise research are often varied and contradictory due to many research variables making comparisons and conclusions difficult. In addition, most of the research of musculoskeletal issues in racehorses uses racing data, but most injuries occur during training

Because more research is needed, there remain conflicting views of the effects of racing on horses before skeletal maturity and the most effective and safe way to introduce speed exercise. At present, the data suggests that distance and speed be implemented gradually and should include high-speed work at full racing speed.

The racing industry must continue to work cooperatively to address the welfare concerns associated with horses experiencing DMD.

How racing is making strides into ‘Big Data’

Article by Alysen Miller

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you may have noticed many male footballers wearing what appears to be a sports bra during training and matches. This is not a political statement, a show of solidarity with their female counterparts, perhaps; nor is it the latest fashion craze. Rather the bras are, in reality, GPS tracker vests. Containing a small Global Positioning System gadget, they allow team managers and trainers to collect and analyse players’ individualised GPS data in order to make informed decisions about tactics and training.

Like all big-money sports, the top football clubs now employ legions of data nerds to crunch the numbers on all aspects of their players’ performances. Premier League football club, Arsenal, uses the STATSports system to gather physical data on all their players, from the under-12s to the men’s and women’s first teams. Marketed as “the most advanced wearable tech on the market” (that’s the famous bra), it records some 250 separate metrics, including accelerations and decelerations, average heart rate, calories burned, distance per minute, high-speed running, high-intensity distance, max speed, sprints and strain. The statistics are available live during training sessions so coaches can make real-time adjustments where necessary. 

And it goes beyond wearable tech. Players at last year’s World Cup in Qatar were able to get insights into their on-field performance through FIFA’s own player app. Physical performance metrics were collected through a highly accurate in-stadium tracking system, including multiple cameras located around the pitch. These included distance covered at various speed thresholds, number of actions above 25 miles per hour (about 40 kilometres per hour), and maximum speed – all displayed on positional heat maps. Thanks to this data, we know that Kylian Mbappé hit a top speed of 35.3 kilometres per hour (about 22 miles per hour) against Poland in the round of 16. Impressive for a two-legged athlete, even if he won’t be giving the likes of Flightline or Baaeed a run for their money.

Football is following in the footsteps of baseball and American football by embracing “Big Data”. Not only does this enhance teams’ abilities to play and train, it adds another dimension to the spectator experience. Who doesn’t want to know how far their favourite player ran? Horse racing, by contrast, still relies on a mathematical speed model, Timeform, developed in the 1950s.

“When you look at other professional sports, racing’s a fair way behind in terms of how we measure the athlete,” says David Hawke. “Basically, we don’t measure the athlete in a biometric sense at all, whereas most other professional sports measure their athletes in competition, when the athletes are at their highest output and highest exertion. And this is the crucial point.” Hawke is hoping to change all that. He is the managing director of StrideMaster, a system that combines GPS and motion capture technologies to produce detailed insights into the horse’s performance. 

“When we developed the technology, back in 2010, it was essentially technology for race day: tracking horses, getting all their times—all the normal race track performance information that punters might want to see,” he explains. In the course of gathering this information, Hawke accumulated a treasure trove of biometric data. In 2018, he joined up with Dr David Lambert. Kentucky-based Dr Lambert is an expert on equine physiology and the founder of a company called Equine Analysis Systems, which leverages this understanding of how the horse moves to select elite, high-performance thoroughbreds. 

He is looking for the top one percent, the cream of the crop. Hawke’s idea was to take this hypothesis and turn it on its head; in other words, to find the one percent “who were in trouble.” In this way, by identifying the horses that are trying to cope with a problem, vets and trainers would have a crucial data point which could be used to help prevent injuries before they happen.

So how does it work? Here comes the science part. Essentially, every horse has a unique stride “fingerprint.” Thanks to Hawke’s data, we not only know what that fingerprint looks like, but also when the horse deviates substantially from that fingerprint.

 The first step is to collect high-resolution data of the horse at the gallop. This is because, as prey animals, horses are disinclined to show lameness at the walk or trot (the traditional way of assessing a horse’s soundness). “The forces that are at play when a horse is going at 40 miles per hour compared to when it’s being trotted up at five miles per hour are completely different,” says Hawke. “The price that the horse pays for going fast is that it gives up autonomy over a number of things,” he continues. “It gives up autonomy over its breathing, for example. It becomes a mechanical breather. It also gives up autonomy over its footfall. If it’s got a raging foot abscess at the walk or the trot, it will decide not to put its foot down. But at the gallop, it can’t do that. It has no choice over when it puts each foot down. So the only option it’s got left to manage an issue that’s impacting it is postural change: it’s going to hold itself differently; it’s going to use different muscles to try and take the pressure off.” 

To capture these changes, samples are taken from three axes: the vertical, the longitudinal and the medial. This data is captured by a device about the size of an iPhone that’s slipped into the saddle cloth. These samples are then broken down further: “We split the stride up into three parts,” Hawke explains. “We have the hind leg stance phase, which is the primary propulsion and power source for the horse. Hind leg spring function is absolutely critical to a good stride, so if anything’s wrong at the back end, that immediately gets transferred to the front end on the corresponding diagonal. Then we have the forelimb stance phase. And then we have the flight phase, or the collection phase, when the horse is off the ground. The flight phase is where the horse is making most of its postural adjustments in the air. So if it’s got a problem it’s managing, it’s trying desperately to accommodate that problem during the stride. And then when it goes into the air, it’s trying desperately to get itself ready for the next stride to do it all over again.”

The system is capable of detecting minute variations in the horse’s stride that are effectively invisible to the human eye. “From an observational point of view, humans can’t detect these sorts of changes that we’re picking up. It’s simply happening too fast,” he says. The sample rate in StrideMaster’s sensors is 800 hertz, or 800 frames per second. The human eye, by contrast, cannot directly perceive more than about 60 frames per second. “That enables us to look at the stride in a very high level of detail,” he says. 

Hawke has accumulated so much data that it’s no longer necessary to have historic data on an individual horse in order to make a judgement about its soundness. Rather, there exists an “ideal” fingerprint for different categories of horse: “We have a Gp.1 fingerprint, we have a Gp.2 fingerprint, right down to a $10,000 claimer fingerprint, to use the American parlance,” he explains. In other words, soundness can be assessed against an ideal archetype. If a horse is more than two standard deviations outside of this ideal, that is considered an adverse change that the system then flags for the attention of the trainer.

So how is this “deviation” measured? “We’re tracking two or three things that are important: we’re tracking the amount of power they produce, and we’re tracking the amount of vibration they produce,” Hawke explains. Vibration is, essentially, any rapid change in acceleration. That is what is most likely to cause injury. Think of the horse as a four-cylinder engine, with the legs as the pistons. Each piston—or leg—moves in a set rhythm. As long as this rhythm is maintained, vibration will be kept to a minimum. But changes in rhythm (for example, because the horse is managing a problem) generate vibration which, in turn, generates damage. The sounder the horse, in other words, the less vibration. But with great power comes the potential to generate huge amounts of vibration. This explains why most of the horses that get flagged are competitive horses in whatever cohort they’re in. “They’re not horses that are running 20 lengths down the track,” says Hawke. “Generally, those horses are not producing enough power or vibration to get themselves into trouble. [The good horses] will always find a way to go fast,” he says.

While Hawke sees the technology primarily as an injury prevention tool, he acknowledges that its potential is broader than that: “From a social licence point of view, that’s where the pressure is: to manage these injury rates and welfare outcomes better than we have been. So that’s the primary focus,” he says. But the same technology could, in theory, be used to identify future elite performers: 

“When you compare, say, a Gp.1 horse to a low-rating handicapper, what we see is increased deviation from optimum,” he explains. “To take a metric at random: gravity. The acceleration of an object toward the ground caused by gravity alone, near the surface of Earth, is called ‘normal gravity,’ or 1g. This acceleration is equal to 32.2 ft/sec2 (9.8 m/sec2). If you drop an apple on Earth, it falls at 1g”. 

“The Gp.1 horse will be much closer to that 1g than the lower rating handicapper,” he explains. “[The lower-rated horse] is not as efficient. They’re losing power in all directions. They’re going up and down more, they’re going side to side more. Whereas the elite horse actually generates surprisingly less power, but it’s all pointing down the road in the right direction.”

Hawke is keen to emphasise that he is not marketing a diagnostic tool. Rather, trainers should see this technology as another tool in their toolkit: “When the trainer gets the information, either they come and seek more information or talk to their vets about what’s going on. The vet can review the stride on a stride-by-stride basis. And when we get down to that level of detail, we can actually, on most occasions, give some indication of what quadrant the problem is emanating from.”
But what if you could identify such problems without even galloping the horse? 

Stephen O’Dwyer thinks he has a solution. O’Dwyer is the founder of Irish start-up TrojanTrack, which uses video cameras to record the horse at the walk and, from there, identify any variations in its movement. “We take video data of 52 different parts of the horse at 120 frames per second,” he explains. “We then convert those parts into biomechanical data: joint velocities, accelerations, angles. And then we can compare that to the horse’s healthy baseline movement to track any deteriorations or imbalances that might be creeping in.” But wait. Horses are prey animals. Won’t they naturally try to mask any injuries at the walk? “Horses are herd animals, so rather than show any sign of injury, they try to hide it as much as possible, and that means compensating on a different limb or something like that,” O’Dwyer acknowledges. “But because we’re tracking 52 points, we’re able to pick up any tiny deviations, tiny nuances that won’t be picked up by the human eye. 

“In talking to a few of the vets, they say that when the horse is in its walk, it’s at its most comfortable,” he continues. “And because they’re in their most comfortable state, they won’t be trying to hide their injury as much.” O’Dwyer plans to incorporate trot movements in the future.

Like Hawke, O’Dwyer sees his technology primarily as another arrow in the trainer’s quiver, rather than a diagnostic tool. “It’s hard for the trainer to pick up on the whole horse at once,” he explains. “They might be staring at one limb while the hip isn’t moving, and they’d have to walk by again and check the hip, and then they’re not looking at another limb. We look at all four limbs landing, the hip movement as one of the limbs is landing. So it’s the whole package of the horse in one to really show the trainer exactly what is going on.”

O’Dwyer acknowledges that the technology is still in its nascency. He is currently running customer trials a couple of yards in Ireland while he tries to drum up the next round of investment. StrideMaster, meanwhile, has been adopted by racing authorities in the United States and in Hawke’s native Australia. But any technologies that can help spot potentially catastrophic injuries before a horse hits the track must be taken extremely seriously by an industry that can, at times, feel like it is operating on the razor’s edge of public acceptability. As Hawke says, “The first priority is welfare because we have to look after the animal. If we’re not seen to be looking after the animal, the whole game’s in trouble.”

It seems like it is only a matter of time before racing joins the ranks of other sports in embracing Big Data. Says Hawke: “If I walked into a major football club and said, ‘Who here’s got expertise in biometric sensor analysis,' half the football department would put their hand up because they’ve been doing it for 20 years. But the information can be used in so many different ways in terms of performance, breeding and training techniques. We’re just scratching the surface.”

Have horse will travel - incentives to race in 2023

Article by Lissa Oliver

Fitness is one thing, but placing horses in suitable races to provide the best opportunity for them is quite possibly the trickiest part of a trainer’s role. It can be hard enough to search our own racing calendar for suitable races, and yet, delving further into international calendars could well pay dividends, if not in prize money then in adding valuable black type. Despite problems with travel, the racing world grows ever smaller, and it can certainly pay to shop around and look further afield. Many racecourses will offer travel incentives to encourage international participation, and the VIP experience for visiting owners will provide a lasting memory. 

France

Close to home and a regular destination for most European trainers, prize money in France rose to €278 million last year, up on 2021 by €30 million (+12%) and on 2019 by €20 million (7.75%). The 2023 France Galop budget includes a €10 million increase in prize money, with an objective to stimulate the number of young horses in training in France. 

As a result, 19 races at Parisian racecourses will see their total prize money raised to €50,000, paid out to the first seven finishers. The winner will earn €25,000, increased by 80% for two-year-olds if the winner is eligible for the owner's premium. The total sum of earnings to the winner could be €45,000. The selected 19 races take place throughout the year and include various distances. France Galop describes them as the most sought-after and competitive events for unraced horses in the French programme, with a consistent track record of producing a number of Group horses.

In the French provinces, two races for unraced horses have been selected to be included in this scheme. They are the Prix du Four à Chaux and the Prix Didier Vezia, which will be run in September at Bordeaux. Each race will offer a total prize money of €35,000; and the winner will earn €31,500 if eligible for the owner's premium. 

The increase in prize money has also been spread throughout maiden races, and races for unraced horses, across all of France. 

The new Arqana Series is also of interest to those racing in France - the sales company offering a series of races worth €1.2m (£1.06m), open only to the yearlings and foals offered at Arqana Sales in 2022 and the two-year-olds offered at the forthcoming Arqana May Breeze Up. The Arqana Series will consist of five races, for two-year-olds and three-year-olds (the latter run in 2024) on a Thursday evening during the prestigious Deauville meeting and on the Saturday of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend. Each race of the Arqana Series will reward both owners and vendors.

The juvenile races at Deauville will be run over 1400m (7f) for unraced horses and 1200m (6f) conditions, with a 2000m (10f) race in 2024 for three-year-olds. At ParisLongchamp, the two-year-old race will be a conditions race over 1600m (8f).

Of course, all races in France already carry a lucrative system of owners’ premiums on top of prize money. Two-year-olds and three-year-olds win an additional 80%, four and five-year-olds win an additional 55%, and six-year-olds and up receive an additional 45%. An additional 35% is paid to winners of Gp.1 races, whatever their age.

Germany

Deutsches Derby

Germany is still not yet back to the level of pre-Covid 2019, but significantly more prize money and bonuses were paid out in 2022 than in 2021 [€12.39m (£10.95m)], which will rise to €13m (£11.47m) in 2023. An increase of €2.15m (£1.90m) was recorded in prize money, and the average race value is higher than in previous years at €12,039/£10,651. The Deutsches Derby 2023 will be worth €650,000/£574,967, the Preis der Diana €500,000/£442,290, and the Grosser Preis von Baden worth €400,000/£ 353,985.

At smaller German tracks, the Harzburg meeting, 22–30 July, has significantly increased prize money for 2023, and the showcase handicaps carry €17,500/£15,475. The highlight of the meeting is the BBAG Auction Race worth €37,000/£32,683. "We want to support basic racing in particular," explains Racing Club President Stephan Ahrens, "because the costs of keeping horses have risen enormously. That is why we have increased the race values by up to 25%.” 

Scandinavia

Further afield for some, the full potential of Scandinavia has yet to be tapped, particularly the prize money on offer at Bro Park in Sweden. Bro Park covers 500 acres and has permanent stabling and training facilities, able to accommodate a further 100 horses on race days. The facilities provide the best possible environment for horses and those working with them. It is just over 30 minutes from the centre of Stockholm by car and a similar distance from Arlanda Airport.

Bro Park

Foreign raiders might be tempted by Sweden’s major race, the 2400m (12f) Gr3 Stockholm Cup for three-year-olds and up, at Bro Park on Sunday, 17 September—worth €125,825/£111,103. Earlier, on 11 June at Bro Park is the Gp.3 Stockholm Stora Pris, 1750m (8 1/2f) for three-year-olds and up— worth €89,882/£79,357. The Stockholm Cup card includes Sweden's most important two-year-old race, the 1400m (7f) Appel Au Maitre Svealandlöpning—worth €23,108/£20,424—and won by British trainer Archie Watson last year, who completed a double on the day.

On dirt, for three-year-olds and up, Jägersro hosts the 1750m (8 1/2f) Listed Pramms Memorial—worth €89,882/£79,357—21 May; the 2400m (12f) Svensk Derby—worth €223,869/£197,629,—16 July; and the €71,925/£63,509 Zawawi Cup over 1200m (6f), 16 July. Both Bro Park and Jägersro offer plenty of other opportunities at distances of 1200m (6f) up to 2400m (12f) with values ranging from €26,971/£23,809 up to €59,339/£52,386. 

In Norway, the 2400m (12f) Norsk Derby at Ovrevoll 20 August has a total value of €108,662/£96,067; and the 2400m (12f) Gp.3 Oslo Cup 15 June is worth €23,721/£20,973 to the winner. On 21 August, the Gp.3 Marit Sveaas Minnelop is run at Ovrevoll over 1800m (9f), carrying a first prize of €66,406/£58,724.

Let’s not forget Denmark, where the Gp.3 Scandinavian Open Championship for three-year-olds and up, over 2400m (12f) at Klampenborg on 27 May, is worth €57,545/£50,903, and a first prize of €31,967/£28,280. 

Spain

While there may not be high levels of prize money to chase on a regular basis in Spain, it is worth noting the major prizes in the Spanish calendar. The Listed Gran Premio de Madrid over 2500m (12 1/2f) at the end of June, for three-year-olds and up, is the major summer highlight, worth €68,000/£60,068 (€40,000/£35,330 to the winner; €16,000/£14,132 to the second; €8,000/£7,065 to the third; and €4,000/£3,532 to the fourth). 

In 2023, it will be run on Saturday, 24 June and is supported on the card by the Premio Baldoria for three-year-olds and older fillies and mares: over 1600m (8f), worth €15,000/£13,247 to the winner; €6,000/£5,299 to the second; €3,000/£2,649 to the third; and €1,500/£1,324 to the fourth.

August at San Sebastián sees the 1500m (7 1/2f) Premio Santander Cup (Criterium International) for two-year-olds, with prize money of €40,800/£36,018. The €59,500/£52,532 Gran Premio Copa De Oro De San Sebastián, over 2400m for three-year-olds and up, is the meeting highlight, worth €35,000/£30,900 to the winner; in addition to an impressive gold cup, €14,000/£12,360 goes to the second, €7,000/£6,180 to the third and €3,500/£3,090 to the fourth. On the supporting card is the Gran Premio Turismo Gobierno Vasco, 1600m (8f) for three-year-olds and up with a total prize of €40,800/£36,018. 

On Sunday, 15 October, the highlight of the Spanish season will be Champions Day, with a card that includes the Gran Premio Memorial Duque de Toledo over 2400m (12f) for three-year-olds and up, with a value of €68,000/£60,068 (€40,000/£35,330 to the winner, €16,000/£14,132 to the second, €8,000/£7,065 to the third and €4,000/£3,532 to the fourth). Also run on the day is the Gran Premio Ruban over 1200m (6f) worth €40,800/£36,018, with the winner taking home €24,000/£21,191, down to €2,400/£2,119 for fourth. A strong supporting card boasts lucrative added premiums of €5,000 for Spanish-breds.

Belgium

There are also opportunities for an average rated horse closer to home for some, in Belgium. As in Spain, the prize money might not be eye-catching, but neither is the competitiveness in comparison to similar races at home. The showpiece is the Prix Prince Rose, a National Listed Race over 2100m (10 1/2f) run at Ostend on Monday, 7 August with total prize money of €12,800/£11,304, with €8,000/£7,065 to the winner. The Prix Prince Rose is open to three-year-olds and older who have never been placed in the first five of a Pattern race. 
Ostend also hosts three interesting conditions races in July and August: the Miler Cup, 1600m (8f); the Prijs Half Oogst and BFG Galop, 1800m (9f); and the Prijs BFG and Nymphenburger, 2200m (11f)—each with a total prize money of €8,000/£7,065, with €5,000/£4,416 for the winner. They are for four-year-olds and older without a handicap value or a value equal or lower than 30kg (66 lbs). Penalties for prize money received for wins and places since 1 July 2023 are 1kg per €1,000. There is also the UAE Sprint Cup Handicap over 1000m (5f) in August for four-year-olds and older with a handicap value equal or lower than 30kg (66 lbs). See the complete list of races and conditions here: www.bgalopf.be/Meetings.htm

Britain

In Britain, the BHA, Darley and Juddmonte have come together to sponsor a high-value developmental races series of 60 races, also supported in funding by host racecourses, offering increased prize money to horses at the start of their career. As with the French developmental programme, the hope is that they will be retained to race in Britain going forward. The BHA hopes to expand on the idea of increasing the values of Flat maidens and novice races in 2024 and long-term. 

There will be 20 two-year-old restricted maiden and novice races worth €33,975/£30,000, supported by Juddmonte; 21 two-year-old open maiden and novice races worth €33,975/£30,000, supported by the BHA Development Fund; and 22 three-year-old and up open maiden and novice races worth €33,975–€56,626 (£30,000–£50,000), supported by Darley and the BHA Development Fund. The €56,626/£50,000 races will be run over longer distances to support middle-distance and staying horses.

Elsewhere in Britain, Newbury, having been infamously boycotted by trainers for one of its flat races last year, will see a 16% prize money increase this year, taking overall levels at the track to just over €6.79m/£6m. Newbury will host six novice and maiden races during the Flat season with prize money of €33,975 up to €56,626 (£30,000–£50,000).

The Racing League also returns for 2023, in which seven teams compete in 42 races over six meetings for over €2.2m/£2m prize money. The meetings for 2023 are Yarmouth 27 July, Chepstow 10 August, Windsor 17 August, Newcastle 31 August, Wolverhampton 7 September and Southwell 13 September. All races are handicaps with a range of ratings bands and distances, with normal BHA distribution for race prize money.

As with Arqana, British racing is boosted by the sponsorship of sales company Tattersalls, targeting yearlings purchased at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, who will be eligible for the 1200m (6f) €112,826/£100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes run at Newmarket 26 August, as well as the 1200m (6f) €169,242/£150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes, Newmarket 5 October.

Charlie Appleby-trained Regal Honour broke his maiden in the 2022 Stephen Rowley Remembered Novice Stakes at Newmarket to collect the 312th £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus.

The Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes, 1200m (6f) on 24 August at York carries a guaranteed minimum value of €394,092/£350,000, for two-years-olds sold at the 2022 Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale.

Tattersalls also offer the €22,684/£20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus Scheme for 2023. Participating owners will receive a €22,684/£20,000 bonus if their 2022 October Book 1 purchase wins a Class 2, 3 or 4 two-year-old maiden or novice race in Britain between 1 April and 11 November 2023, or any 'Open' two-year-old maiden run in Ireland between 25 March and 5 November 2023. The cost to enter the €22,684/£20,000 Tattersalls October ‘Book 1 Bonus’ Scheme is €1,928/£1,700, and there are over 300 qualifying British and Irish two-year-old maiden and novice races. All yearlings sold, bought in or failing to meet their reserve at Book 1 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale are eligible.

Ireland 

Tattersalls are also major sponsors in Ireland, with the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes of €300,000/£265,889, worth €150,000/£132,942 to the winner and prize money of at least €5,000/£4,431 down to 10th. Over 1200m (6f) at the Curragh, it is of course limited to those yearlings sold at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and the Tattersalls Ireland Sapphire Sale in November 2022.

Tattersalls also continues to support the first two Irish Classics and Gp.1 Tattersalls Gold, as well as enhanced owners’ and trainers’ facilities at the Curragh. The Irish 1000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas will each have prize money of €500,000/£443,081, while the Tattersalls Gold Cup will increase in value to €450,000/£398,754.

Goffs also continue to be major sponsors in Ireland, supporting premier National Hunt and Flat races. The Goffs Sportsman Challenge Day at Naas, 14 September 2023, will be a mid-week all juvenile card featuring the 1200m (6f) €100,000/£88,653 Goffs Sportsman’s Challenge, a two-year-old race exclusive to yearlings purchased at the Goffs Sportsman’s Sale. Prize money also goes to the first 10 finishers.

Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the 1400m (7f) Goffs Million, run at the Curragh 23 September 2023, is for graduates of the Goffs Orby Sale (2022)  and is worth €500,000/£443,081 to the winner, down to €10,000/£8,869 for 10th.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) saw a number of restorations to prize money levels last year and an increase in funding for the IRE Incentive Scheme for breeders, which grew from €1.1m (£0.97m) paid out in 2021 as vouchers to be spent on Irish-bred horses at Irish sales, to €1.3m (£1.14m) last year. It will again provide €1.3m (£1.14m) in vouchers for 2023.

HRI’s commitment to ensuring the quality of racing is also extended to grassroots level, with a targeted increase of €1.7m (£1.5m) to prize money levels, bringing 2023 to €68.6m (+2.5%) (£60.58m).

“Prize money is a key enabler in building and maintaining the number of quality horses in training in Ireland,” says Suzanne Eade, chief executive of HRI. “Approximately 70% of horses competing [in Ireland] receive some prize money, so it is important that we prioritise its growth…in order to sustain the significant rural jobs created by the industry.” 

European Breeders’ Fund

Throughout Europe, the European Breeders Fund (EBF), with national representation in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, continues to be one of the largest sponsors of races. Only the progeny of EBF registered stallions and horses nominated to the EBF can enter these races, but of course they are free to run in any EBF race throughout Europe.

The European Breeders’ Fund celebrates its 40 th year of operation in 2023 and in that time has contributed over €130m to prize money throughout Europe. The emphasis is on the two-year-old programme and fillies races, and there are valuable opportunities to be found. The EBF regularly reviews where the funds are best directed and is a vital support to both racing and bloodstock industries.

Highlights of the EBF support in 2023:

Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes €200,000 minimum at Naas, August

British EBF 2yo series £100,000 finals at Goodwood and York, September and October

Criterium FEE €130,000 Deauville, August

Italy is recovering from difficult times and this season there will be four EBF-sponsored races with an added €2,000/£1,766 to the winner if EBF qualified.

In France, the EBF (FEE) will pay out over €1m into prize money, with over €200,000 in premiums for fillies Listed Races, and over €500,000 for two and three-year-old maidens, debutants and conditions races in both Paris and the regions.

The British EBF will in 2023 invest around €2.27m (£2m) for both Flat and National Hunt and the Irish EBF current investment has increased from €2.6m (£2.25m) to €2.7m (£2.38m), making Irish Stallion Farms EBF the largest sponsor of racing in Ireland. This year all Listed Fillies races in Ireland will be sponsored by Irish EBF and will run for a minimum of €50,000/£44,000 and all other Listed races will run for a minimum of €40,000/£35,000. Highlights include the 26-race Median Sires Series, each worth a minimum €25,000/£22,000, for horses by a sire with a median fee of €75,000/£66,045 or less. The €200,000/£177,506 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes has the same conditions and is the showcase, run over 1000m (5f) at Naas 7 August. The 24-race Irish EBF Auction Series for two-year-olds worth a minimum €20,000/£17,750 each has two finals, worth €120,000/£10,5672. Horses must have been bought at auction for €72,000/£63,403 or less.

*Euros converted to sterling at XE rate 03/03/2023

Polish horse racing gets a major boost

Article by Dr. Paull Khan

Night Tornado (11) and jockey Stefano Mura on their way to winning the Wielka Warszawska 2022, a race they won for the second year running at Sluzewiec Racecourse

Warsaw’s impressive Sluzewiec Racecourse

On Sunday, October 1st, Poland’s first ever internationally recognised Listed Race will be staged. The €100,000 Wielka Warszawska, for three-year-olds and upwards, is run over 2600m/13f of the impressive, 50-metre wide, turf track at Warsaw’s Sluzewiec Racecourse.

At its meeting in Ireland in February, the European Pattern Committee (EPC) confirmed its decision to award Black Type to the race, deeming it to have met the conditions of the recently introduced ‘flagship race’ scheme. Poland is the second country (after Spain) to benefit from this scheme, introduced last year, which gives EMHF member nations (which have no internationally recognised Group or Listed races) the opportunity to apply for a single ‘flagship race.’ This race is treated slightly more leniently than other races when being assessed for Black Type. Normally, the average internationally agreed rating of the first four finishers in the most recent three runnings of the race should be 100 or over. Under this scheme, a score of 95 in any two of the three most recent renewals is the threshold.

How did the Polish race meet the standard? It was undoubtedly given a boost in 2020, when the globe-trotting Czech-trained Nagano Gold (GB) – who had recently run second in both the Gp.2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Gp.1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud – graced Poland’s premier track with his presence. Nagano Gold, then a six-year-old, prevailed by just a ½ length from a locally trained three-year-old named Night Tornado.

No one could tell at the time that Night Tornado would go on to be quite the star of the show, winning both the 2021 and 2022 editions, more recently with French- and German-trained raiders in his wake, including Nania (GER), who was fresh off a victory in a Hannover Listed Race.

Attaining Black Type is not only an honour for Polish racing but has wider implications, according to Jakub Kasprzak, racing secretary at the Polish Jockey Club and recently voted onto the nine-strong executive council of the EMHF – another example of Polish racing’s growing profile. 

Jakub Kasprzak

Kasprzak reflected on the prospect in the run-up to the EPC’s decision: “If the Wielka Warszawska receives the Black Type status, it will undoubtedly be a great distinction and appreciation of Polish racing. The race has a long tradition, and several horses have appeared in the international arena. In addition, for the entire central and eastern European region, it will be a great opportunity to popularise racing.”

But Kasprzak is keeping his feet firmly on the ground: “Of course, we know that receiving such an award is really the beginning of the hard work, to show that it was not a ‘fluke.’ Personally, I am very happy, but I approach it with caution, being aware of the new challenges it poses for us.”

The journey that Polish racing has taken to get to this point is tumultuous. It has featured the need to rebuild from scratch on no fewer than three occasions and can only be understood in the context of the history of Poland overall.

Sluzewiec opening, 1939

The first organised races were run in Warsaw in 1841, on the Mokotow Field, now a large park just south of the city centre, which houses the Polish National Library. At the time, there was no ‘Poland.’ This was in the middle of a 123-year period during which Poland did not exist—having been partitioned in the late eighteenth century between Austria, Prussia and Russia. Warsaw fell into the Russian area and, since 1815, within a semi-autonomous state entitled Congress Poland. The Russian regime curtailed economic and public activity in the region, and racing in Warsaw was, for example, completely suspended between 1861 and 1863. 

Originally a dirt track, four stands were erected along its finishing straight. In 1888, it moved to turf, at a time of fresh prosperity: pool betting had recently been introduced and was providing funds for prize money.

Sluzewiec, 1973

At this time, the horses were predominantly domestically bred, oriental horses, initially favoured by Polish breeders as they had historically provided Poland with success on the battlefield. However, the supremacy of the thoroughbred over racing distances (2km–5km) began to be recognised over time; and a thoroughbred breeding industry developed, drawing stallions and broodmares predominantly from England, France, Germany and Austria. 

The stud of Count Ludwik Krasinski was pre-eminent in the four decades leading up to the first World War. Based in Krasne, (100kms to the north of Warsaw), it ranked top across the whole Russian Empire on 14 occasions. It produced the winners of five all-Russian derbies, in Moscow, including the famed Ruler. 

Lwow Racecourse, 1943

This was an outward-looking period of international competition and success, with Polish-breds winning Classic races in Austria, Germany and Hungary. Two-year-old racing was introduced in the 1880s. (Initially, races were for four-year-olds and up only.) Trainers and riders were often brought in from abroad, and a breakthrough in riding styles occurred in 1901 when American jockey Cassius Sloan showcased the shorter-stirruped style to great effect and was soon mimicked by the domestic riders.

World War I put a stop to all this. In 1915, the racing stables were evacuated to the East. However, the racing spirit was not snuffed out and the president of the Horse Racing Society at the time, Fryderyk Jurjewicz, gathered most of the Polish stables at the track in Odessa (Ukraine) and organised races there throughout the rest of the war. Following which, in the Spring of 1919, about 250 thoroughbreds began their return home, arriving at the Warsaw track on June 28, laying the foundations for thoroughbred racing and breeding in a newly reborn independent Poland. In 1919, over 22 racing days, 193 races were run and a Western European-style racing programme, capped by traditional Classic races, was adopted.

There followed a spell of great growth and optimism. In 1924, the first volume of the Polish Stud Book was published. The following year, the Horse Racing Act was passed, establishing the Horse Racing Committee, with representation from a remarkably broad range of government departments: the Ministries of Agriculture, Military Affairs, Interior Affairs and Treasury all had seats, alongside representatives of the racecourses and breeders. 

Lwow Racecourse, 1943

Breeding stock was imported in significant numbers – over 1,000 broodmares from the disintegrated Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as from England, France, Russia and Germany. By 1930, the number of mares bred – often a useful barometer for the health and scale of the sector as a whole – had climbed back up above pre-war levels. 

Many racing societies and racetracks emerged in the 1920s at places like Lublin, Lodz and Katowice. From 1933, racing was staged over the winter at the southern town of Zakopane. These regional tracks not only played an important role in the development of the thoroughbred sector, they also enriched the society by providing focal points for social life. Sadly, for most, their time in the sun was short-lived, as Poland was hit especially hard by the Great Depression of the 1930s, leading to their closure.

Even during these straitened times, a grand project was undertaken to construct a modern track on land from the Sluzewiec farm, which had been purchased by the Society for the Encouragement of Horse Breeding. With the help of international experts and renowned landscape architects, the racecourse – which is present-day Poland’s most important track and host to the Wielka Warszawska – was opened on June 3, 1939.

The Second World War caused a complete dispersion of breeding stock. For the third time in a century, thoroughbred breeding had to be started from afresh, and this time, under the constraints of Communism. Private breeding was banned and state studs were established in the place of the liquidated private studs. Slowly, activity increased from the 45 thoroughbred mares registered in 1944. A draft of 230 thoroughbreds reclaimed from Germany provided a timely fillip. By 1950, the mares’ roster had risen to 150, and this figure grew by an average of 10 per year for the next four decades.

Then, in 1989, came the seismic political changes in which Poland played such a pivotal part and saw the overturning of communism. Several state studs were closed down, and private stud farms re-appeared in their place. Individuals could now own and lease racehorses, and racing stables began competing on the principles of the free market. Broodmare numbers shot up to 900 – returning at last to the pre-WWII levels.

The story of Polish racing is, indeed, one of immense resilience. It is a vivid example of how societies – in so many parts of the world, after conflict or disaster – hasten at the earliest opportunity to re-establish horse racing, emblematic as our sport can be of normalcy resumed.

Runners pass the stands at the Baltic Sea resort track of Sopot.

What, then, of Polish racing in the 21st century? The exploits of two horses might be highlighted: those of Galileo (POL) and Va Bank (IRE) – both of whom made waves in Western Europe: the first in the jump racing sphere, the second on the flat.

Let us consider the ‘Polish Galileo’ first. Poland’s Ministry of Agriculture continued to own stallions for some years after 1989 (an example of state involvement that was only eventually ended when, in 2004, Poland entered the EU) and one of the last such was Jape (USA), whose second crop included Galileo, who had won the Polish St Leger, had placed second in the Polish Derby and had been voted Horse of the Year. Galileo was put up for sale at the Sluzewiec Sale in Autumn 2001 and was purchased by British trainer Tom George to go hurdling. Winning on his British hurdling debut in February 2002, George went directly the following month to the Cheltenham Festival, where Galileo was famously victorious in the 27-runner Gr.1 Royal and SunAlliance (now Ballymore) Novices Hurdle.

Polish superstar Va Bank

Va Bank’s remarkable career began with a 12-race unbeaten sequence, which included the Wielka Warszawska, Polish Derby and a German Gp.3. Later, while in training in Germany, he added a further German Gp.3 and Italy’s Premio Roma (Gp.2) to his tally. He now stands as a leading sire in Poland. 

Today, Poland has three active racecourses, all turf, of which Sluzewiec is the youngest. Partynice in Wroclav, not far from the Czech and German borders, was founded in 1907 and is dual-purpose, hosting all the country’s 36 jump races. The Baltic Sea track of Sopot is the daddy of the trio, dating back to 1898.

Sixty trainers are licenced in Poland, with a quarter of these confined to training their own horses – just over half train from their own premises; the rest occupy stables at either Warsaw or Wroclav. Training fees average around €6,500pa, excluding veterinary and transport costs. The champion thoroughbred trainer last year, Adam Wyrzyk, notched up 36 wins.

Average prize money on the flat is around €4,600; over jumps, it approaches €7,000. Field sizes are knocking on the door of the ‘magic 8,’ with the flat averaging 7.9 and the jumps 7.1.

All of Poland’s jump races are open to foreign competition, including the Crystal Cup (€37,000) and Wielka Wroclawska (€43,000). On the flat, of the 278 races, the top 35, including all five Classics, and a few lower-class races, are open. Last year, 82 foreign-trained runners were attracted to race in Poland, from Slovakia, Czech Republic, France, Sweden and Germany.

Recent years have seen a growing reliance upon foreign-bred horses, which now represent the slight majority of horses-in-training. Of the 386 imports, 164 were from Ireland, 128 from France and 43 from Britain. Six years earlier, the picture was very different, when over 70% of horses-in-training were home-bred – a cause of some concern in Poland.

Tight finish in front of packed stands at Wroclaw

Despite a new television racing channel and internet betting platform, on-track betting is still the predominant channel for horse racing bets. Turnover is buoyant, but the returns to racing from betting turnover are modest. 

The Polish Jockey Club, established in 2001, sits beneath the Ministry of Agriculture. Polish racing is heavily dependent upon government support, with 90%–95% of prize money emanating from that source. It is a relationship that is not without its frustrations:

“If we need to change something, like a rule of racing,” explains Kasprzak, “we are unable to do so without specific governmental approval; and we, as just one among many organisations, often find we are waiting and waiting for this approval to come through.”

What does Kasprzak consider to be Polish racing’s prime challenges and opportunities?

“The first challenge is the support of Polish-bred horses, to rebuild our breed. At this moment, we have a few stallions with good pedigrees and race records. Their first offspring will race this year. 

2022 Polish champion thoroughbred trainer Adam Wyrzyk and daughter Joanna, who became the first woman to win the Polish Derby when winning in 2021 on Guitar Man

“Second, we need new racing rules. Third, we have problems in sourcing stewards. People don’t want to be stewards; it is a very hard and responsible job.”

“As regards opportunities, these days, there are many possibilities when it comes to spending free time, but in Poland, our three racecourses offer something special. You can meet friends, eat and drink as well as watch horses compete in the flesh. We have the chance to sell to a new audience this unique way of having a good time.”

This year, Poland is taking centre stage within European racing in another respect. It will, for the first time, host the EMHF’s General Assembly over two days in May. Immediately following this, the inaugural EuroMed Stewards’ Conference will take place at the same Warsaw venue.

And then, thoughts will turn to the Wielka Warszawska, whose shiny new Black Type status has been rewarded with a hefty boost in prize money – the winner taking home €58,000 (up from €38,000 last year). So, trainers seeking a realistic shot at Black Type (remember, statistically, the race has been easier to win than any other European Listed Race) and a nice prize money pot with a 2400m+ horse rated around the 95 mark, consider a trip to Warsaw this October.

Prep school - the role of the pre-trainer in the flat racing world

Article by Daragh Ó Conchúir

WC Equine’s Ellie Whitaker & Tegan Clark

Having had a little poke around the inner workings of pre-training in jumps racing for the last edition, it is now time to do the same in the Flat world.

In both National Hunt and Flat, owners and trainers send horses to be broken and prepped specifically to race, enabling trainers to get on with the job of attending to those in their yard that are ready to run.

Then there is the trading side. In jumps racing, that revolves around the point-to-point scene, where proving a level of ability in competition increases value. In the Flat division, the breeze-up sales are not competitive, but they illustrate athleticism, temperament, physical prowess and of course, raw speed.

While very successful, pre-trainers aren’t universally popular. As mentioned in the pre-training jumpers article, retired trainer and former CEO of the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association Michael Grassick argued that they were making an already difficult staffing situation for trainers even worse.

Last February, recently retired trainer Chris Wall asserted in a Racing Post feature that the proliferation of pre-trainers was accelerating the growth of the so-called super trainer, enabling them to stockpile horses.

But then, in the same article, Ben de Haan described the demand for pre-training as a very welcome opportunity to improve revenue streams.

Obviously, Flat racing is a more global field than jumps, so we had to be a little less parochial in sourcing our contributors; we touched base with successful operators in England, France and Ireland, namely Nicolas Martineau, Ellie Whitaker, Tegan Clark, Willie Browne and Ian McCarthy. 

Willie Browne

Browne is featured elsewhere in this publication for his training prowess, but it is his nonpareil acumen in sourcing future champions as young stock and then producing them through the breeze-ups that he can hang his hat on. It’s also a lot better way to pay the ever-escalating bills. 

Now approaching his 77th birthday, he has more than 40 years’ experience in this sector, having consigned a draft at the very first breeze-up sale in 1978. And though he has moved from the original Mocklershill location outside Fethard, Co Tipperary, to build Grangebarry Stables just over the road, he has retained the home label as a brand for excellence.
It was Browne who sold the first breeze-up graduate to win a Classic, when Speciosa galloped to victory in the 1000 Guineas in 2006, little over a year after breezing at Doncaster. Walk In The Park and Trip To Paris are others to go through his hands while Mill Reef Stakes victor Sakheer has the 2000 Guineas in his sights in the coming months.

Zoffany colt Sakheer

He has broken the million-pound barrier twice at the sales and was one of the first to explore the American market for value when buying horses to breeze—Sakheer, a most recent example having been acquired as a yearling at Keeneland for $65,000 in September 2021 and then making €550,000 at Arqana, eight months later. A year and two days after he was picked up in his native land, the Zoffany colt was a three-and-a-half-length winner of the Mill Reef.

Browne also has a lengthy list of clients who send horses his way to break and pre-train, including Coolmore, the Niarchos family and Canadian owner Chuck Fipke. He trained Spirit Gal to bag a listed prize for Fipke last season before she was moved on to continue her career with André Fabre.

“When we are at it as long as we are, and we know our gallops, it’s fairly smooth,” says Browne. “Basically, we train horses here to run fast for two and a half furlongs, maybe three furlongs. That is what they are gauging you on.

“If you are training and you get to your three-furlong pole, and when you go to the next furlong, then you know if you have a racehorse or not. Because if horses are going very fast for two and a half or three, they’ll invariably slow down. But Spirit Gal wouldn’t slow down. That’s our yardstick, if we think we have something good.

“In pre-training, you wouldn’t have to put in the miles that you’d put in with the horses that are breezing—less time on their backs, you know? I have two horses going away tomorrow—one to John Gosden and one to Ralph Beckett—and we would never have put a gun to their head. I wouldn’t want anybody to think we gun the daylights out of these breeze-up horses, but you have a better idea.

“The horses for trainers, the half-speed is as far as they’d have ever gone, unless they gave them to you until July or August. They’d usually go between March and May. The pre-training is great … it keeps the whole business ticking along.”

Le Mans is noted for horsepower of a different kind, but Nicolas Martineau and his wife Pauline Bottin have a premises just 20 minutes from the venue for the world-famous 24-hour rally that in five years, has established a reputation for producing speed on four legs, rather than wheels. 

Among their clients are the Devin family, Louisa Carberry, Tim Donworth and Alessandro Botti. Last year’s Gp. 1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Iresine was one of the earliest graduates from the Martineau school while of the younger crop, Good Guess was placed in a listed race as a two-year-old last term. Starlet du Mesnil and Enfant Roi are some of the graded jumpers he has prepped, while British and Irish followers will know the high-class Fil Dor well.

“At the stable I work with a lot of trainers,” Martineau . And with each horse, we work like the trainer works. We don’t work a horse for Francois Nicolle like we do for Gabriel Leenders. We do specific work, horse by horse.

“The big problem in France is staff, personnel for racing stables. So the trainer, when they call me, they want me to prep the horse to be ready to go racing in four or five weeks, six weeks maximum, just after they leave me. You are doing all the pre-training but up to the stage too where they are ready to go racing.”

That is clearly a dissimilar approach to what is required by most British and Irish trainers, but one aspect of it that is very similar is the staffing shortage, which Browne attributes to his numbers being down to around 50 this year. 

Back in France, Martineau even has different feed for the breeze-up two-year-olds and those in pre-training because they are not being trained for the same jobs; and his time learning about both sides of the equation has informed his methods.

“I have my experience from Ireland. I worked for Mick Murphy at Longways Stables. For me, he is the best for the breeze-ups, and I learned so much. He’s exceptional, and I took a lot from working with him.

“I worked for a long time for Jean-Claude Rouget. I worked for a year as well with my wife Pauline for Willie Mullins, and she worked as well for Joseph O’Brien. That was very good experience for pre-training.”

Indeed, the woodchip gallop is a mid-way point between what Mullins and O’Brien have at Closutton and Carriganóg respectively, so that they can cater for all types of horses.

McCarthy is a former NH jockey who had already built his breaking, pre-training and breeze-up operation, Grangecoor Farm on a greenfield site in Kildangan, Co Kildare by the time he had retired in July 2021.

The 34-year-old, who expects to have between six and eight juveniles bound for the Craven, Guineas and Goresbridge Breeze-Ups (while also breaking and pre training Flat and NH youngsters for the racetrack directly and producing jumps horses through the point-to-point sector), places a heavy emphasis on detail and that means not taking any shortcuts, even with spiralling costs.

“I spent ten years with Dessie Hughes and he was a horseman in himself,” McCarthy explains. “I was always interested in the breaking side of it with the stores during the summer, so it was always something that was in my mind from then that I might do.

“I went from there to Ted Walsh, where I learned an awful lot that stood to me when I started breaking and pre-training.

“I put it out there that I was doing it and was lucky enough to have ridden for some good owners that supported me when I was starting out and good trainers when I was freelancing that supported me as well.

“We have about 50–55 horses here, which is a number that works very well. I am so lucky, given how difficult it is for everyone to get staff in that I have five excellent full-time people here. Niall Kelly is head man, and Alan Davison, Johnny Wixted, Sean Donovan, Christine Worrell and Orla McKenna are with me as well. They are vital. We also have eight part-time workers.”

In his experience, there are varying techniques for getting to the same end game of a horse being prepared to give its best on race day. What is sure is that you cannot bring the same approach to every model. 

“You try and get to know the horse the best you can. You’ve different types of horses—horses coming from the sale and homebred horses coming from the farm. The sales horses will have a sales prep done and will have that under their belt. Horses coming in off the farm just won’t be as advanced, so they’ll take a little more TLC.

“Here, the yearlings are started off in the lunge ring and are driven for a couple of weeks. They then go on the furlong sand-and-fibre gallop. Then, just before Christmas, they’re put on the three-furlong round sand-and-fibre gallop.

“From day one they’re driven through the stalls so that they adapt to it really well. 

“I do like to get the two-year-olds away at the end of January, start of February. We use The Curragh on a regular basis for a day away. It’s an important part of it.”

Two of the best illustrations of Grangecoor’s work arrived in 2021, starting when he had Hierarchy for the Tattersalls’ Guineas Sale. The son of Mehmas breezed the second-fastest time and was sold to David Redvers for 105,000 guineas, going on in the following months to win twice and be placed twice at group level, before only being beaten a length and a quarter in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Hierarchy – Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale 2021

The same year, he was sent a Profitable filly that had been purchased privately by Liam Donovan on behalf of the Dunphy family. The pocket rocket turned out to be Quick Suzy, who would shed her maiden status at Curragh Racecourse before blitzing the opposition in the Gp. 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“You get a great thrill and satisfaction from something like that. I’d say it’s more satisfying than when riding a winner because you’re putting an awful lot more time into them, and you actually get attached to them and love to see them do well.”

Ellie Whitaker (26) and Tegan Clark (33)

Ellie Whitaker (26) and Tegan Clark (33) set up WC Equine in September 2020, as the world was in Covid lockdown. It wasn’t ideal, but with Robert Cowell looking to let out a yard at Bottisham Heath Stud in Six Mile Bottom, just outside Newmarket, they took the plunge.

What has been so vital for them, given the difficulties in finding enough good staff, is that they are both hands-on, able to muck out and ride, with 35 boxes full. Between the two of them, they broke 64 horses in a five-month period.

Having Newmarket facilities was a considerable help in getting established quickly but so was the initial support of trainers Kevin Philippart de Foy and Roger Varian. They sent yearlings to break and pre-train, while Brendan Morrin of Pier House Stud utilised their services to prep some more for the breeze-ups.

Tegan Clark

Whitaker was working for Cowell at the time, having started out with Mark Dwyer, the former Gold Cup-winning pilot who is a wizard of the breeze-up realm and indeed, has enjoyed extensive success in tandem with Browne. She also worked for Charlie Appleby and among the horses she broke in was triple Gp. 1 winner and champion two-year-old, Pinatubo.

Meanwhile, Clark had worked for Varian. That early support allowed them to showcase their talents, with James Fanshaw and Sean Woods among new clients this year.

“Last year was the first year we managed to get a good client specifically for the breeze-ups,” Clark explains further. “We also bought a few ourselves and have shares here and there, but this is the first year people have rung us and put horses with us to specifically breeze; and we want to try and build on that this year to take those relationships and partnerships into the future.”

This was on the back of two notable successes at the Guineas Sale. In 2021, Royal Aclaim won a maiden within a month of being consigned by WC Equine for Pier House. She won twice more at three and though losing her unbeaten status in the Gp.1 Nunthorpe when favourite, she ran creditably in sixth and was placed subsequently at group level.

Having Newmarket facilities was a considerable help in getting WC Equine established quickly.

Twelve months later, Village Voice was sold. Not the same type of model, she holds an entry in the Irish Oaks for Jessica Harrington, after having just two runs in October, winning her maiden and finishing third in a Gp.3.

“You’ve got to be honest and educate the horses as well as you can so that they do have a lasting career within the sport. It’s brilliant to have a mature two-year-old that’s breezed, but then that’s going to go on and probably have a lovely three-year-old, if not four-year-old career with Jessie Harrington. She already has her black type. So as long as you keep producing that sort of quality, people take notice.”

Initially, all the yearlings go through the same routine, though never together.

“The breezers go through the same process as the pre-trainers from breaking until Christmas time. We give them all a break then; but when the breezers come back in, they have to start knuckling down. You can’t expect a pre-trainer to lay up with them because we are putting the breezers under pressure a lot earlier.”

“There’s a fine line,” notes Whitaker in relation to horses being pre-trained for owners and trainers. “We’re not here to physically break horses or to see how good they are. Our job is to get them through the breaking process and get them up to a path in the training process where they can go up to town (Newmarket) and go up Warren Hill with ease—get them to a business level. 

“Every trainer is different, their standards are different and it’s about meeting their standards and what they require. At the end of the day, it’s a product we’re selling and that product needs to appeal to each individual. We’re equipping these young horses with the right tools; and if they can go into a training facility with the right sort of attitude—be calm and confident, we know we’ve done our job well then.”

In terms of the breeze-ups, with Browne owning most of those horses himself or in partnership with others, sourcing is key. He dabbles in buying foals with long-time ally Dwyer, but the majority are yearlings.

“The trouble with nice horses is they might not be racehorses. When we are looking now, we are looking for a completely different type of animal than that we used to look at 10 to 15 years ago. You’d buy a nice-looking horse, with a nice pedigree and if he breezes up with a nice action but maybe not going that quick, he’s compared against nothing else; and if they like what they see and if they like the movement and the horse’s page, and he’s good looking, you are going to get him well done.

McCarthy learned from the likes of Dessie Hughes and Ted Walsh that stood him in good stead when he started breaking and pre-training

“Now I’ve a horse out there that I gave three hundred grand for, and he’s going to the sale in France. He’s by a sexy American sire Into Mischief, he’s training very well and we hope we’ve struck gold; but If he doesn’t breeze well, no matter how well he’s bred or how nice he is, you’ll get badly hurt.”

Nice horses are pricier than ever before, so Browne will prioritise the page and walk if he must. McCarthy suggests that at his price range, “you have to be lenient towards the page... I’ll focus on the individual.”

And while the breezers are pressed far more than pre-trainers because of the more immediate job they must do, McCarthy argues that you can’t make them faster than they are.

“You’re just trying to get the nice individual with the suitable and affordable pedigree, and then to keep them sound and watch their minds, as they are only two-year-olds and still developing.” 

“We would be riding horses ten days after they came in,” Browne details his system for the breezers. “When you’ve big numbers, it is a matter of getting them done, but I wouldn’t say a word to somebody who is five or six weeks breaking a horse. There is nothing wrong with that; it’s good practice.”

Everyone agrees that good communication is crucial, be that in terms of honesty about the calibre of animal you are selling or being able to pass on as much information as possible to whoever is taking on a horse you have pre-trained.

In France, once again, it goes a little further.

“Sometimes clients will say, ‘I would like to go to this trainer with this horse’; but I might say, ‘I’m not sure, for this horse, it might be better to go to this one,’” Martineau reveals. “When you know the horses, you know what trainers might be suitable, and that gives the client confidence.”

Apart from staffing, increased costs is a huge challenge. Browne changes the wood chip on his gallop twice a year, and says it is 50 percent more expensive than before.

Martineau points out that the expenses are like those of a licenced trainer but that pre-trainers in France charge around €30–32 a day, while full trainers will get in the region of €70. Still though, he likes having a little more time and a little less pressure. The trade-off is worth it, particularly as the business has been built up now and is making money.

McCarthy offers a pragmatic tone abouts the price of everything rising. It eats into the bottom line, but it cannot lead to a reduction in the calibre of his service, given how appreciative he is of the loyalty shown to him by his various clients.
“The big thing for me is attention to detail,” McCarthy emphasises. “That is of the utmost importance through the entire process, and that starts with feed and every step of the way after that.

“Everything is more expensive now, but I look at it that you put in the best of what you need. You can’t cut corners. What you’re doing is educating young horses, and that’s how we see ourselves—as educators of young horses before they join the big boys and go into the next stage of their lives. You need to do everything right, no matter what it costs.”

It is interesting, given Wall’s criticism in particular, that McCarthy will have horses all year around, but that is imperative according to the Galway native, as you have to tailor your approach to the systems horses will be entering.

“For the different trainers we work for, we know their regimes and try to have the horse prepared for them to fit into their regime when they think they’re up to it. The ideal is for them to go in February, but it doesn’t always work like that as all horses are different.

“All the big trainers are going up in numbers. Early into the year and early into the Flat season, we’d be dealing with a lot of the backward two-year-olds and trying to organise them for trainers, giving an opinion of what’s early and of what wants a little more time. And the ones that want a little more time, we’ll be holding onto them and letting them progress and grow into themselves.

“Plenty of trainers would have a couple with me that are not going to be early two-year-olds. They’ll be built up and they’ll be rode in bungees to try [to] strengthen them up and put a top line on them. It’s basically strength and conditioning we’re doing with them.”

Browne states that even the horses he has pre-trained that are being sent to England will most likely go to another pre-trainer, due partly to offset fears of any bug being transmitted, but also because they are full. 

“Chris Wall wouldn’t be mad about what we do, but I would go along with what he said about it helping the big trainers stock up,” Browne remarks. “You are taking away half a year’s livelihood from him by doing what you are doing.”

“Unfortunately, trainers don’t have the staff,” observes Clark. “We’ve got the room, we’ve got the availability, we’ve got the staff.

“We’ve got trainers in the hustle and bustle of Newmarket who send horses to us 10 minutes down the road. They might only use us for 10 or 14 days in the summer on grass, keep them ticking over; and then they go back in and are running straight off of that and are happy with the results. The horses are running well.”

And that’s the point. Be it breaking, pre-training, a little R&R, prepping for breeze-ups—the results speak for themselves. 

“It’s about being calm and straight,” concludes Martineau. “The voice is always calm. I want my horses very calm and straight on the gallop. If that happens, they can go to the races anywhere and whenever you want.

“They are ready.”

"The Captain" - Cecil Boyd-Rochfort

Article by Jennifer Kelly

Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort

In the hours leading up to her coronation, Elizabeth sat deep in thought, quiet with contemplation. A lady-in-waiting saw the new Queen’s preoccupied countenance and asked her if all was well. 

"Oh, yes,” Her Majesty replied, “the captain has just rung up to say that Aureole went really well." 

On the precipice of great responsibility, the new monarch’s mind was not only on the serious matters of state, but on the Derby candidate she hoped would carry her colors to victory in a matter of days.

The man entrusted with Aureole’s preparation, the Irishman whose skills had inspired the confidence of a sovereign and the daughter that succeeded him, was Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. The youngest son of a family known for its service to the Empire and a fondness for sport, Boyd-Rochfort spent his life with horses, a calling that took him from the countryside of County Westmeath, Ireland to the gallops of Newmarket and inspired the confidence of royalty from both sides of the Atlantic. 

Aureole, and jockey Harry Carr before the 1953 Epsom Derby, where he eventually finished second, four lengths behind winner Pinza.

A life in sport 

When Cecil Charles Boyd-Rochfort greeted the world on April 16, 1887, he was the last of Hamilton and Florence Boyd-Rochfort’s sons, joining brothers Arthur and Harold. His father had been a major in the 15th Hussars and had served as high sheriff of County Westmeath, Ireland, where the family made their home at Middleton. 

There, the Boyd-Rochfort family hunted. They rode. They farmed. After his father’s early death, his mother bred horses and raised cattle, sheep, and pigs and even had a racing stable. Cecil carried this love of horses into his education at Eton, where he was an indifferent student, focused more on pedigrees and racing than his studies.

He attended the races along with his coterie of friends who were also keen for the sport. When Cecil left Eton in 1903, his next step was uncertain. His brother Harold encouraged his younger brother to follow him into military service, but Boyd-Rochfort was unwilling to commit, still awaiting his chance to work in racing. That came in 1906, when one of his heroes came knocking with an offer too irresistible to refuse.

Lessons from the best

Like Boyd-Rochfort, Henry Seymour ‘Atty’ Persse heard the siren’s call of the racetrack and followed it to a career as both a rider and a trainer. He finished third in the 1906 Grand National and soon after switched to training at his Park Gate stables near the village of Grately. In need of an assistant, Persse offered the job to the aspiring horseman. 

The Irishman had long been a hero of Boyd-Rochfort’s, since the young man had seen Persse win the Conyngham Cup in 1897. Boyd-Rochfort’s tenure with Persse, though, was short, as the latter became the private trainer for Colonel William Hall Walker, the future Lord Wavertree, in 1908. He soon found a position with Colonel Robert Dewhurst’s Bedford Lodge in Newmarket. The young man so impressed his new boss with his knowledge of racing and breeding that Dewhurst allowed him to help with the business of running the stable and sent him with the horses running out of the Newmarket area. 

When Sir Ernest Cassel sought a new racing manager, Boyd-Rochfort was suggested for the task. Alongside trainer William Halsey, he bought yearlings, learned more about keeping horses sound, and watched preparations for tries at the English classics. In 1912, Boyd-Rochfort bought a yearling by leading sire Desmond for 3200 guineas. The colt, later named Hapsburg, proved to be worth the price: he finished second in the 1914 Derby and then won the Eclipse and Champion Stakes. He later became a good sire, a testament to the young man’s eye for bloodstock. Boyd-Rochfort would not have long to enjoy his success as World War I prompted him to join the Scots Guard. Cassel promised that his job as racing manager would be there when he returned.

A good start

After the war, where his experience at the Somme had earned him the Croix de Guerre and a promotion, he returned to England as Captain Boyd-Rochfort, a title he would go by for the rest of his life. Back in Newmarket, he found Cassel’s racing stable in a sad state. Sir Ernest himself was in poor health and the stable reflected the same; they had only one win in 1917 and then none in 1918. After William Halsey retired, the captain found a new trainer for the ailing stable, but their fortunes did not improve. 

However, the captain’s did. He connected with the American horseman and businessman Marshall Field III, heir to the Marshall Field department store fortune. Field was looking for a trainer for his English stable and Boyd-Rochfort volunteered for the job provided Cassel was open to it. Sir Ernest was cutting back his racing interests and gave the captain permission to work for Field as well. 

One of the first horses the captain bought for Field was a filly named Golden Corn. At two, she won the Champagne and the Middle Park Stakes, a rare double achieved by greats like Pretty Polly, the Filly Triple Crown winner of 1904. Field and the captain had struck gold with one of the first horses he picked out for his new owner. Though Golden Corn showed her best at age two, her success promised much for the captain and his association with the American owner. 

As Golden Corn was winning, the captain‘s grand year turned sad with the passing of Sir Ernest Cassel. He left the captain a year’s wages in his will, but it was not enough for a new yard for the fledgling trainer. Both his mother and Field lent the needed funds for the purchase of Freemason Lodge in Newmarket. With fifty stalls to fill, the captain took out his trainer’s license in 1923 and got to work.

On his own

That first year, Boyd-Rochfort trained for several owners, including his brother Arthur and Field. He won nineteen races, one of those a victory with Golden Corn in the July Cup at Newmarket. In 1924, he scored his first win in the Irish Oaks, the Irish equivalent of the Oaks at Epsom, with Amethystine. 

Through his connection with Marshall Field III, Boyd-Rochfort soon had horses from more American owners, including William Woodward, a banker and chairman of the American Jockey Club, with whom the captain would win races like the Ascot Gold Cup and the St. Leger. In addition to Woodward and Field, his list of American owners counted some of the sport’s biggest names, like Joseph Widener, John Hay Whitney, cosmetics magnate Elizabeth Arden, and diplomat and businessman Harry Guggenheim. 

1955 Fillies Triple Crown winner Meld.

Boyd-Rochfort soon picked up another important owner, Lady Zia Wernher. The daughter of the Countess Torby, a granddaughter of Alexander Pushkin, and Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich, a grandson of Tsar Nicholas I, Lady Zia invested heavily in racing after her marriage to Sir Harold Wernher. For Lady Zia, the captain won the Ascot Gold Cup with Precipitation; the Coronation Cup with Persian Gulf; and the One-Thousand Guineas, the Oaks, and the St. Leger, the Filly Triple Crown, with Meld. 

Boyd-Rochfort’s old friend Sir Humphrey de Trafford was another of his earliest owners and one that would stay with him the whole of his career. The captain trained Alcide, who won the 1958 St. Leger, and Parthia, who gave both men their only Derby victory in 1959. In addition to training for his old friend, Boyd-Rochfort made Sir Humphrey best man at his 1944 wedding to Rohays Cecil, the widow of Lieutenant Henry Cecil and mother of four sons, including Henry, who would follow in his stepfather’s footsteps. 

To attract owners like Wernher and de Trafford and that cadre of Americans spoke to the skills and expertise that the captain offered, developed through tangibles like hard work and discipline and intangibles born of a life spent with horses. 

The man behind it all  

His prodigious success had its roots in a confluence of factors. He was brought up in a family with a lifelong interest in horses and racing. He was mentored by two former riders turned trainers who shared the benefits of their time in the saddle and their knowledge acquired while developing horses. The captain was keen to learn from others, from his earliest years at school studying racing and pedigree between lessons to those years with Persse, Dewhurst, and Cassel, where he took in the lessons of healing ailments, feeding the bodies and minds of the horses in his care, and any other topic related to racing and breeding Thoroughbreds. He was a patient trainer, focused on the horse as an individual and less on the expectations that might put his charge in the wrong race at the wrong time.  

He was keen to hire the best and set them to the tasks needed to run the yard, but he also had his hands on the horses in his care. He trusted his employees to keep the rigorous schedule he set each day. He felt the legs of his charges, mandated soft water and weighed and measured specific feeding plans for each horse, and believed in long walks for his horses to warm them up for their exercise. He broke in horses at the Lodge in the early days and then later leased Heath Lodge Stud for that purpose. Trainer Sir Mark Prescott, who was a young assistant to Jack Waugh in the late 1960s, remembered that the captain’s horses “used to run in a sheepskin noseband, the lot of them and they always looked marvelous, something maybe a bit above themselves.”

At a given time, as his son Arthur remembers, he would have upwards of 65-70 horses and a stable of around twenty-five staff, from a farrier to a collection of exercise riders and jockeys, that were, as Sir Mark put it, well-mannered “like little gentlemen.” At 6’5”, the captain towered over most of his staff, and was, as his secretary Anne Scriven recalled, “a very stately Irish gentleman. Very upright, very Edwardian.” 

“He would say, ‘You boy do that,’ even to [assistant trainer] Bruce Hobbs,” she shared. After winning the Grand National on Battleship, the youngest jockey to do so, Hobbs spent a decade and a half as Boyd-Rochfort’s assistant. 

Arthur remembered his father as “being a Victorian and very upright. They were brought up in a different era then they were very strict in the yard, and everything was immaculate.”

“The captain was old school, aristocratic, he was completely confident in his superiority to most people,” Sir Mark remembered. “But he was always nice, very polite.” 

As a trainer, he was an observation horseman and a stickler for detail and demanded the same of his employees. He eschewed gossiping on the Heath as some trainers were wont to do, preferring to watch his charges intently. The captain no doubt stood at attention watching one horse in particular for owner William Woodward, a long and lanky chestnut with a wide white blaze, a champion in America who was trusted to this singular conditioner for a tall task: winning the Ascot Gold Cup. 

A challenge for the captain

Americans know Omaha as the third name on the short list of horses to have won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, the American Triple Crown. Owner William Woodward’s aspirations were not limited to winning classic races in his own country, but also in England, the place where he cultivated his grand ambitions as a young man working for the American Ambassador Joseph Choate in the earliest years of the 20th century. One of the classics he aspired to was the 2½-mile Ascot Gold Cup. 

Omaha with jockey pat beasley and groom bart sweeney

Omaha’s three-year-old season had been cut short by injury, and, with his sire Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox already representing Woodward’s Belair at stud, the American did not need to retire his second Triple Crown winner. Instead, he took the risk of sending Omaha via the Aquitania to England, his ultimate destination Freemason Lodge. The Triple Crown winner was not the first Woodward had sent to the captain, but the task ahead of the trusted horseman could be considered somewhat of a titanic one: take a horse primarily trained on dirt, who had only raced counterclockwise and never more than 1½ miles and prepare him to run a mile longer clockwise on grass. 

The captain would send the American horse on longer gallops, from a mile and a quarter to two miles at least once a week, building the colt’s stamina and giving him the chance to stretch out the long stride that had made him such a success at distances over a mile. Couple those regular gallops under Pat Beasley, the stable’s lead jockey, with the captain’s regimen of walking, water, and feed, and Omaha was quickly fit enough to easily win his first start in England, the 1½-mile Victor Wild Stakes at Kempton Park. Three weeks later, back at Kempton Park,  he took the two-mile Queen’s Plate with ease. Clearly, the captain’s plan to acclimate and prepare the American horse for the Ascot Gold Cup was working.

In the Gold Cup itself, nearly three weeks later, the 2½ miles came down to the last two furlongs, as Omaha and the filly Quashed, herself an accomplished stayer, battled down the stretch. Anytime one pulled ahead, the other fought back, neither giving way until the very end. In what would be a photo finish today, the ultimate decision came down to judge Malcolm Hancock. The difference between the winning Quashed and the captain’s charge Omaha was a simple nose. That Omaha was able to come so far in such a short amount of time was testament to not only the well-bred champion but also Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, a horseman whose true brilliance came through in how he was able to sense and cultivate a horse’s potential. 

It was this instinct about the individual horse, the care he put into their development, and the discipline he imbued into his staff and himself that brought him an opportunity afforded to few: a chance to train for the Royal Stable. First for King George VI and then for Queen Elizabeth II, he brought his beloved monarchs great victories, ones befitting a man who had made horses his life's work.

A royal opportunity  

When Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort took over the Royal Stable, he had already been leading trainer in 1937 and won his share of both English and Irish stakes. As he went to work for the Royal Family, whom he greatly admired according to son Arthur, he was able to continue working with Lady Zia and Sir Humphrey as well as his American owners. With the Royal Stable, though, came some of his signature wins.

For the King, he won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot with Avila, the One Thousand Guineas and the Dewhurst with Hypericum, and the Cesarewitch with Above Board. Days after Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the captain started Aureole in the Derby, seeking a Classic victory for the lifelong horsewoman. Aureole mounted a bid in the stretch but could not catch Pinza. Aureole would go on to win the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot the following year, giving the Queen her first victory on the Ascot Heath. 

Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort and Queen Elizabeth II in the paddock at Kempton Park as she watched her colt Agreement being unsaddled after his victory in the Coventry Three Year Old Stakes.

Though the Derby would elude them, the captain would bring the Queen a Classic win in the Two-Thousand Guineas with Pall Mall. In all, he conditioned fifty-seven winners for the King, one hundred and thirty-six for Queen Elizabeth II, and three for the Queen Mother. As he approached his eighty-first year and the end of his time as a conditioner, the Queen made him a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for his service to the Royal Stable.

As he prepared his exit, the captain named his stepson Henry Cecil as his successor at Freemason Lodge. Cecil had been his assistant for four years, his education and experience preparing him to take the helm from his stepfather. Though his temperament differed from that of his stepfather and their relationship could be fragile at times, Henry picked up where the captain left off and crafted a Hall of Fame career of his own. 

A legacy of excellence  

Forty years after his death and a century after he took out his trainer’s license, Sir Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort lives on in racing’s record books, as the conditioner of champions and the mentor of a man named Cecil, the one who gave us Frankel in all of his glory. The friends of his time are all gone yet his regal bearing and enduring reputation for discipline and detail live on in the stories of the horses he conditioned.

His patience for developing horses yielded a trio of victories in the Ascot Gold Cup and a Triple Crown with a girl named Meld. It was his brilliance that capitalized on the untapped potential of Omaha, already an elite name in America, and brought him to the precipice of victory at Ascot. 

The captain took his boyhood love of horses and turned it into his calling as a conditioner of champions for royalty on both sides of the Atlantic. Though his name may ring unfamiliar to 21st century ears, Cecil Boyd-Rochfort made his mark on the century that preceded it, etching his name into the record books many times over for King, Queen, country, and beyond. 

The captain (left) and trainers Ben and Jimmy Jones with American Triple Crown winner Citation at Hialeah, c1949.