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Retrospective analysis of the population dynamics and racing outcomes of the 2014 and 2015 UK and Ireland Thoroughbred foal crops
Author(s) -
ArangoSabogal Juan Carlos,
Mouncey Rebecca,
Mestre Amanda M.,
Verheyen Kristien
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1002/vetr.298
Subject(s) - foal , demography , population , medicine , confidence interval , horse racing , zoology , veterinary medicine , geography , biology , environmental health , race (biology) , botany , archaeology , sociology
Background : Up‐to‐date figures on early losses of Thoroughbreds from the racing industry can inform strategies to improve retention and incentivise traceability of Thoroughbreds during this early life period. Methods : Data on Thoroughbred mares bred in 2013–2014 and training, racing and sales information of their live offspring were analysed. The proportions and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of the entire 2014–2015 United Kingdom and Ireland foal crops that entered training, raced, were imported and/or exported between birth and the end of their third year of life, as well as the racing performance of these horses as 2‐ and 3‐year‐olds were described. Results : A total of 20,661 mares produced 28,282 live foals. Of them, 47.2% (95% CI: 46.7–47.8; n = 13,354) entered training by the end of their third year of life. Of these, 10,595 (79.3%; 95% CI: 78.7–80.0) raced at least once. Around 20% ( n = 5712) of horses were exported by the end of their third year of life, of which 3526 (61.7%) had been in training. The overall mortality during the study period was 7.6% ( n = 2123). Conclusion : A considerable proportion of Thoroughbreds had not entered training by 3 years of age but of those that had, the proportion that raced at least once was high. Further research is needed to establish reasons for premature losses from the industry.