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Inbreeding is nothing new but I doubt it will stop the same mistakes being repeated. Danehill is inbred 3×3 to Natalma, the dam of Northern Dancer, he has been a greater global success than Sadler’s Wells. Danzig only raced 3 times and Razyana was a thrice raced maiden.
Parish Hall was the son of a horse that did not stand training at 3 and the moderate results of his 3yo suggests that Teofilo will be predominately a sire of 2yo.
Marcel Boussac inbred to Tourbillon so heavily that he ruined his best bloodlines. His breeding operation produced Coronation V inbred 2×2, an exceptional racemare who routed an excellent field in the 1949 Arc by 6 lengths but she was unable to carry a foal to full term.
Boussca chose to inbreed to Toubillion & he had a lot of success with his close crosses, as well as failures. The difference is today breeders are being forced down that route as there are so few out-crosses available. The Northern Dancer lines, whether they be through Saddlers Wells or Danehill are dominant. There are few male line descendants of Hyperion & the Matchem line is more or less dead, no major Blandford lines left. Twenty years ago there were more lines. It is a complete disaster & we are beginning to reap the rewards; unsoundness & infertility. Every Northern Dancer carries Native Dancer through Natalma & Native Dancer’s genes carry unsoundness & faulty temperament.
This is an interesting thread on a worrying subject that is very close to my heart, and as Reetlass said along with nighthorse, we have discussed this in great detail on the Memorials section, where week after week the list of breakdowns and fatalities on the flat are escalating in number.
In particular I was worried about the 2yo’s and the amount of times they run in their first year, I truly believe that this should be limited to a maximum of six times and that veterinary checks should be carried out on a more regular basis for these young horses.
I found a an interesting article part of which I posted on Memorials a week or two back regarding the training of the Lipizzaner horses before they attempt ‘the airs above the ground’ and it made interesting reading with regard to the training of horses to prepare them to race at an early age: Here it is again:-
*****************I found this part of an article about training Lippizaners before they attempt the ‘airs above the ground’ jump usually not until they are 7 to 8 years of age.
This may go a little way to explain why the BHA Veterinary section does not wish to carry out research on the bones of racehorses, mainly because some trainers may be breaking the rules by over training their charges and causing unnecessary stress on their young legs with grave consequences for the horse.
QUOTE ARTICLE…
An early and easy start, when done properly, will help the horse further in developing and adjusting his body (bones, muscles and tendons), while he is still growing, for the work that he is intended to perform in the future. For example, if someone says: “I will wait until his knees close before I start his training”, he most likely does not know what he is talking about. We can start to train a horse before his knees are closed, but what we should not do, is to stress him to the point that he will injure them. On the average a racing horse should spend at least 6 months in training (by that time his knees will be closed), before we start to increase the speed from a working gallop, and at least 10 months before he runs his first race. This is of course ignored in the racing industry; hence the horses break down, not because of early training, but because of the incompetence of trainers that do not give enough time for the individual horses to develop physically and adjust for carrying weight at high speeds.
…END QUOTEWith the sad loss of Newfangled this week due to a fatal Pelvic Injury and many other less high profile, but nonetheless as important to the welfare of horses losses, continuing week by week surely something more must be done to protect these beautiful animals who give so much, from early and painful deaths.
Some very interesting and informative replys and it’s nice to know how much everyone here on TRF cares, no anti-racing rubbish just genuine people who love the sport and care about the welfare of the horses who give us so much pleasure.
Good luck to reetlass with her quest to get some answers and keep us advised…Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I think you should do some simple research before making accusation like these. For example the figures for 2011 were about the same as 2001 but way down on 1991
20 years ago you heard nothing unless you were hands on when a horse was severely injured or killed unless it was televised or famous like Red Rum eg.
Nowadays it’s on Twitter 5 minutes after it happens and punters can’t wait to be the first to tell us as has been pointed out by one sensible poster.
What I would like to see is figures or each yard and what percentage of their horses are injured each season.
I know of one champion trainer who was so ruthless in his quest for winner he would have run a horse that needed cut in the ground on concrete. A jockey friend from the period reckoned he must hold world record for horses that broke down and were never heard of again.
We get of light here in Japan they are about 50% higher that the UK for some reason and considering we have jump racing our figures while not great seem to have improved. No doubt Lingield
Wolver and Sothwell have helped.20 years ago you heard nothing unless you were hands on when a horse was severely injured or killed unless it was televised or famous like Red Rum eg.
You’re right there HGM.
I remember going into my local betting shop many years back and getting upset when a horse fell badly etc., and the bookies wife would tell me of the horrific falls they saw day in day out in the novice races for example.
We were less informed then and now because of the heightened awareness some of of us feel guilty and somehow responsible for these poor animals, and it’s not just flat and NH it happens at Point to Point Meetings and Showjumping.
A trainer once stated (I think it was Paul Nichols) that when a horse wakes up in the morning he has one aim in his life..to get sick or injure himself.
I dread looking at the Memorial section each day and seeing another much loved horse has gone, but it is a sad fact of racing, I know, just a hard one to get to grips with.Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...There is hope!
Boussca chose to inbreed to Toubillion & he had a lot of success with his close crosses, as well as failures. The difference is today breeders are being forced down that route as there are so few out-crosses available. The Northern Dancer lines, whether they be through Saddlers Wells or Danehill are dominant. There are few male line descendants of Hyperion &
the Matchem line is more or less dead
, no major Blandford lines left. Twenty years ago there were more lines. It is a complete disaster & we are beginning to reap the rewards; unsoundness & infertility. Every Northern Dancer carries Native Dancer through Natalma & Native Dancer’s genes carry unsoundness & faulty temperament.
http://www.winstarfarm.com/horses/tiznow-2021.html
There’s dozens of other currently successful stallions from the In Reality line…none of them in Europe, though.The Domino, Grey Sovereign, Ribot, Roberto, Bold Ruler, Teddy, Menow and Questionnaire sire lines are still alive and well here, too.
Also, Monsun is a VERY major Blandford line stallion, and has several sons at stud. There are quite a few Hyperion-line stallions in Europe actually, mostly sons of Cadeaux Genereux.
I forgot that Monson went back to Persian Gulf. He is a good out cross for European mares. While there are some stallions about breeders seem to still be making a lot of crosses to Northern Dancer & when Danehill is used the Native Dancer genes are cranked up too.
This might not of course be the cause of increased fatalities. I often check & of course some that die are not closely inbred.
I used to go racing a lot in the 1970s & do not recall seeing a horse break down fatally on the flat. I know it did happen but I am sure it is much more frequent now than it was. It seems odd as in the past horses were raced younger & more frequently & courses were not watered as they are today.
It would be good to see some statistics to prove either way.
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