Forum Replies Created
- Posts
On Horse and Hound Facebook 23/2/25
Horse research Thoroughbreds
The identification of genes that may contribute to risk of fracture in thoroughbreds could help reduce this risk in horses.
Research carried out by a team at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has identified 112 genes that may be involved in risk of fracture, in the second study of a series of related research.
“These findings will inform further research into genetic risk factors, contributing to health and wellbeing efforts and supporting the development of novel interventions to reduce fracture risk in horses,” an RVC spokesperson said.
“Bone fractures are common in thoroughbred racehorses and are sadly a leading cause of euthanasia but fractures are a complex condition; both environmental and genetic risk factors affect a horse’s susceptibility.”
The team, led by senior research fellow Debbie Guest, used stem cells from horses at low and high risk of fractures as determined from previous research, to make bone-forming cells. They then measured every gene expressed by the cells.
“The study identified 112 genes that may be involved in fracture risk and demonstrated that many of these genes regulate the bone matrix,” the spokesperson said. “However, a large number of the genes have never been studied in bone before and more research is needed to understand the function of these genes in bone cells and how they contribute to fracture risk.”
A previous study found that collagen type III, needed for normal bone formation, is expressed in lower levels in horses with higher risk of fracture. Future work will help identify other genes and processes to understand better why some horses are more susceptible to fractures.
“We know fracture risk has a genetic component and have previously developed a polygenic risk score for fracture to allow us to identify horses at increased risk,” Dr Guest said.
“In this study, we have identified many new genes which have altered expression in bone cells from high-risk horses. We can now begin to develop a deeper understanding of how bone tissue is altered in high-risk horses and new interventions to reduce their risk.”
Copied from Facebook:
MICKY HAMMOND RACING.
THE LOSS OF DUNDORY.
We sent two runners down to Wolverhampton on Monday evening, but unfortunately only one will be coming back home. At 7.0.pm, Evoluir finally got his just deserts for his recent consistency when coming from last to first to win by a neck, but all the highs of that success disappeared half an hour later when our other runner Dundory broke a back and front leg soon after the start of his race, causing the race to be declared void.
Dundory who had only been with us since last October was the winner of six flat races for his previous two trainers, achieving a best BHA rating of 75 as a four year old. He had been purchased as a dual purpose performer, having also been placed twice over hurdles from his seven starts.
Dundory was a nine year old gelding who has been a great servant to the sport of horse racing, having raced on 62 occasions under both codes for his three different trainers, and three different owners, giving countless people the pleasure of watching him do what he enjoyed the most, racing.
To keep up to date with all the latest happenings at Oakwood Stables, Sharp Hill, and Curlew, click on ‘NEWS’ at http://www.mickyhammondracing.Me: Poor soul … absolutely horrific.
The race was void and I hope he was out of stress and pain very quickly. RIP DundoryIn the 1.45 Sea Of Sands – pulled up before 2 out (vet reported gelding to be clinically abnormal post race) – hope he’s OK …
What an awful couple of days …
Jumps placings:
3762/3122154/22435327/122214/113168074/153120005R0/3052384250-334501FWhy oh way did today’s fall have to be his one and only and prove to be his last????
Only one other none completion in a long list of races … poor Francky – what a splendid horse …This is indeed a very hard loss to take … and I’m desperately sad too …
Video of this awful fall on fb … poor lass. Saw it by mistake … it just started playing automatically …
Poor lad involved with 1 brought down and an unseat at the very first hurdle … 150-1 …
This is so so sad to read … I feel sick thinking about it. WHY was the flat racer put in a hurdle race – and seemingly unprepared for it ??? Will any questions be asked of the trainer? What injury did he have???
Oh no really sorry to hear this … I was watching and it was an x rated last fence fall … he’s run so many times with only one fall ever I think before this …
What do you think about mounted horse catchers (like at point-to-points) – they can get to riderless horses and help them with a fellow equine who may be distressed and help to calm them …
Racing post says he clipped heels … I don’t like watching flat racing as they go so much faster and tend to be very bunched up – their jockeys don’t seem to bother about how close they are as they look for the smallest gap to get through …
Totally sickening … I wasn’t watching but my stomach is churning at the thought … poor boy … and his connections, particularly lass/lad … this is getting really out of hand now …
It’s really hard to take these happenings … there’s been far too many at the moment … I feel for everyone of them … 😪
