
2007 -
Chestnut Colt by Speightstown out of Elsemere by Tabasco Cat.
Standing at
Questroyal North
One of New York State's Premiere
Stallions
Introductory Stud Fee $4,500 LF |
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What
goes into Modern Day Equine Genetics?
I am providing some articles of
interest. This is some difficult information to go through and process.
Please feel free to call me regarding this information. Thank you for taking the time to look at this. Just click on
the links below. I hope it is helpful.
Wikipedia - Gregor_Mendel
Its can be difficult
for anyone to figure out
genetics or the role that nature will play as a result of a mating of two
thoroughbreds. I hope you find these two articles are helpful in your
thought processes in making your thoroughbred mating selections.
Bob Fox
201-362-5619 (Cell)
Feel free to call me to discuss your matings or whatever you wish.
Food For Thought
Is there a Speed Gene for race horses?
Horse breeders are popularly recognized as experts of animal
husbandry. Through experience and study of pedigrees, horse breeders
select horse matings to produce superior performance horses.
Nowhere is this reputation stronger than among breeders of
Thoroughbred race horses. Over 350 years ago a group of essentially
100 horses founded the breed. From this genetic base, the breed has
been crafted by breeders through selection to produce the modern
race horse.
Yet, despite 350 years of selection, recent studies suggest that
as much as 30% of racing performance is determined by genetics.
Seventy percent of performance is management and training but the
edge in a race may be genetics. Considerable genetic variation
still exists for racing performance. So what does this mean?
First, we can still use genetics to craft better horses. Second,
more than one speed gene exists.
This not a surprise. Horses of all sizes and types win races.
Secretariat was a large horse 16.2 hands while another noteworthy
race champion of the 20th Century, Northern Dancer, was only 15.2
hands tall. Man O War had a stride length of 28 feet while a more
current Kentucky Derby winner, Smarty Jones, had a much shorter
stride length. There are many ways to win races.
The genes that influence racing performance will be those that
enhance the limiting factors of muscles, respiration, heart function
and musculoskeletal integrity as well as the competitive drive to
race. Genetic studies of human athletic performance have led to
discovery of more than 100 genes that influence athleticism. We are
studying these same genes in horses.
But the real prize
would be a single gene that confers superior racing performance.
Does a single gene for speed exist? No, not now. If such a gene
existed, then our ancestors undoubtedly already found it and
selected for it several hundred years ago and all Thoroughbred
horses already have “that gene.

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