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Peer-reviewedCC BYScientific Reports

Phenotypic and genetic factors that affect the likelihood of Standardbred foals achieving a race start

  • J. C. Tanner1
  • P. R. Beatson1
  • J. G. H. Hickford1
  • G. K. Barrell1
  1. 1Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University
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Abstract

This study was conducted to quantify the probability of a Standardbred foal attaining early career milestones and to estimate some environmental and genetic factors that influence achievement of those milestones. Data for all Standardbred foals registered at birth in New Zealand from 1995 to 2018 were used to estimate variance components and fixed effects influencing attainment of three early-career traits; registered with trainer (REG), starting in a trial (TRIAL) and starting in a race (RACE). The study population comprised 65,256 foals. Of these, 65.5% attained REG, 55.4% progressed to TRIAL and 45.9% commenced racing. The phenotypic variance (Vp) for REG was 0.212 with an additive genetic variance (Va) of 0.025 ± 0.002 and the owner component was 0.023 ± 0.001. Vp for TRIAL was 0.126 with the trainer variance component (Vt) (0.021 ± 0.001) exceeding the Va 0.016 ± 0.002. Vp for RACE was 0.205 with Vt (0.021 ± 0.001) exceeding Va 0.016 ± 0.002. Horse sex, gait, birth month and sire stud fee influenced the likelihood of a foal attaining each milestone. Attainment of early career milestones in Standardbred horses reflects the combined influence of genetic, management and industry factors.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{tanner2026phenotypic,
  title = {{Phenotypic and genetic factors that affect the likelihood of Standardbred foals achieving a race start}},
  author = {J. C. Tanner and P. R. Beatson and J. G. H. Hickford and G. K. Barrell},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-63159-x},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63159-x},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Phenotypic and genetic factors that affect the likelihood of Standardbred foals achieving a race start
AU  - J. C. Tanner
AU  - P. R. Beatson
AU  - J. G. H. Hickford
AU  - G. K. Barrell
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/01
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-63159-x
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63159-x
AB  - This study was conducted to quantify the probability of a Standardbred foal attaining early career milestones and to estimate some environmental and genetic factors that influence achievement of those milestones. Data for all Standardbred foals registered at birth in New Zealand from 1995 to 2018 were used to estimate variance components and fixed effects influencing attainment of three early-career traits; registered with trainer (REG), starting in a trial (TRIAL) and starting in a race (RACE). The study population comprised 65,256 foals. Of these, 65.5% attained REG, 55.4% progressed to TRIAL and 45.9% commenced racing. The phenotypic variance (Vp) for REG was 0.212 with an additive genetic variance (Va) of 0.025 ± 0.002 and the owner component was 0.023 ± 0.001. Vp for TRIAL was 0.126 with the trainer variance component (Vt) (0.021 ± 0.001) exceeding the Va 0.016 ± 0.002. Vp for RACE was 0.205 with Vt (0.021 ± 0.001) exceeding Va 0.016 ± 0.002. Horse sex, gait, birth month and sire stud fee influenced the likelihood of a foal attaining each milestone. Attainment of early career milestones in Standardbred horses reflects the combined influence of genetic, management and industry factors.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -