Racing and sales performance in Thoroughbred yearlings after carpal
osteochondral fragment removal
Abstract
Background: Radiographic surveys in Thoroughbred (TB)
yearlings occasionally reveal the presence of carpal osteochondral
fragments (COF). While COF impair sales, their impact on future racing
performance has been minimally investigated. Objective:
to assess the impact of COF on TB yearling sales and racing performance,
and whether these are improved by arthroscopic removal. We hypothesized
that surgical removal of COF improves TB yearling sales and racing
performance. Study Design: Retrospective study of
clinical, sales and racing records of a TB population.
Methods: Using clinical records from years 2015-2018, 46
yearlings with COF were identified and allocated to a surgically (SX
group, n= 26) or conservatively (No-SX, n=20) treated group. A control
group consisted of 138 sire- and year-matched siblings without
radiographic findings. Sales and racing performance indicators were
analyzed using ANOVA with a Satterthwaite’s method with significance set
to p <0.05. Results: Identification of COF on
radiographic surveys were associated with significantly lower sales
prices and total winnings, fewer starts, and seasons raced when compared
to controls. Overall indicators racing and sales performances did not
differ significantly between the SX group to the No-SX group; however,
horses with COF treated surgically were more likely to achieve a racing
career than those treated conservatively (OR: 6.2, p=0.0288, 95% CI:
0.987-69.690). When compared to control horses, conservative management
of COF was overall associated with significantly poorer sales and racing
performances. No such differences were observed between the SX group and
the control group. Main limitations: The limited sample
size of affected horses possibly prevented identifying significant
differences between the SX and No-SX groups. No information was
recovered on lesion severity or radiographic follow-ups during each
horse’s career. Conclusion: COF have the potential to
impair a TB’s performance at sales and racing, and arthroscopic fragment
removal may help improve sales and athletic performance.