Genetic Evaluation of Thoroughbred Racehorses Using the Integrated Racing Records Collected from Different Racetracks

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the suitability of genetic evaluation models using the integrated racing records collected from Gwacheon and Busan Gyeongnam racetracks. Results obtained are summarized as follows: In the short-distance races of 1,400 meters and less the records of finishing time at Gwacheon racetrack was superior, whereas, in the races of 1,800 meters and more it was superior in the records from Busan Gyeongnam racetrack. The effects of contemporary groups accounted for 42.7~70.2% of the total variation, and the effects of the individual race considering racing classes was the biggest in all racing distances. Heritabilities and repeatabilities for the finishing time were estimated in the range of 0.153-0.238 and 0.401-0.498, respectively. Correlation coefficients between the breeding values estimated from the integrated records and the breeding values estimated from records of Gwacheon and Busan-Gyeongnam were 0.907 and 0.803, and coefficients of rank correlations were 0.891 and 0.846, respectively. The correlation coefficients between sire's annual earning of the integrated records and Gwacheon and Busan Gyeongnam racetracks records were 0.943 and 0.886, and coefficients of rank correlations were 0.938 and 0.853, respectively. Also, the correlation coefficient of sire's annual earning between Gwacheon and Busan Gyeongnam racetracks was 0.742. The results of this analysis indicate that the genetic evaluation using the integrated racing records are reliable when the racing records from Busan Gyeongnam racetracks are stabilized and more data are accumulated.