equine health
A HISA pilot program released results from a study of advanced cardiac monitoring of Thoroughbreds that shows atrial fibrillation (AF)--traditionally considered a benign, performance-limiting condition--can worsen during exercise, cause a more severe arrhythmia that leads to sudden death, according to a press release from HISA on Thursday. The group said that electrocardiogram data from affected horses that displayed AF both at rest and under exertion, underscores the need for early detection and highlighs the potential of integrating routine cardiac screening into pre-training and pre-race evaluations. During the first six months...
On paper, it didn't look like Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca) could lose in last Saturday's GIII Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita. Instead, the Grade I winner was last in the field of four, losing to One Magic Philly (Good Magic) by 8 3/4 lengths in what was the worst start of her career. Trainer Michael McCarthy reports that he can find no reason why she ran so poorly and is still aiming for he GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. "She is fine," McCarthy said. "There's no issues. All...
StrideSAFE, a biometric sensor used as a tool to help identify horses at risk of injury, was recognized at the recent Calgary International Equine Symposium when Dr. Denise McSweeney was honored with the Best Podium Presentation Award. The global conference, held Sept. 5-6 and hosted by the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), brought together experts the world over for a named focus in "Innovation in Equine Health and Welfare." McSweeney's presentation, "Using accelerometer-based inertial measurement unit sensors to identify racing Thoroughbreds at high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal...
Two-year-old filly Tenacious Candy (Twirling Candy) endured an extended hospitalization at UC Davis's veterinary hospital to survive tetanus and is now on her way to a racing career, according to an article written by Rob Warren and published on the university's website. The article states that after a leg cut exposed her to the bacterium that causes tetanus, Tenacious Candy was taken to UC Davis's Large Animal Clinic where specialists in the Equine Internal Medicine Service observed classic signs of the disease--a prolapsed third eyelid, a rigid mouth, and a...
The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has authorized expenditure of $1,498,077 to fund 12 new projects and nine continuing projects at 13 universities, as well as two career development awards in the coming year. The 2023 slate of research brings Grayson's totals to more than $34.1 million to underwrite 426 projects at 45 universities since 1983. "The Grayson Foundation is dedicated to tackling a variety of equine health challenges, which is clearly reflected in our selected projects for this year," said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson. "Our research projects and career...
Greg Fox, a Kentucky-based veterinarian who was also a MGSW Thoroughbred trainer for a stint in the mid-2000s, can trace his fascination with the science behind fitness to his days as a kid growing up near Boston, when he first figured out he was not genetically or physically destined to become the great basketball player he envisioned he would be. Pro basketball's loss just might end up being horse racing's gain, because for the past three decades Fox has committed himself to a better understanding of the Thoroughbred athlete through...
Following the cancellation of the ninth Welfare and Safety of the June 20 Racehorse Summit in Lexington, Kentucky, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation kicked off an educational series of weekly webinars Tuesday afternoon. Presented by Dr. Katherine Garrett, shareholder at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, the initial segment on equine health and safety featured 'Fetlock Injuries: Palmar metacarpal disease and how the various imaging modalities can be used to help diagnose it.' During the course of the 45-minute lecture, which was followed by a short...