Clinical abnormalities detected in post-race examinations of poorly performing Standardbreds

To describe the clinical abnormalities found on post-race examination of poorly performing Standardbreds.

The results of 541 post-race veterinary examinations on Standardbreds were analysed. The horses were selected for examination by the stipendiary stewards on the basis of poor performance from a population of approximately 20,000 runners which competed at Harold Park Paceway, Sydney.

Clinical abnormalities were detected on post-race examination in 264 of the 541 poorly performing horses. Some horses displayed more than one abnormality. Twenty three individual abnormalities were reported. Seventy three horses had suffered interference-type injuries (cross firing, scalping, over reaching) during the race. Lameness was the second most commonly found abnormality (n = 60), with 73% of these lamenesses being in a forelimb. Twenty nine horses had sacroiliac pain (representing 10.6% of the abnormalities detected). Poor recovery, exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage, respiratory infection or nasal discharge, gluteal pain, unilateral nasal haemorrhage and mouth injuries complete the list of the ten most common findings.

Interference-type injuries, lameness and sacroiliac pain were the most common abnormalities found on post-race examination of Standardbreds, which performed poorly.