A few more news stories about Thoroughbred Genetics and thoroughbreds sired within our clients’ breeding programs.
More success for the Tarcoola Stud breeding programme
Congratulations to Ken Williams and Tarcoola Stud who bred Costa Viva (2010 Encosta de Lago ex Vivacious Spirit – Bel Esprit) winner of the $300,000 NZ 1,000 Guineas at Riccarton Park. We have been privileged to assist Ken in his highly successful breeding programme over the years. With five of the last six winners of the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas also going on to secure the final NZB Filly of the Year Series crown, Costa Viva’s win puts her in prime position to become Te Akau Racing’s fifth Filly of the Year Series winner in the past decade.
An interesting Thoroughbred Genetics success in Australia
It is not our policy to publicize success stories for marketing purposes. However, the interesting report of one multiple Group 1 performing millionaire mare has already attracted media attention in Australia. (Link to The Age article…)
Click on the video link below to watch Sacred Choice win the Myer Classic G1
The Age (Melbourne), April 2011
Playing God
Australian Breeding & Racing Magazine, March 2010 By Dr. Steve Harrison, Director of Thoroughbred Genetics Ltd., U.K. reveals some of the revolutionary ‘selection-enhancing’ technologies now available to the modern breeder.
(Link and download for the article on Thoroughbred genetic testing…)
Thoroughbred Genetics Ltd.
UK based genetics company pioneers ‘speed gene’ combination in racehorses
Thoroughbred Genetics Ltd is a UK-based company celebrating, in 2010, its 10th anniversary as the first company in the world to develop and provide DNA-based, genetic tests for racehorse performance.
(Link and download for the information on speed gene testing…)
January 22, 2010
Link between specific genes and racing performance
In April, 2006 Dr.Stephen Harrison and Dr. Juan Luis Turrion-Gomez of the University of Salamanca published a peer-reviewed scientific paper in the international journal Mitochondrion, which shows, for the first time, an association between specific genes and racing performance. (Link and download for the article on genes and performance…)
Australian Bloodhorse Review, September, 2006
Scientist links mtDNA, racing ability
By Pete Denk. A British scientist studying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) believes he has made a historic breakthrough that could unlock secrets racehorse breeders have wondered about for 300 years. What makes one horse peak as a two-year-old while others get better with age? (Download article on mitochondrial genes and racing…)
Thoroughbred Times, August, 2006
The foundations of stamina
In April, 2006 a paper was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Mitochondrion, entitled ‘Mitochondrial DNA: An important contribution to thoroughbred racehorse performance’. Dr. Steve Harrison of Thoroughbred Genetics Ltd. and Dr. Juan Luis Turrion-Gomez of the University of Salamanca describe the research, its findings and the relevance to practical thoroughbred breeding and racing. (Link and download for Thoroughbred stamina and genes...)
Pacemaker, June 2006
Speed gene reports for the Thoroughbred racehorse
ITV news report on Thoroughbred Genetics original discovery. Click on the youtube link below to view footage.
ITV News – Meridian Tonight, April 2006
Geneticists identify speed gene combination
By Mark Popham. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Mitochondrion, found that individual breeding lines possess variant combinations of these performance-related genes, with each combination giving a horse a different racing aptitude.
(Link to information about speed gene combinations…)
Bloodhorse , April 2006
Winning formula all in the gee-genes
By Graham Davies. Topically published article in the Liverpool Daily Post during the week of the 2006 Grand National.
Mitochondrial DNA: An important female contribution to thoroughbred racehorse performance
Stephen Paul Harrison & Juan Luis Turrion-Gomez
The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecule, carrying genes encoding for respiratory chain enzymes, is a primary candidate for demonstrating associations between genotype and athletic performance in mammalian species. In humans, variation at seven protein encoding mitochondrial loci has been implicated in influencing fitness and performance characteristics. Although thoroughbred horses are selected for racing ability, there have not been any previous reported associations between genotypes and racecourse performance. The multi-factorial nature of the inheritance of racing ability is an obvious complicating factor. However, mitochondrial gene variation may represent a measurable component contributing to performance variability. Previous population studies of thoroughbreds have shown the existence of D-loop variation. Importantly, we have observed that there is also independent and extensive functional mitochondrial gene variation in the current thoroughbred racehorse population and that significant associations exist between mtDNA haplotype, as defined by functional genes, and aspects of racing performance. (Download the paper on mitochondrial genes and racing…)
Mitochondrion April, 2006
Los genes de la velocidad (The Speed Genes)
Carlos Arribas – Madrid. Juan Luis Turrión, un investigador de Salamanca, colabora en una tecnología que revolucionará la cría de caballos de carreras. Si las células de un organismo vivo son coches, las mitocondrias son sus motores, unos motores regulados, controlados, dirigidos, por un ordenador de a bordo en cuyo disco duro y divididos, organizados en carpetas, se encuentran los genes, que varían entre un coche y otro. (Download pdf on the speed genes…)
El Pais, March 2006
Scientist finds the speed genes
By Greg Wood. DNA analysis can take the guesswork out of the ancient art of producing a champion, says geneticist.
(Link to more information on Thoroughbred performance genes…)
The Guardian, March 2006
Geneticists identify ‘speed gene’ combinations in racehorses
Geneticists have published ground-breaking research which could have enormous implications for the way in which thoroughbred racehorses are bred, trained and raced. (More information and link to the ‘speed gene’ and the Thoroughbred…)
PRWeb, March 2006
Only foals and horses
By Pete Taylor. The Thoroughbred Genetics Company helps racehorse breeders match the right mare with the right stallion. Pete Taylor meets Dr. Steve Harrison. (Download the article about Thoroughbred Genetics...)
Hub Magazine, August, 2004
A question of speed and stamina
Dr. Steve Harrison of The Thoroughbred Genetics Company explains why better results will be obtained by building on known aptitudes rather than trying to modify them with totally dissimilar genes. (More information about speed and stamina genes in the Thoroughbred and download…)
Pacemaker – July, 2003
Solving the breeding puzzle
Dr. Steve Harrison of The Thoroughbred Genetics Company explains what makes a successful Thoroughbred.
(More information about Thoroughbred genetics and download…)
Pacemaker, May 2003
Latest DNA test hailed – Boost for breeders
By Paul Micallef. For the first time in Australia a simple genetic test to determine genetic compatibility of propose matings based on DNA analysis is being offered to breeders. (Download article about Thoroughbred DNA tests…)
The Sportsman (Australia), January 2003
New tests on market to aid breeders with mating plans
By Rachel Pagones. (Download article about Thoroughbred genetic tests...)
Racing Post, November 2003
Breeding, gene dynamics and DNA
Dr. Steve Harrison of The Thoroughbred Genetics Company. (More information about racehorse genes and download…)
Racing Review, May 2002
DNA Pinpointing the racing gene?
By Mark Long. Company markets a DNA test for Thoroughbred Breeding (Download article about Thoroughbred gene tests...)
The Wall Street Journal, April 2002
The man to see about a horse
Greg Wood meets the founder of Thoroughbred Genetics Ltd. (More information about Thoroughbred Genetics and download…)
The Guardian, February 2002
DNA mating test
By Michael Clower (Download article about Thoroughbred genetic testing…)
The Sunday Times, December 2001
Genetics website aiming to assist breeding decisions
By Tony Smurthwaite. (Download article about Thoroughbred DNA tests…)
Racing Post, December 2001
DNA analysis designed to give racehorses a competitive edge
The Thoroughbred Genetics Company is leading the international field in genetic husbandry for racehorses.
(Download article about Thoroughbred genetic research…)
Canadian Thoroughbred, November 2001
DNA winner makes for racing certainty
By Maisha Frost. Applying the latest advances in genetics to the big-money business of horse racing has made an enterprise an outright commercial winner. (Download article about Thoroughbred Genetics ...)
Daily Express – October 4, 2001
The science of selection
Susan McBane interviews Dr. Stephen Harrison of The Thoroughbred Genetics Company. (Download article about racehorse genetics…)
Racing Review, March 2001
