Don't Fear the Speed Gene -- by Eric Mitchell

re: Don't Fear the Speed Gene

cheerfulray — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:47:23 GMT

I'm sorry she named it "the Speed Gene", because that will become shorthand for the idea. I am with Somethingroyal in this—skeptical about what is actually being said and what people take away from the words. If all TBs were well-conformed, tough, healthy, and drug-free, there would still be racing. As the business has focused more and more on speed as a way to get an edge, conformation, toughness, and health have declined. Calling this the "speed gene" just plays into that.

re: Don't Fear the Speed Gene

sceptre — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:16:51 GMT

No doubt equine genetic research will yield many new insights, and many of these will prove worthwhile. Dr. Hill's, however, may prove not to be among them. I've researched a bit of her work, as well as others that focused on myostatin in other species. While she may indeed be correct that a C-C is far more likely to give you a sprinter-type than a C/T or T/T she has not, for example, elaborated upon (or ? investigated) the other potential manifestations (consequences) of these differing alleles. Her research into this, thus far, appears to be too narrow in scope to justify its recommendation as a present tool. Hers is not a new idea, rather it's a derivation of similar myostatin research done on other species, such as the whippet. It seems that whippet breeders then concluded that a C/C was something to be avoided. Of this Dr. Hill is aware, and alone would seem to warrant more study (in the racehorse) before thrusting her results (business plan) onto a relatively unsophisticated (scientifically-speaking) public that is often too quick to accept "magic bullets".

re: Don't Fear the Speed Gene

Somethingroyal — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:34:55 GMT

I agree with Megan and Rachel. Why not focus on building stamina back into the pedigrees in place of speed? I think this is so counter productive to resolving one of the many problems facing today's Thoroughbred. For people who want to focus on speed, why not trot on over to the Quarter Horse industry and leave the Thoroughbreds alone.

re: Don't Fear the Speed Gene

Rachel — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:00:41 GMT

Megan, Ditto.

re: Don't Fear the Speed Gene

EJMitchellKy — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 02:01:26 GMT

I agree it will be interesting to see how the industry uses this information, Mark. I think they will have to speed up the turn-around time on the test (three weeks right now) before it takes hold in the commercial market.

re: Don't Fear the Speed Gene

marktoothaker — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:48:54 GMT

I have sold probably around 2,000 yearlings over the years and have never been asked how a horse nicks it will be interesting if I ever get asked about the speed gene. Will be fun to watch and see how much it catches on in the commercial market. It just might.

re: Don't Fear the Speed Gene

Megan — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:51:54 GMT

Well, given that people have already decided to focus on commercial attraction over pedigree, conformation, or (paging Unbridled's Song!) soundness when making breeding/purchasing decisions, I don't see how the identification of a "speed gene" is going to make matters any worse.