title: Haematology of the racing Thoroughbred in Australia 2: haematological values compared to performance.
abstract: Eight hundred and sixteen blood samples were collected from Thoroughbred racehorses at the race track, 1 to 3 h before racing, and subjected to routine haematological examination. Attempts were made to correlate the haemogram with subsequent performance. Races were classified according to age, class and distance, and performances were grouped according to distance from the winner. Intra- and interclass comparisons were made but no relationship emerged between racing performance and the haemogram. The haemograms of individual horses on different occasions were compared with subsequent performance, but no consistent or significant relationships were apparent. The extent of the rise in red and white cell parameters between horses at rest and immediately before racing were examined as indicators of performance, but no correlations found. It was concluded that under the conditions of this survey no relationship existed between the haemogram of the Thoroughbred racehorse and its racing performance.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012420:Running
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins