title: Equine athletes, the equine athlete's heart and racing success.
abstract: Our recent data have confirmed that maximum oxygen delivery in racing Thoroughbreds is positively correlated to left ventricular mass measured by echocardiography. A similar, but weaker relationship also exists between left ventricular mass and Timeform performance rating in commercial racehorses. The relationship of the Thoroughbred heart to racing success and the special problems that selective breeding for aerobic capacity have had in this species are reviewed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK. lesley.young@aht.org.uk
authors.forename: Lesley E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*