Equine Veterinary Journal ISSN 0425-1644 DOI: 10.1111/evj.12405
Dear Editor, Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the letter from Mrs Robin Richards in relation to our recent publication in the Equine Veterinary Journal [1]. We have explained the majority of issues raised by Mrs Richards in our previous letter in response to Professors Morley and Hinchcliff [2] and respond here to specific questions raised by Mrs Richards that were not addressed previously. Additionally, corrections have been added to the publication post acceptance, which we hope will clarify the study [1]. With regard to analysis of the number of starts, the mean number of lifetime (Hong Kong) starts referred to in our Discussion relates to horses that had been observed with exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Our point is that horses observed with this condition (i.e. the EIPH+ group) had the greatest number of starts in Hong Kong, despite training and racing without furosemide. We accept that there are other factors that will influence an owner’s decision to retire a horse and that this may be affected by the horse’s sex. This point must be obvious to all. However, we still believe that it is useful to provide readers with a benchmark for longevity of racing among horses in the USA, and we believe that the figure we cited came from the most reliable source. With respect to our use of the term ‘lifetime starts’, we acknowledge this was incorrect and we have corrected this to avoid further confusion [1]. However, we argue that inclusion of races prior to the horses arriving in Hong Kong is likely to provide yet further support to our conclusion that horses can train and compete for at least a similar number of races as horses in the USA, if not more. None of the Cox regression curves for survival analysis depicted in Figure 4 reach zero; therefore, we refute Mrs Richards’ contention that our conclusions relating to the survival analysis are invalid. However, we do accept that, owing to the small size of the graph reproduced as Figure 4 in the publication [1], it is difficult to appreciate where the curves terminate, and we regret this cause of confusion. We are aware that there is scepticism among some in the racing industry in the USA about the model of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC)
Equine Veterinary Journal 47 (2015) 377 © 2015 EVJ Ltd
and that the validity of data generated by the HKJC in relation to race-free medication and racing injuries is sometimes treated with disbelief. The purpose of the study that is the subject of this correspondence [1] was simply to take advantage of a unique opportunity to question some issues relating to racing and training Thoroughbred horses without furosemide in the longer term. As a visiting researcher from the USA, Dr Preston was given open access to clinical records at the HKJC and was free to make an independent assessment of clinical practices and the quality of data recorded. Dr Preston fully supported herself in this respect and received no financial assistance from the HKJC. We openly admit some limitations associated with a study of this nature, but we contend that the analysis, results and conclusions are valid. The Department of Veterinary Clinical Services (DVCS) at the HKJC is committed to supporting work that will further enhance the care of the Thoroughbred racehorse. In this respect, we enthusiastically share material and data that are generated by the DVCS with research groups with established credentials globally. Christopher M. Riggs† and Stephanie Preston‡ Head of Veterinary Clinical Services, Hong Kong Jockey Club ‡ Equine Soundness and Sports Medicine Program, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Center, University of Kentucky †
References 1. Preston, S.A., Riggs, C.M., Singleton, M.D. and Troedsson, M.H. (2015) Descriptive analysis of longitudinal endoscopy for exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses in training and racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Equine Vet. J. 47, 366-371. 2. Preston, S.A. and Riggs, C.M. (2015) Descriptive analysis of longitudinal endoscopy for exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses training and racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club – letter. Equine Vet. J. 47, 374-375.
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Dear Editor, Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the letter from Mrs Robin Richards in relation to our recent publication in the Equine Veterinary Journal [1]. We have explained the majority of issues raised by Mrs Richards in our previous letter in response to Professors Morley and Hinchcliff [2] and respond here to specific questions raised by Mrs Richards that were not addressed previously. Additionally, corrections have been added to the publication post acceptance, which we hope will clarify the study [1]. With regard to analysis of the number of starts, the mean number of lifetime (Hong Kong) starts referred to in our Discussion relates to horses that had been observed with exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Our point is that horses observed with this condition (i.e. the EIPH+ group) had the greatest number of starts in Hong Kong, despite training and racing without furosemide. We accept that there are other factors that will influence an owner’s decision to retire a horse and that this may be affected by the horse’s sex. This point must be obvious to all. However, we still believe that it is useful to provide readers with a benchmark for longevity of racing among horses in the USA, and we believe that the figure we cited came from the most reliable source. With respect to our use of the term ‘lifetime starts’, we acknowledge this was incorrect and we have corrected this to avoid further confusion [1]. However, we argue that inclusion of races prior to the horses arriving in Hong Kong is likely to provide yet further support to our conclusion that horses can train and compete for at least a similar number of races as horses in the USA, if not more. None of the Cox regression curves for survival analysis depicted in Figure 4 reach zero; therefore, we refute Mrs Richards’ contention that our conclusions relating to the survival analysis are invalid. However, we do accept that, owing to the small size of the graph reproduced as Figure 4 in the publication [1], it is difficult to appreciate where the curves terminate, and we regret this cause of confusion. We are aware that there is scepticism among some in the racing industry in the USA about the model of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC)
Equine Veterinary Journal 47 (2015) 377 © 2015 EVJ Ltd
and that the validity of data generated by the HKJC in relation to race-free medication and racing injuries is sometimes treated with disbelief. The purpose of the study that is the subject of this correspondence [1] was simply to take advantage of a unique opportunity to question some issues relating to racing and training Thoroughbred horses without furosemide in the longer term. As a visiting researcher from the USA, Dr Preston was given open access to clinical records at the HKJC and was free to make an independent assessment of clinical practices and the quality of data recorded. Dr Preston fully supported herself in this respect and received no financial assistance from the HKJC. We openly admit some limitations associated with a study of this nature, but we contend that the analysis, results and conclusions are valid. The Department of Veterinary Clinical Services (DVCS) at the HKJC is committed to supporting work that will further enhance the care of the Thoroughbred racehorse. In this respect, we enthusiastically share material and data that are generated by the DVCS with research groups with established credentials globally. Christopher M. Riggs† and Stephanie Preston‡ Head of Veterinary Clinical Services, Hong Kong Jockey Club ‡ Equine Soundness and Sports Medicine Program, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Center, University of Kentucky †
References 1. Preston, S.A., Riggs, C.M., Singleton, M.D. and Troedsson, M.H. (2015) Descriptive analysis of longitudinal endoscopy for exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses in training and racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Equine Vet. J. 47, 366-371. 2. Preston, S.A. and Riggs, C.M. (2015) Descriptive analysis of longitudinal endoscopy for exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses training and racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club – letter. Equine Vet. J. 47, 374-375.
377
