Genetic Influence

THE thoroughbred industry does much more research than greyhound racing can ever achieve.

Much of the research in horses comes via industry bodies.

In greyhound racing, such research is left to those of us who have the inclination to do such study.

I recently came across some facts and figures from thoroughbred leaders, all of it greyhound racing enthusiasts might find interesting.

They include such wisdom as:

“Genetic Influence from superior ancestors becomes diluted after one or two out crossed generations, yet when the same superior ancestors are reinforced in a single pedigree it allows for the recapture of the original source of classic speed.

You must first duplicate the source, then go away from it, and then make sure it is reinforced again.”

Then there was this gem:

“I believe in gene replenishment. That means I don’t believe an outstanding mare will necessarily produce outstanding daughters. Why? Because half of that outstanding mare’s genes are wiped out in her daughter!

“Sure, we’ve all heard of someone getting a superior runner out of a ‘nothing’ mare. The word ‘nothing’ is totally inappropriate.

“What really happened is the genes of an outstanding mare somewhere back in the pedigree were finally replenished with the correct cross or nick.”

Then there is Joe Streepen who looked back over the past 60 years of major Group winners throughout the world to analyse their pedigrees and find:

Powerful Genetic Influences

1 Full brother/sister (bring speed and class)

2 Full sisters (brings speed and class)

3 Full brothers (brings speed and class)

4 Two sons of a dam

5 Two daughters of two full brothers

6 Two sons of two full sisters

7 Three-quarters brothers/sisters (tends to produce speed only, but must be in the same generation)

8 Son and daughter of a dam

9 Son and daughter of a sire

Some observations:

Colts get their stamina from their males and speed from their females and vice versa

Inbreeding begets speed but may not make a good sire

Sex balance is important but should be the same distance back

An excess of male strains in a sire produces better colts than fillies

A colt must not have excessive filly factors

A filly must not have excessive male factors

Inbreeding with one sex is not advisable, except possibly with daughters

When assessing a pedigree … the basics

For colts: Look for two sons of a dam and a son and daughter of a sire

For fillies: Look for two daughters of a sire and a son and daughter of a dam

The sister in the top half and the brother in the bottom half is the preferred option.

AND, to top off all of this … the best quote of all.

“The more sets of full brothers and sisters in the pedigree, the better your chances are of breeding a superior animal.”