Racing Performance of the Quarter Horse: Genetic Parameters, Trends and Correlation for Earnings, Best Time and Time Class

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The main goal in selecting racehorses for breeding is usually monetary earnings, and animals that earn the highest amounts of money are usually selected for breeding. These animals are not always the fastest on the racecourse because there are several competitions where the animals were faster but the prize money for the winners was lower. This practical strategy meant that the fastest racehorses were not always selected for breeding. The present study evaluated several traits through the results of heritability, genetic correlations and trends. Results from this study indicate that when we evaluated the earnings trait together with other important traits, the best values were observed. The selection process for the best sires and dams should be performed through two stages: first, by evaluating the animals that obtained the best times and, in the second stage, by evaluating the animals that had the highest monetary earnings. The design of breeding programs using the earnings trait in conjunction with another racing performance trait can change the results observed and improve genetic gains for speed racing Quarter Horses around the world. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sprint racing performance of Quarter Horses in Brazil. Estimating genetic parameters, trends and correlations were obtained by single- and two-trait analyses using Bayesian inference (earnings to 2 years of equestrian age, best time and time class at distances of 301 m and 402 m). The data comprised a period of 38 equestrian years (1978 to 2015) with 23,482 sprint race records from 5861 animals. The heritability estimates were of low to moderate magnitude, ranging from 0.10 to 0.37 (single-trait) and from 0.15 to 0.41 (two-traits), and the repeatability was 0.31 to 0.46. The additive, residual and phenotypic correlations between earnings to 2 years of equestrian age and the other traits (best time and time class in distances 301 m and 402 m) were high (−0.95, −0.96, 0.69 and 0.92), low (−0.29, −0.37, 0.26 and 0.27) and moderate (−0.41, −0.47, 0.37 and 0.47), respectively. There is a positive genetic trend for all traits considered. However, evaluation of the last 10 equestrian years (2006 to 2015) showed negative trends (genetic loss) and trends close to zero (genetic stagnation). The design of breeding programs using the earnings trait in conjunction with other racing performance traits can enhance changes in the genetic gains as a whole in speed-racing Quarter Horses. These findings suggest that the traits studied should be included in breeding selection programs for racing Quarter Horses.