The Genetic Origin And History Of Speed In The Thoroughbred Racehorse

The Genetic Origin And History Of Speed In The Thoroughbred Racehorse: Selective breeding has resulted in an unusually high frequency of the C allele at the myostatin gene in Thoroughbred horses best suited to sprint racing. While the C allele was rare among the celebrated racehorses of the 18th and 19th Century, it has proliferated recently in the population via the stallion Neartic (b.1954) – sire of Northern Dancer (b.1961).

Bower MA, McGivney BA, Campana MG, Gu J, Andersson LS, Barrett E, Davis CR, Mikko S, Stock F, Voronkova V, Bradley DG, Fahey AG, Lindgren G, MacHugh DE, Sulimova G, Hill EW. Nature Communications. 2012 Jan 24;3:643.