New research from Perth-based TeleMedVET has been accepted for one of the world’s leading scientific journals in their pursuit of greater animal welfare and the company are now focusing on more available testing.

The group hypothesised that blood biomarkers could detect earlier instances of skeletal stress in racehorses and upon testing, it was discovered that serum osteocalcin concentrations were higher in lame horses than those who were clinically sound.

A recent peer-reviewed study, which was published in the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ), supported that claim after analysing 96 racehorses’ blood at UWA.

TeleMedVET co-founder and director Chris Cowcher says the accreditation from EVJ spurs further momentum into their research, highlighting a potential breakthrough in horse welfare.

“Racing has always been an industry built around the health and performance of the horse, and there is an increasing expectation that we use every available scientific tool to do better,” said Cowcher.

“This research is about giving veterinarians and the industry another source of biological information to help understand the horse and make better-informed decisions about its health and welfare.”

The programme will next focus their studies on following individual horses through training and competition to better comprehend the relationships between osteocalcin, workload, skeletal adaptation, lameness and injury.

The data is hoped to show how the process can be involved in veterinary decision-making and welfare management.

“Getting a reliable assay (test reading) out of the laboratory and into a format that can be used around the horse is an important milestone,” Cowcher said.

“The technology will allow us to ask much bigger questions about how bone responds to training over time, and whether changes in a horse’s biology can give us useful information before an injury becomes clinically apparent.”

Racing and Wagering WA funded the research, and their Head of Animal Welfare Dr Caroline McMullen said racehorse “safety, health and welfare” was paramount.

“Lameness is one of the leading causes of lost training and racing days, reduced performance and early retirement in racehorses,” McMullen said.

“By identifying injuries earlier, trainers and veterinarians can implement appropriate management and treatment strategies that reduce injury risk and support horse welfare long term.”

TeleMedVET are working closely with some of Australia’s leading stables such as Ciaron Maher, who has a dedicated full-time sports science team and will test their horses weekly.

Cowcher says without the support of trainers, especially in WA where almost all have been welcoming of the testing, there is no way the project would have taken off.

“We have a prototype for a trackside test, which will give a reading within 10 minutes,” Cowcher said.

“It’s getting international attention. We’re working closely with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and we have another paper being reviewed that is co-authored by them.

“They’re very keen in Saudi Arabia, too.”

+ Immortal Bliss won a trial at Belmont on Monday morning, sprinting powerfully from midfield to comfortably take his 950m heat.

The Dan Morton-trained galloper is expected to head towards the $1 million Golden Saddle slot race in Kalgoorlie on October 3.

+ Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring says despite conjecture over the readiness of the Ascot track, he has no concerns with the venue less than four weeks from Opening Day.

Oldring said that usual renovation works had been successful and he expected the track to be commensurate with last year’s condition.

+ Mr Brightside was cleared on Sunday after pulling up lame from his Maybe Diva Stakes seventh placing.