Horserace Betting Levy Board

HBLB News

For immediate release Thursday 11 April 2019  

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) veterinary science and education investment programme for 2019 includes:

The HBLB’s Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC) will continue to manage ongoing projects and educational awards being funded by the Foundation, the TBA and the BEBF. In addition, both the TBA and ROA contribute towards the Equine Infectious Disease Service.

Professor Sandy Love, Chair of the HBLB’s VAC, said:

“With the HBLB now continuing without time limitation, a new grant application round will open shortly.  Potential applicants should take time to study the Scope and Priorities for research which are agreed as a guide to what most concerns and interests Racing by an Industry group including the BHA, NTF, ROA, RCA, TBA, BEVA and ARVS and then approved by the VAC and HBLB.  This is important because our application assessment mechanism takes equal account of scientific rigour and of relevance to the racing, breeding and rearing of Thoroughbreds. 

“Britain is home to an enormous range of scientific expertise and the Industry is lucky that what concerns us also attracts the interest of our world class scientists, and of international collaborators.  Racing’s investment in equine veterinary science matters not only to the Thoroughbred in this country, but also to all kinds of horses all over the globe. 

“The variety of new work starting in 2019 reflects the breadth of what is important to Racing.  As always, we had many excellent applications, but we were unable to stretch our funds to cover them all.

“The new application round, for awards to start in 2020, opens on Tuesday 16 April.”

Rob Hezel, Chief Executive of The Racing Foundation, said:

“This year the Racing Foundation is supporting three very promising projects, each of them addressing a key concern to the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries.

“The first is looking at the genetic component of fracture in Thoroughbreds, a common problem in both health and welfare terms.  This project is the next step in identifying how horses can be predisposed to fracture, opening the door to new therapies and management practices to help reduce the risk.

“Respiratory problems are a major cause of underperformance – the second project is taking a technique now developed for human patients and adapting it for horses.  The aim is a simpler method of monitoring racehorse health and identifying inflammatory airway conditions to enable swift treatment and thus minimise consequences.  

“Lameness caused by osteoarthritis is another major cause of racehorse wastage in terms of reduced performance, lost days racing and early retirement.  The third Foundation-supported project is again drawing on discoveries in human medicine. The objective is to identify diagnostic markers that can reveal the very earliest signs of disease while it is still possible to treat.

“The Foundation’s involvement in veterinary scientific research started in 2014 and has now reached the £1 million mark – we are planning an event, later this year, to showcase some of the research projects and their outcomes.”

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Other work starting in 2019 under the HBLB veterinary science programme relates to:

• New methods to improve equine influenza vaccine development    
• The causes of equine squamous cell carcinoma – a common type of equine cancer
• A new angle on strangles vaccination  
• The impact of influenza D infection in the UK  
• Food supplements to help the metabolic health of yearlings  
• How to get the most out of using a water treadmill  
• Containing tendon inflammation to improve regeneration after injury  
• Enhanced imaging of fetlock damage to aid analysis and treatment  
• Vector borne disease risks

Racing’s agreed strategic research priorities are:

1. Improved prevention of current and emerging infectious diseases by the development of more effective vaccines, diagnostic tools, biosecurity and management strategies;
2. Improved training environment and racecourse design and surfaces, riding strategies, tack and equipment to enhance the safety, health and well-being of racehorses;
3. Improved methods of identification, management and prevention of musculoskeletal disease and injury in Thoroughbreds;
4. Improved male and female reproductive efficiency;
5. Identification of effective, appropriate and evidence-based methods to help the immediate post-racing transition of the racing Thoroughbred to new activities.

For further information please contact:

Professor Sandy Love                                             Tansy Challis  
Chair                                                                        Grants Manager
HBLB Veterinary Advisory Committee                     The Racing Foundation
Via equine.grants@hblb.org.uk                                07709 954620

Annie Dodd       
HBLB Grants Manager   
020 7333 0043   annie.dodd@hblb.org.uk

2019 Application Round

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) is inviting applications for equine veterinary research and education grants to start in 2020.  The awards will be approved in mid-December 2019.  Applications open on 16 April 2019.

There are four award types: 

RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS                
Application deadline is 2pm on Monday 17 June 2019

The HBLB supports scientifically robust research projects to benefit the racing, breeding and rearing of the Thoroughbred.  Innovative and novel research approaches are encouraged and all applications will be subject to peer review and full evaluation by the Board’s VAC.

Applications are made online via the HBLB’s Equine Grants System. Visit the ‘Advancing Veterinary Science and Education’ section on the HBLB website for information on:

• Research priorities and scope
• Eligibility
• Applications
• Other activity in the veterinary sphere