We know some Thoroughbreds are faster than others. But why? Some are back at the knee. Some are sounder than others. Some are more susceptible to infectious diseases than others. But why?

These, and countless other questions, were discussed during a four-day conference March 8-11 held at the Banbury Center of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island. The workshop, titled “Horse Genomics and the Genetics of Factors Affecting Horse Performance,” received funding from the Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation and Stonerside Stable owner Robert McNair.

Questions involving genetics and the relationship to horse diseases and performance will only be answered over time, even if the resources to decode the horse genome (locating and interpreting the function of all the genes) are available. But, scientists are in agreement that mapping the horse genome is extremely important, both to identify and treat equine diseases, and to breed sounder, healthier horses. It is more far fetched to think genomics will lead to breeding “super” horses.

The first International Equine Gene Mapping workshop was held in Lexington in 1995. Since that time, geneticists at various labs throughout the world have been busy mapping the horse in a friendly competition, led by Dr. Ernie Bailey of the Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington