| Dosage is a statistical tool used by horse breeders | | | | Now, here's where dosage starts looking like math. |
| and handicappers to predict the future performance of | | | | When a chef-de-race is in a horse's pedigree, a |
| a racing thoroughbred. | | | | numerical value is determined by the generation in |
| First, the chefs-de-race | | | | which that sire appears. Those numbers are assigned |
| It's all based on a list that works like a "Who's Who" of | | | | along the B-I-C-S-P lines. Those numbers make up a |
| thoroughbred breeding. About a hundred years ago, a | | | | horse's Dosage Profile. |
| French thoroughbred racing scholar named Lt. Col. J.J. | | | | So, let's take a look at 2008 "Horse of the Year" Curlin, |
| Vuillier conducted a study of the top runners in England | | | | whose dosage profile is 9-3-8-0-0. Remember B(rilliant) |
| and France. | | | | fast--I(ntermediate)--C(lassic)--S(olid)--P(rofessional) |
| Vuillier noticed that certain stallions kept appearing on | | | | strong, which means ... |
| those pedigrees. He studied their records and | | | | A Range from Speed to Stamina |
| determined which characteristics they passed on to | | | | No doubt, according to that layout of those numbers -- |
| later generations. | | | | with so many left of center -- Curlin is bred for speed. |
| He called these stallions the chefs-de-race or "chiefs | | | | He's also bred to go the distance of the Classic races, |
| of racing." What's more, he noticed that every decade | | | | like the US Triple Crown. But the numbers say that |
| or so, new stallions showed up on the list. | | | | he's a little light on the endurance/stamina. |
| You'll find the chefs-de-race list online in Dosage: | | | | History proved that out. Curlin lost his Belmont Stakes |
| Pedigree & Performance by Stephen A. Roman, | | | | bid, a 1-1/2 race, to the filly Rags to Riches. |
| PhD. | | | | The stats also say that Curlin is a generation or two |
| How the chefs work into the numbers | | | | out from the chefs in his pedigree. The closest one is |
| A stallion on the list is given an aptitudinal designation | | | | his grandsire Mr. Prospector, who came in second to |
| that's indicated by a letter, but it's not S for "speed" or | | | | Triple Crown winner Secretariat back in the day. |
| E for "endurance." Think in more metaphorical terms. | | | | However, Curlin has other very impressive numbers -- |
| "Brilliant" is used for "speed." And "Professional" is used | | | | like his $10.2 million in earnings at this writing -- which |
| for "endurance" or "stamina." | | | | make him the reigning richest horse in the world. |
| So, B=Brilliant (speed), I=Intermediate, C=Classic, S=Solid | | | | Just probabilities |
| and P=Professional(strong.) | | | | Handicappers and breeders pay attention to dosage |
| As you read that list of aptitudinal designations from | | | | as a statistic that can indicate probable performance. |
| left to right, you can see what resembles a | | | | Horses, of course, are living beings that have good |
| matter-of-degrees from Brilliant (fast) to | | | | days and bad. |
| Professional(tough.) | | | | Still, it all follows the old horseman's rule of "breeding |
| When you look down the columns of names, you'll see | | | | the best to the best to get the best. |
| parentheses with the letters B, I, C, S, P. Some listings | | | | For more reading on dosage and source material: |
| just have one letter, others have a combination of the | | | | Dosage: Pedigree and Performance by Stephen A. |
| two. | | | | Roman (chef-de-race.com) |
| Where the numbers come in | | | | Dosage in a Nutshell from Thoroughbred Champions. |