THE THEORY OF PEDIGREE MATCHING
The most common approach to matching pedigrees is based
on the axiom of returning to the sire the best blood of his dam. This
theory is the basis for the fame of Tesio, the noted thoroughbred breeding
expert credited with the inspiration behind the breeding of Northern
Dancer, and has proven to be applicable to standardbred breeding as well.
Best blood is normally defined as the sire lines
associated with the proposed dam and in its simplest form this means
finding a mare whose paternal lines (Primary Match) or maternal lines
(Secondary match) are of the same lineage as the maternal lines of the
proposed stud. As we shall see, however, Pedigree Matching in
standardbreds, as indeed we also find in thoroughbreds, also covers the
reintroduction of certain bloodlines, into pedigrees deficient in those
lines or vice versa, resulting in what is considered an
"outmatch" mating. An outmatch is similar but not exactly the
same as an outcross since it can contain common lineage on both sides of
the match but it must meet certain conditions to be recognized as such.
A Pedigree Match therefore exists in the following three
ways.
1. Primary matches where the broodmare sire lines (the
primary lines of the dam) correspond with the primary lines ( maternal
lines) of the proposed sire as in the example of Speedy Crown.
2. Maternal matches where the maternal lines of the dam
match the primary lines of the sire as in the example of Albatross
3. Outmatches where the maternal lines of the dam match
in whole or in part the primary lines of the dam but not those of the sire
.
The matches are determined by what are called lineups
which consist of six letters each representing the lineage of a particular
sire line in the pedigree. Each standardbred horse can be identified by
this lineage code. The lineup for any one individual consists of the four
"primary" lines as shown on the attached examples plus two
"secondary" lines. Each of the letters refers to one of four
sire lineages through which all standardbreds trace back to Hambletonian.
e.g. A – The Abbe, D – Direct, P – Peter The Great, X – Axworthy.
For trotters, since there is usually no presence of A and D, the dominant
lineage of Peter The Great is split into three main branches designated as
V – Peter Volo, S – Peter Scott, and W – Worthy Boy.
The comparison of the six letter code for any broodmare
to that of a prospective sire is the first step in Pedigree Matching. Full
matches are easily identified since, as in the case of Speedy Crown, the
lineups are identical.
Speedy Crown by Speedy Scot XSXV SX
Out of Missile Toe by Florican XSXX SV
While the letters are not necessarily in the same
position in each lineup they do appear in equal numbers for each lineage.
i.e. three lines to Axworthy (X), two to Peter Scott (S) and one to Peter
Volo (V).
Maternal matches and outmatches have a different
pattern. Here you will find that there is an imbalance but that it shows a
consistent pattern in that when the lineups are compared there are two
lines or more of the same lineage that occur in one lineup but not in the
other and vice versa. A classic maternal match is evident in the case of
Albatross.
Albatross by Meadow Skipper PDXP AP
Out of Voodoo Hanover by Dancer Hanover AXXX DX
Here we have three lines to Peter The Great in the sire
but none in the dam lineup while we have three lines of Axworthy in the
dam that have no equivalent in the sire. Note that the one line to
Axworthy in the sire lineup is balanced off by the fourth X line in the
dam as is the line to Direct on both sides. If you look at the maternal
lines of the dam of Albatross i.e. those of Vibrant Hanover, you will see
that they are DPXP as traced through Walter Direct, Peter Volo, Guy
Axworthy and Peter The Great, the exact same sires through which the lines
of the dam of Meadow Skipper trace.
Beach Towel is a good example of an outmatch with the
maternal lines of Sunburn (DPAP) being the same as her primary lines (PDPA)
and a match as follows:
Beach Towel by French Chef PXPP AP
Sunburn by Armbro Nesbit PDPA DA
The outmatch of D in the dam to P in the sire requires
us to use X as equivalent to A in an otherwise perfect match, a not
uncommon situation given the affinity of Axworthy to The Abbe.
Very rarely you will see matches that have an outmatch
pattern as far as the lineup comparison is concerned but there is no
substantial similarity (three lines or more) between the sires primary
lines , the dams primary lines or the dams maternal lines as required in
the matches above. These extreme outmatches quite often produce extremely
fast performers with Cambest and Matts Scooter being two of the fastest
pacers of all time that fit this pattern.
PEDIGREE MATCHING FOR SUCCESS
The extent and frequency of Pedigree Matching in our
champion performers is remarkable and cannot be merely a matter of
coincidence. It would be foolish to assume however that Pedigree Matching
alone guarantees success on the racetrack. It is not the only key to
successful breeding but it can at least start you in the right direction.
The conformation and disposition of both sire and dam are also important
factors to be considered that may make the decision more difficult, not to
mention the affordability and availability of the sire of choice.
Many other factors that determine success are involved
including the conditions under which the foal is conceived and raised, the
care and training it receives as a yearling, the avoidance of non
hereditary health problems and a good measure of luck. The extent to which
the pedigrees match in those top performers that survive the many non
hereditary mishaps that can befall them on the way to greatness is,
however, impossible to ignore.
It certainly would appear that Pedigree Matching,
planned or otherwise, plays a big part in the breeding of champion race
horses. As a method of sire selection or indeed of picking out suitably
bred yearlings and broodmares it quickly identifies the ones that
statistically, based on past patterns, have the best chance of success.
There are, no doubt, examples that prove exceptions to this general
premise and, indeed, many useful and fast performers exist that do not
quite fit the patterns presented here but whose upbringing and training
has resulted in them overcoming their perceived genetic deficiencies.
Among true champions of the sport, however, they are few and far between.
