Note: The bi-annual International Breeders Meeting was held on May 30 in Tokyo and was hosted by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association. Delegates from 16 countries along with each country’s associated veterinarians and observers met to exchange information pertaining to Thoroughbred racing, breeding, sales and general equine health. The following report on the meeting was compiled by the two U. S. delegates representing the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association–TOBA director John Phillips, of Darby Dan Farm, and Dr. David Powell, of the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center.

The IBM has two components: The formal delegates meeting and the veterinarian’s pre-meeting session, where new medical developments are shared, disease reports are submitted, and information is reviewed from the IBM’s International Collating Centre based in Newmarket, England. The ICC is a real-time collection of information on disease outbreaks or time sensitive health issues that is accessible online by all IBM member countries.

Delegates to the IBM, spouses, veterinarians and guests were shown incomparable hospitality by the JBBA and the JRA. The professionalism, precision and thoroughness of their organization explain the ascending fortunes of Japan breeds on the world stage. Their facilities, commitment, and attention to detail were only exceeded by a most genuine and generous hospitality.

As a point of interest, the Japan Racing Association presented a fascinating analysis of the running form of their most recent Triple Crown winner Deep Impact. The motion analysis examined such things as stride length, duration of ground contact and the respective positioning of each limb. A summary of the research may be obtained by contacting the JRA directly