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https://thoroughbredreview.com/bruce-lowes-figure-system/
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That undated, unsigned article debunks a theory that as far as I understand was never a theory.
Before the first World War the vet and writer J B Robertson pointed out the Figure System was not a pointer to ability.
If anyone says anything about pedigree detractors call it a theory and produce evidence (often an example of one) to debunk the theory.
The article linked has two debunkers in the text, Phil Bull, the Timeform founder, and Emmaline Hill of Plusvital/Equinome.
Before the first World War the vet and writer J B Robertson pointed out the Figure System was not a pointer to ability.
If anyone says anything about pedigree detractors call it a theory and produce evidence (often an example of one) to debunk the theory.
The article linked has two debunkers in the text, Phil Bull, the Timeform founder, and Emmaline Hill of Plusvital/Equinome.
You have to admit that my post was a lot more interesting than your nonsense
In May 2025 I put up a non-commercial breeding website foalmare.com.
The subject is in an 80 page pdf document you can download (or you can read the same text on the website).
Of interest to some might be what I think is the very weak link between the ratings of dams and their offspring (sample size 69,135 rated runners).
For every extra point for the dam her foals inherit only about one quarter of a point.
I did not use black type as that only covers top rated horses, and they are a small percentage of the thoroughbred population.
The bigger analysis shows the link between 18 different types of inbreeding and runner ratings (sample size was 159,222 rated runners).
There is a good spread of runner ratings from very low, to average, to top rated runners, necessary for contrast.
There are many tables, graphs, and pedigree charts that I hope make pedigrees clearer.
What has happened in the last half-century (since the introuction of the Pattern and Group races) is
- an increase in stallion book size
- a reduction in number of stallions
- an increase in negative types of inbreeding
- a reduction in positive types of inbreeding
Inbreeding has been reducing year by year from 1900 to 2010 (the timeframe examined).
In the last 50 years there was an increase in negative inbreeding types within reduced levels of inbreeding.
There is great variability in inheritance but a picture emerges from the large data sample used.
The subject is in an 80 page pdf document you can download (or you can read the same text on the website).
Of interest to some might be what I think is the very weak link between the ratings of dams and their offspring (sample size 69,135 rated runners).
For every extra point for the dam her foals inherit only about one quarter of a point.
I did not use black type as that only covers top rated horses, and they are a small percentage of the thoroughbred population.
The bigger analysis shows the link between 18 different types of inbreeding and runner ratings (sample size was 159,222 rated runners).
There is a good spread of runner ratings from very low, to average, to top rated runners, necessary for contrast.
There are many tables, graphs, and pedigree charts that I hope make pedigrees clearer.
What has happened in the last half-century (since the introuction of the Pattern and Group races) is
- an increase in stallion book size
- a reduction in number of stallions
- an increase in negative types of inbreeding
- a reduction in positive types of inbreeding
Inbreeding has been reducing year by year from 1900 to 2010 (the timeframe examined).
In the last 50 years there was an increase in negative inbreeding types within reduced levels of inbreeding.
There is great variability in inheritance but a picture emerges from the large data sample used.
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