Let’s Talk Pt8: Dr. Emmeline Hill

Hey hey hey! Welcome to Let’s Talk Pt8! Today we are talking about equine scientist and researcher Dr. Emmeline Hill! So, let’s get into it!

Dr. Emmeline Hill is a leader in the studies of equine genetics and an award-winning scientist and researcher. In 2004, she received a Science Foundation Ireland award which ed a five-year program of work at UCD (University Collage Dublin School of Agriculture and Food Science) to investigate the genomics of performance in thoroughbred horses. Dr. Hill has published more scientific papers on equine exercise genomics than any other researcher worldwide. She also hails from a family with an extensive history of horse racing and breeding in Ireland. Her grandmother, Charmain Hill, was owner of Dawn Run, the only racehorse to have completed the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle (1984) and Gold Cup (1986) double. Dr. Hill was working as a scientist at UCD when she discovered a secret in the DNA of thoroughbred horses. One night in 2009, while staying in Colorado, she ran analysis on horse DNA research. What she found changed the horse racing industry forever.

What Dr. Hill discovered even surprised her. “I just thought ‘oh my god, I might have just found the needle in the haystack.”’ Hill recalls. What she found was a connection between a specific gene and physical traits that can predict the potential success of thoroughbred racehorses. Though some of her colleagues back in Ireland were initially skeptical, Dr. Hill and another colleague, David McHugh, later corroborated the findings. The results were also seen in the worldwide horse population. “What we found was that the more research we did, the stronger our claims became.” She says. Her discovery of what came to be known as the “speed gene” means that thoroughbred breeders have something more than just bloodlines and instinct to help them predict future winners.

The distinct gene, called myostatin, can determine a horse’s prime race distance and determine whether it has genes that are more suited to sprints, middle distance, or longer races. Dr. Hill and her team, established the company Equinome later in 2009 to commercialize the findings of this research. This resulted in the Equinome Speed Gene Test, in partnership the renowned racehorse trainer and breeder, Jim Bolger. Using the company’s second test, Equinome Elite Performance Test, thoroughbred owners and breeders can greatly increase their chances of identifying the foals and yearlings most likely to perform at the superior level. Dr. Hill went on to receive the Irish Tatler 2012 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at an awards ceremony held in Dublin for her success at Equinome.

Her research significantly changed the way breeders can predict the success of thoroughbred racehorses, but it could also have the potential of helping certain horses who might otherwise get labeled “too slow” when they may actually have the ability to be winners if they are entered in the type of races that best suit their abilities. Her amazing discovery not only increases the victory rate of owners and breeders, but can also improve the lives of many racehorses whose previously unknown potential can now be tapped into.

Thanks for reading about Dr. Emmeline Hill with me today! What she discovered has changed the lives of many horses and their connections. She is a truly incredible woman who’s research will continue to help many for years to come. I hope to see you guys next time in Let’s Talk Pt9!

Goodbye for now!

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