You may never heard of the ‘poverty line’, but don’t worry, it’s nothing to do with destitution. What it is, in fact, is a centuries-old term used to describe an indentation, or groove, which runs between two large muscles – technically known as the biceps femoris and semitendinosus – in the rear thigh of a horse. In the same was as the poverty line is especially noticeable in extremely malnourished horses, so it is in extremely fit horses, such as racehorses. Of course, racehorses enjoy first-rate care and nutrition but, when ready to race, are maintained in lean condition.
Recent performances usually indicate when a horse is at, or approaching, peak fitness, but, if a horse has been absent for a while because of injury, unsuitable going or any other reason, the formbook student has no chance to assess its level of fitness. It’s not unusual for a horse returning from a break to carry a little extra weight, or ‘condition’, and lack muscle definition, such that it is unable to perform to the best of its ability. Put simply, unfit horses cannot win races. Nevertheless, while the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has strict ‘non-trier’ rules, which forbid trainers running their horses down the field, for the purposes of conditioning or schooling, plenty of horses incapable of winning appear on British racecourses every day.
However, with pictures of horses in the paddock shown regularly on terrestrial, cable and satellite television, including in betting shops, the off-course punter can, at least, gain an inkling into the fitness of each horse. During your paddock review, look for a shiny coat – if it’s glistening with a little sweat, that’s fine – together with a pronounced poverty line and tight, rippling muscles in the rear thighs. These are all signs that a horse is ‘hard fit’ and capable of a flat-out effort against its rivals.