[Nepeta]

As horrifying as catastrophic breakdowns are, in fact there has been only one breakdown leading to euthanization in the Kentucky Derby over all its runnings. No jockeys have died, either. The economic importance of breeding and racing TBs is not trivial in several states. Thousands of people are employed, and if there was no racing the economic impact would be great. Is there room for improvement? Of course. In Mongolia, they run 18 mile races over uneven ground with 12-13 hand horses galloping all the way. [Mongols are insulted if you call them ponies...] They spend all their lives outside and are obviously very tough, running farther in one day than most TBs do in their racing careers. Obviously, there is some lesson to be learned.

[omega4179]

I still don’t see how Horses benefit from Racing.