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Interesting that the racetrack officials think they see contact between Barbaro and Brother Derek.

It did happen......... the legs connected/bumped. I guess that happens.

I'm a little odd I suppose, but I'd just like to see these horses and live with these beautiful creatures................. no racing........ especially when they are so relatively young (three years old).

But ....... I'm just a little nuts.

;-)

No, there's a lot to be said for not starting them at two. I would love to see the colts and fillies held until they are three, but with the massive investments necessary to buy and train them, the owners and trainers don't want to wait an extra year to try to get their money back.

It's kind of a catch-22, because a lot of these horses would never have been conceived or born without the impetus of racing itself - but the racing spoils so many of them, or at least weakens their legs for later in life. Sort of like the college or pro football player whose injuries start catching up with him in his 30s and 40s . . .

Man O' War didn't run in the Kentucky Derby because his owner, Sam Riddle, didn't believe in allowing three year olds to run that distance so early in the season. But he was fabulously wealthy and could afford to do exactly what he wanted with his horses.

Those of us who buy hunter/jumper prospects from the track or the racing farm are most concerned about the state of the horses' legs, particularly if they've seen a lot of racing. It's usually better to buy one that washed out in training - less likely to break down.