Hair mentioned that the old work horses got a bullet in the head as their veterinary medicine.
Here's another point: I've done a lot of research into American history, particularly the Civil War era. In that time I've seen an awful lot of photographs of horses . . . just because in that era they were as common as automobiles, trucks, and tractors are today. Everybody had a couple.
Except for a very few high bred carriage horses, hunters, and racers . . . the poor things look just awful! So many of them are weedy, poorly conformed, poorly cared for . . . just pitiful! I think it was because they were utility transportation, the equivalent of a Ford Taurus, and nobody really cared what they looked like or felt like, so long as they could pull the wagon. And if they couldn't pull the wagon, off they went to the dog meat man.
Our horses are much better off today having been converted from Ford Taurus status to Lamborghinis.
Baloney. Check out the horses that run freely...... if you can find any of them any more.
You are merely making excuses for a meaningless, human-centered sport......... horse racing.
Horse racing is a lame and poor joke.
Of course these particular race horses are cared for very well and look wonderful .............. so what!
Horse racing is an egotistical, moronic human endeavor.
Plain and simple.