Thoroughbreds LOVE freakin’ racing. They know they are epic track gladiators and revel in the challenge. Our off-track, Watson, kicked azz on dirt and is a spectacular family member. Our prior before him, Mickey, didn’t make the cut for the track, but was ridden in training by a triple crown jockey and went on to glory in Hunter-Jumper and Dressage (FTR - not their competition names). He passed at 29 closing out retirement life with long trail walks with the wife sprinkled with occasional charging/chasing off overly bold coyotes.
Granted, there is a vast quantity of people who suck at horses, including a lot who seem to know their crap on the face of it. If you “get” the underlying relationship that you are engaging with a prey animal that MUST be confident that you are not going to “get us eaten” you will forging a bond with an animal that will carry you into battle if called upon.
And one of the horses in the Ky Derby had to be “destroyed” due to breaking two ankles during the race.