Horse Racing Is Breeding Itself to Death

Washington Post ^ | May 4, 2008 | Sally Jenkins

[Mr Rogers]

True, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the breeding has pushed speed beyond structural soundness. Particularly with fillies, it seems they are being pushed beyond their ability to compete.

[SeeSharp]

(insert theme song to the TV show Mr. Ed here)

I was thinking of the horse in Animal Farm singing The Internationale.

[Lurker]

Dear Sally,

The real tragedy is that several hundred pounds of perfectly good horse meat weren't sold after this horse met its maker.

L

[metmom]

I just can’t find it in me to justify abusing animals for profit.

Horse racing has a tainted history.

Regardless of the fact that they are bred for racing, pushing any animal to the point of injuring itself like that is abuse.

[BIGLOOK]

Thoroughbreds have developed problem through the selective process of breeding. Owners want Secretariats and Affirmeds as much for the purse as the stud fees. What they often overlook is a John Henry.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks. And the other point she was making was that there is a trend that is making this more common now...I don’t think that’s true either.

Big Brown got a perfect ride...and he is quite colt.

[gate2wire]

Yeah, he looked pretty darn good. Did you find somewhere to bet?

Time for bed. Sad day, but it’s over. Lots of racing tomorrow.

[tbw2]

Americans don’t eat horse meat, and both plants in the US that processed horse meat for export were shut down by environmentalists. So the horses get bought up cheap, especially in Texas, and sent to Mexico to be slaughtered less humanely.
So a lot fewer horses are being sold for meat, and a lot more of them are being left to starve on back lots.

[skimask]

Here at Santa Anita, the turf course crosses over the main track at the west end. There was a guilding I liked and had won a few bucks on, Delegante, guy had big lungs. At the close of the racing season here the have a race, San Juan Capistrano Stakes, a mile and 3/4’s. Any way, Delegante had the lead by 5 lengths with about 1/4 mile to go. He broke down crossing that strip of grass and had to be put down.

[devere]

They can’t call it “improving the breed” any more, because the breed hit a peak, unlikely to be excelled in my lifetime, in 1973.
For any who don’t remember, this was the amazing scene at Belmont Park:

http://www.championsgallery.com/Secretariat%20The%20Photo.jpg

Losing a championship horse on the track is very sad, and also very expensive. I’m sure that when the veterinary medicine profession can come up with better early warnings to prevent such tragedies, they will do so. But the purpose of horse racing is not to abuse horses, but rather to glorify them.

[skimask]

Secretiatiat made a FORTUNE for his owners in stud fees. When he died they did an autopsy on him and found his heart was twice the size of a regular thoroughbred. The Big Red Bay was one beautiful race horse.

[Lurker]

Americans don’t eat horse meat, and both plants in the US that processed horse meat for export were shut down by environmentalists.

Like I said....

L

[Eye On The Left]

Another twist in this story is that Eight Belles' trainer won the filly equivalent of the Derby, the "Kentucky Oats", yesterday (Friday) with another filly named Proud Spell. He also used to work the horse out himself as opposed to using a traditional exercise rider. And the guy is no lightweight. He has to weigh close to 200 lbs. I worked around a few racetracks as a teenager and never saw such a heavy person on a thoroughbred. I'm wondering if he and his unusual training methods had anything to do with the horse's injury. In any case, if he HAD won the Derby with Eight Belles, it would have been the first time ever that a single barn won both halves of these two major 3-yr old races in the same year.

[Impy]

Poor horsies. Why don’t their legs heal?

[KJC1]

I don't like horse races, this is why. This horse would be alive today if not for this stupidity. Now she is dead after sustaining a serious and unnecessary injury.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Oh please. These horses would inevitably end up as glue, dog food, or Chinese/European food regardless if they were racing or not.

[Eye On The Left]

Secretiatiat made a FORTUNE for his owners in stud fees. When he died they did an autopsy on him and found his heart was twice the size of a regular thoroughbred. The Big Red Bay was one beautiful race horse.

And remember the nick name for Secretariat? 'Big Red'. Big Brown, Big Red. Looks like this one also has a solid change at the Triple Crown. The Belmont Stakes, at a mile an a half, is most often won by horses with early speed. And BB has a TON of speed of early speed. Yet he still manages to finish powerfully like a closer! In short, this Big Brown is a MONSTER!

[RDTF]

what a heartbreak. Glad I was working and didn’t see it live. Although it hurts just the same.

[RDTF]

what a heartbreak. Glad I was working and didn’t see it live. Although it hurts just the same.

[nina0113]

what a heartbreak. Glad I was working and didn’t see it live. Although it hurts just the same.

The bar we watched it in got real quiet real fast, and no one stayed long after.