[GnuHere]

Had the filly raced on dirt before? I know they mentioned at least one or more of the horses had only raced on synthetic tracks.

[epow]

I don't know for sure, but it's very likely that she had run on dirt before since there still aren't very many tracks with the synthetic turf material due to the $8 to $10 million cost of replacing dirt with Polyturf or it's equivalent. That cost is relatively low compared to the monetary value of the good thoroughbreds who are lost each year because of the accidents, and practically inconsequential as far as I'm concerned when you consider the suffering that the injured horses undergo when this kind of thing happens on a dirt track.

Thoroughbreds are such noble and gallant animals that they deserve the best that we can give them IMHO, but then I'm just a softhearted old horse lover.

[celtic gal]

I don’t know anything much about horses except that they are gorgeous creatures. I have had opportunity to ride a couple horses so I do appreciate them and it is glorious to see them run.
But I wonder if in the breeding of these special breeds if there is something that is causing the bones to be weak..a sort of genetic thing that until some terrible event like this takes place, it goes unnoticed? Or could the horses be started racing too early in their development? Anyone out there know anything about this?
IT was such a sad event today and like others, I could not watch the rest of the race either.

[gate2wire]

“Had the filly raced on dirt before?”

Yes, all nine of her previous races were on dirt.