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.
Some bloodlines of thoroughbreds are definitely known to have weaker bones, more easily fractured.
There have been a few fillies who could compete against the colts... there has been at least one winner of the Kentucky Derby who was a filly (Regret, can't remember the year she won).
Some years back, there was another gallant filly, Ruffian, who also fractured a leg and had to be destroyed. I remember reading that her bloodlines were known to be full of horses with weak legs. Her bloodlines had Bold Ruler on both sides of the pedigree, IIRC, and he was known to pass on weak legs.
If you Google Ruffian's name and find a picture, you can see that she had very delicate-looking legs, even for a thoroughbred. She was also a relatively large filly.
Or could the horses be started racing too early in their development? Anyone out there know anything about this?
Some folks think they race them too young, which may be part of it. All thoroughbreds are considered to have the same birthday (not sure, but I think it's January 1), regardless of when they were actually born.
In this country, thoroughbreds commonly start racing as two-year-olds. But they're not actually full-grown until they're about four years old.