Actually, the Kentucky Derby, as well as the other races in the Triple Crown, is for three-year-old horses.
I stand corrected.
When I was younger I remember that some race horse owners and trainers wouldn’t enter their horses into the Kentucky Derby because they would have to race them the previous year. Two year olds racing before their legs have matured adequately is dangerous. Eight Belles may have paid for this poorly thought-out practice with her life.
After all, she’s born to run, it is her instinct, so it is up to her owner and trainer to care enough about her well-being to prevent what happened. She may very well have had stress fractures before she even stepped out onto the track.
true but they have to start racing a year before to even get the chance.