I can't help watching. I feel exactly the same as you; the horses are stars to me more than most human celebrities. Their beauty and grace is a more valid argument for the existence of God than most others, at least for me.

I hate the abuses of horse racing more than almost any other animal industry. Ferdinand and Exceller, ending up in slaughter houses? Horses breaking down, earlier and earlier? Horses given up like they are just trash?

Wonderful post, I really enjoyed reading your examination of your feelings regarding this issue.

I was born in Kentucky and I was too young to remember the first time I sat a horse. It was an old plow horse and I was probably the 14th or 15th little one that she proudly paraded around. They've been in my blood ever since!

I finally moved on to those magnificant thoroughbreds around Lexington. Every line and curve on them a marvel to behold.

Yes, I'll watch The Derby. An old man set in his ways can't be changed. But, like Patty, I'll have it on the DVR. That way, if the unspeakable happens, I can hit the stop buttom before the first tear falls.

They talk about footing, and drugs, and on and on...but they never address overall management of the horses, which I think has a big part in the constant injuries. It's not something that many casual fans of racing know, but the racehorses live in their stalls except when they're exercising. A horse's stall is about as big, comparatively, as a phone booth. They can turn around, they can lay down--sometimes they can't stand up again, because it's too cramped--but they can't do more.

Think about what that's doing to their bones and muscles, just standing around doing nothing. No wonder they have such weak bones that they shatter, that they pull their tendons, that they tear their ligaments.

Imagine if a quarterback on your favorite team were told to sit in front of the TV except when he's exercising--limited exercise--once a day.

Oh yes, there are a number of traditions on the track that lead to really weird exercise methods, such as the concept that a horse "only has so many miles" in his legs, and so they *restrict* the amount of exercise these horses get. I was telling a student that racehorses don't get nearly enough exercise, and she told me that she knew Barbaro's trainer: he exercises the horses TWICE a day! Obviously the horses in his care are going to have better bones and better stamina than the others...that was the year Barbaro was such a hotshot, but before he was injured. Twice a day isn't enough to be moving around; they need to not be confined in a phone booth!

Thank you for reminding readers not only of the safety and moral issues involved in horse racing, but also of the steps the industry is taking to improve the safety and welfare of the horses and humans involved. I do believe there is a lot of good will within the industry to make those changes, but I also believe that it will take sustained attention from the outside to help make those changes happen.

I don't think you have, but have you ever run a column on the various racehorse retirement programs? Old Friends (http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/ ) is one such program, with some wonderful blog posts by staff on the retired athletes in their twilight years. Some of the stallions will still race each other up and down the paddock fences, for the sheer joy of it.

One question: tears over Genuine Risk? Granted she panned out as a broodmare, but she did live to a ripe old age of 31, and passed away out in her paddock. :-)

>>It's not something that many casual fans of racing know, but the racehorses live in their stalls except when they're exercising.>>

Okay, that's true. Some trainers put horses on the walking machine, and some of the larger tracks have Equicizer machines (which are really neat). Harness racing horses sometimes race "off the farm" and are turned out, but this is a less common practice amongst flat racing trainers.

Living in the stall is also a common management method for high-end riding horses, BTW. It's not uncommon for many (though most certainly not all) Olympic-caliber horses to spend their lives in stalls.

>>A horse's stall is about as big, comparatively, as a phone booth. They can turn around, they can lay down--sometimes they can't stand up again, because it's too cramped--but they can't do more.>>

Where on earth did you see this? I've visited and worked on the backstretches of some of the cheapest racetracks in the U.S. and Canada and I've literally never seen a stall that small, even at fairs.

Re: Barbaro's trainer - his background was in show jumping, so I'm not surprised his training regimens are unconventional for flat racing.

Re: racehorse retirement programs - racing does more for unwanted horses than any other breed organization, in my opinion. My favorite programs are the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation ("TRF") and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation. Old Friends does good work, too.

Over the years, all three programs have taken horses from my practice.

No-one has addressed the real problem: the selective breeding for speed and only speed is what has destroyed racing. Speed rhymes with greed, notice?

Many of today's owners don't give a damn about the animal. They see it as a "depreciable asset" on their tax returns (3 years according to the IRS!) and don't really care about a horse that gets hurt or doesn't win.

Do a Google Image search for pictures of famous race horses from the early part of the 20th century till now. You will immediately notice that although the early horses were just as handsome, and most were just as fast or faster, they were bigger and stronger, with legs and ankles that could support their weight, with big chests that had big lungs. They had much longer careers for that very reason. Owners were willing to invest the time and money to see a horse develop over the years, and earn a well earned retirement at stud or as a breeding mare. Today's stallions are so dumb and skittish that ordinary ones not headed for the big time are routinely gelded to make them calmer.

I believe I coined this maxim: A thoroughbred is no more a horse, than a poodle is a dog. Think about it. Not one of God's creatures has ever been "improved" by man, except for selfish and short term reasons and results. Of course the animals we hold have no say in whom they mate with, as they would in the wild or allowed to breed at will. Natural selection is best. Breed in one "good" trait, and you'll inevitably breed in a "bad" one. It's not nice to fool Mother Nature.

I stand by it. My favorite horses are the big draft horses, real big horses with big strong legs that could pull a plow, a cart, or ride into battle like a live tank, and lived long lives without much delicate care. I like to watch the farm sport of having these horses pull sleds of weights. It's amazing.

As for Barbaro, let me tell you something scary. As I watched him parade to the post on Kentucky Derby day, I actually turned to the others at the party and said, "That horse is not sound. I don't like the way he is walking. He seems to favor the one leg." When he won, they told me I didn't know what I was talking about. Of course, when he broke down in the quest for the Triple Crown, I was proved correct. Soundness in a horse is good general health that will stand the test of time.
I've often wondered if his owners suspected this, but decided to run him anyway. They were true horse lovers, and that's why they spent thousands and thousands in a futile attempt to save his life.

Again I say: it's the breeding that must be changed. The sport has been destroyed by greed, in the ever increasing quest for speed.

>>My favorite horses are the big draft horses, real big horses with big strong legs that could pull a plow, a cart, or ride into battle like a live tank>>

I've worked with high-end pulling horses because I'm an equine performance veterinarian. Draft have problems with lameness, upper airway function ("roarers" are common), metabolic abnormalities and atrial fibrillation, to name just a few of the most common issues I see. The larger the horse, the more difficult it is to maintain soundness over time.

>>...and lived long lives without much delicate care.>>

In my experience, drafts are delicate. Also in my experience, the larger the horse, the shorter the expected lifespan.

In my opinion, the toughest horses on the planet are Standardbreds. Those horses are unbelievable.

>>I like to watch the farm sport of having these horses pull sleds of weights. It's amazing.>>

Sure, it's amazing. And this sport is also rife with abuses: medications (anabolic steroids are a favorite), electric cattle prods, "sweating" to meet weight classes (open class heavyweights excepted). Furthermore, it's considered standard management for drafts to live in straight, or tie, stalls with minimal turnout.

In every performance horse sport, there are owners and trainers who abuse their animals for the sake of winning competitions. Fortunately for people like me who love and work with performance horses, the majority of owners and trainers care about their horses' welfare. That includes owners and trainers of racehorses, many of whom make a genuine effort to find quality second careers for their ex-racehorses. The TRF receives virtually all of its horses directly from racetracks, signed over by their owners, and there is usually a waiting list.

Re: Barbaro's owners and trainer. You don't know them. Two of my colleagues/friends do, and according to them (and every news account I've heard) both the Jacksons and Michael Matz are class acts who were devastated by the horse's injury. Barbaro's breakdown was a freak accident; I've never seen a racehorse with that type of break, though I've often seen this scenario amongst pastured horses who "take a bad step". No responsible trainer would run an obviously lame horse, if for no other reason than the safety of the jockeys - and that's if the track veterinarians (as well as the horse's personal veterinarian) somehow missed the lameness during the pre-race exam or in the paddock/post parade.

You don't have to like racing, and I agree with your points re: breeding for speed (especially young speed), not soundness. But you should know most people in racing treat their horses at least as well as most performance or pleasure horse owners do theirs.

I won't watch. The risk is just too great. I have loved horse racing for years, but its decline is just too painful. Horses now are just another commodity; when racing time is over, often a painful end awaits the innocent creatures. Too many injuries; too few rewards.

My father was an avid racing fan for years. Most of our living room furniture was purchased with his winnings. I asked my mother if she remembered horses being injured. Short answer - no, or they wouldn't have patronized the sport. Wish I knew what it would take to bring back the "good old days."

If Thoroughbreds are so skittish and stupid, why do so many of them go on to have careers as jumpers and events, or make it in horse adoption program? You can't be THAT stupid and skittish if you are a race horse or you would never actually race.

Secondly, the reason they are retired earlier now is not due to soundness- it's because horse racing is a business and not a charity or labor of love. Syndicating horses and putting them out to stud is much more lucrative than racing.

I also don't understand how purposely bred horses like race horses are bad and "not improved by man" but draft horses are ok? Do you think draft horses are not man made breeds?

I refuse to watch now that I know about the other side of the sport. It would be like going to a track to watch greyhounds run. (I saw a documentary once with euthanised greyhounds being taken out 5 deep in wheelbarrows to pickup trucks for disposal that will haunt me forever.)

I LOVE horses and grew up reading the Black Stallion series (among others) and collecting Breyer horses. (and even showed Breyers as an adult-google live breyer model horse show-it was SO much fun! The detail on the tack they make is astounding.)

Watching just feels to much like condoning for me. And I agree, they need to crack down on rules, age limits and breed sounder horses for the sport. I'm not sure that will happen for quite some time because they are making money and little changes unless the bottom line gets affected first.

This is why the AKC finally let mixed breeds into obedience and started doing Rally at shows. It brought back revenue they were losing.

Sadly it is always about the money.

>>the reason they are retired earlier now is not due to soundness- it's because horse racing is a business and not a charity or labor of love. Syndicating horses and putting them out to stud is much more lucrative than racing.>>

You're correct; many (if not most) horses are retired early because they simply aren't profitable racehorses. Many have successful careers after leaving the racetrack. It's also true that some very successful young horses are retired to stud early. Racing is a business.

As one who as worked in the industry, however, I do see horses retired due to soundness issues. I think the breed would be improved if more horses entering the gene pool had raced successfully as older horses, as was the case in the past.

I love Thoroughbreds and love to watch horse racing, but there is an undercurrent of guilt on my part. I worry about things like gastric ulceration (up to 90% of Tb's affected), and the young age of horses in work. Still, I won't stay away.

Dr. Kuhly, I think you previously commented Flroida subsidzes horse racing.

Iowa subsidizes horse racing and greyound racing.

This is corporate welfare, no better than bailing out banks. It is amazing to me supporters proudly tout the things they buy off the public dole, as if that is a defense.

I simply don't understand why politicians fund this stuff. It is taking from the many taxpayers and giving to the politically connected, in exchange for a few campaign dollars, box seats, etc.

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