racing

[GSD Woman]

I don't know how common it is for horses racing on turf to break down. Here is an article on the problem in US thoruorobred racing. Please excuse any spelling mistakes. Since spell check my spelling has gone to poop. And, spell check doesn't always help.

My own ideas about the high number of breakdowns is related to breeding for speed instead of all around racing, sprints and distance. And, weight carrying ability. These two year olds are broken in too early, raced too early, and are heavily line bred on horses know for producing weak legs and hooves.

Opinion | Dead Athletes. Empty Stands. Why Are We Paying Billions to Keep This Sport Alive?

Let the sport of kings stand on its own.

www.nytimes.com

 

[stangs]

Interesting article, thanks for sharing.

Didn’t realise that the US doesn’t have a national governing body for racing. As much as governing bodies often just maintain the status quo, that’s shameful.

Will admit though that I disliked how the author conflated harness and thoroughbred racing. I get that they’re more similar economically in the US than here, but the impression I got was that he was deliberately conflating them in order to present the “worst of both worlds”.

 

[stangs]

I don't know how common it is for horses racing on turf to break down

Not a recent statistic but:

A database compiled by The Jockey Club indicated the incidence of fatal injuries in 2011 was lower when horses raced on synthetic track surfaces rather than dirt. The rate of fatalities on dirt was 2.07 per 1000 starts, while the rate on synthetic surfaces was 1.09 per 1000 starts. Fatalities on turf courses were 1.53 per 1000 starts in 2011. Races on dirt were the most numerous (283,745) followed by races on an artificial surface (45,700) and turf (50,362).

Trend Continues: Fewer Fatal Injuries to Horses on Synthetic Racing Surfaces - Kentucky Equine Research

The rate of fatalities on dirt was 2.07 per 1000 starts, while the rate on synthetic surfaces was 1.09 per 1000 starts.

ker.com

This is data from the US though, and my understanding is that injuries and fatalities in the US/Canada are considerably higher than in Europe and Japan (allegedly because American and Canadian trainers are less knowledgeable of sports science, and are more likely to do things “their way”, than trainers elsewhere in the world.)

 

[GSD Woman]

Will admit though that I disliked how the author conflated harness and thoroughbred racing. I get that they’re more similar economically in the US than here, but the impression I got was that he was deliberately conflating them in order to present the “worst of both worlds”.

My understanding is racing Standardbreds rarely breakdown. Just like the UK there are programs to rehome retired racers.

And using PeTA as a reliable source, what a crock.

 

[ycbm]

My understanding is racing Standardbreds rarely breakdown. Just like the UK there are programs to rehome retired racers.

And using PeTA as a reliable source, what a crock.

I don't think Standardbreds can reasonably be compared with TBs when looking at broken legs while racing. In the UK at least, Standardbreds don't race out of trot/pace, they are always in a symmetric pace loading two legs at a time and they pull the jockey, they don't have the weight on their backs.
.

 

[reynold]

HORSE PWR - SAFETY AND WELFARE IN HORSERACING

British racing’s hub dedicated to the Thoroughbred racehorse, the ultimate equine athlete.

horsepwr.co.uk

Up to date figures on fatalities in UK horse racing (from 2024). Things have improved a lot since 2011 - both in course design/inspection and in vet care of the racehorse. Note also that the above figures include horses pts withing 48 hours after a race, not just on a racecourse. Lots of interesting stuff on that website if you are interested (and yes, I know it's been put together by UK racing authorities).

As regards the USA each state has it's own racing authority and rules, although similar, are not identical - especially in regard to permitted drug use such as Lasix. Horses that trainers think need 'medication' race in states where that medication is permitted (although I think Lasix is now deprecated across the USA).

This leads to medicated horses being used for breeding and thus polluting the gene pool with offspring that are physically 'weaker'. I am very much of the opinion that breeding from poor specimens is a cause of lack of longevity in all equestrian spheres, not just racing.

As for using PETA as a reliable source - yikes!