I agree 100 percent thats a major issue in horse racing in all sports theres always a few superstars people love to follow and watch.That helps these sports grow and stay strong in horse racing the older day horses raced longer and more often and we all had a few horses we loved to watch.Nowadays theres not many horses that race long enough to get a huge following as soon as you find that horse you fall in love with it either retires early or maybe runs 3 races a year.This sport more than any needs that Superstar to get horse racing back or at least on the way back
Zenyatta and her team were the best. Not only did she out run all but one horse in her career, her track history is putting the current crop of horses and their management to shame.
It will take a courageous team to again bring another champion through a great career, too bad they are too few and far between in years to arrive. Somewhere in time it will happen again with the right group of people and a good horse.
The horses that are retired because of injury I wouldn't feel comfortable breeding with if I was an owner, why breed to a fragil horse that can't run beyond its third year?
I think the main problem is the purses are to high along with the bonuses and incentives these horses get for winning. A horses can easily win a couple of million with less the 6 or 7 races. Then the big investors come along and offer huge amount for these truly untested animals especially in the shed. I don’t blame the owners for trying but in all honestly they are killing this great sport. Look at the following Zenyatta
had. She ran 20 races which is a lot in today’s standards. See caught the eye of many and the sport rose to the occasion. The people will come if only theses great horses have a chance to make their full potential show.
I'm in agreement. All part of the full picture. Something has to change. And the folks who are participants of the sport are in the best position to realise this and come up with solutions.
Although I'm sure many mean well, it can't just be about you/(them). Only a team effort could/will revive this sport. Time for new ideas. And, spread that purse money around. JMHO
This only my opinion. I agre with you guys. Another problem breeding. What i mean is a horse can make more money breeding than he could ever make running Its hard to find a great 3yo return to run at 4. This is killing the sport. Back in the day horses remain in training and continue to race. The older horse division is not as strong as in the past and it doesnt seem like it will return without some changes
So sad. Gonna miss this guy. What to do? What to do? I understand you have to take care of these expensive animals and do what's right for them. No qualms there.
But, on ther other hand, these incidents are getting out of hand. No end in site. Nothing to look forward to each year. The same old thing. Get them on and off of the tarck as fast as you can. That's the formula. But this is taking a tremendous tole on the thoroughbred horseracing industy in America,which is already in a steep decline.
I'll tell ya this, I've been around this sport my whole life and it never use to be like this.Now, every year, we go through the same thing as far as our Triple Crown horses are concerned. Kind of an understood. No surprises.
I might add, insurance is so expensive on these big name horses. That also enters into the formula. Btw, that big white horse, Hansen is still giving them hell. I like this horse.