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blows that might be likened to the bite of a carnivore from days long past.

Win a Grade I race and cash out in the breeding shed. This business plan needs to be challenged. Training methods are tailored to win races that were designed for horses that no longer exist. Many horses that run in the Triple Crown races never run in races of similar distances after their three year old campaign, and those that do take more time off between races. It's just too hard on them.

It should be no surprise that horses are breaking down while being forced to run at speeds and for distances for which they may not be prepared. Critics of the Triple Crown should be considered. Maybe three year olds are asked to do too much, too soon in the name of a tradition that is no longer in the best interest of the sport. It does the sport no good if its stars die before their time and horrify the audience in the process.

Finally I believe the people in charge of regulating the sport are too conflicted to protect the animals involved in the sport. Revenue from gambling requires too much racing and too little regulation to protect all the participants in what could be a sport that keeps exploitation to a minimum. Some form of OSHA regulations and wage and hour limitations is needed but horses can't vote.

Maybe even the gamblers would appreciate the time off and be better off for it, but that is another topic.

Learn more about this author, John Asgeirson.
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