The sad thing is .. .  He was kept alive for the sperm.  That, to me is sad.  I've had horses for over 40 years.  Young ones and old ones.  I've yet to have a 2 or 3 year old baby break a leg running in the pasture.  This is why I DO NOT like horse racing.  They are pushed too hard, too young.  After watching the great Ruffian break her leg, I've never watched a horse race since.

To say they would never have collected $20 million in stud fees is a joke they would have gotten that in 2 years. $100K Stud fee X 100 mares a year = $20 million in 2 years. He would have made the $20 million before he ever had a foal at the track. I guarentee you it was all about the money.

The news of Barbaro's death sadden me deaply. I have to agree with your post.  These people have plenty of money and I don't think money was the main issue with these owners.  He was probably covered by insurance anyways so maybe they figure let's try and save this colt.   This horse touched the hearts of horse people and non horse people world wide.  I was amazed at the amount of money that was donated to the New Bolton Center on this horses behalf.  So something good did happen from  this traggic accident.  I personally do not agree with the sport of horse racing. IMO no horse should be put under saddle until they are 3 y/o. But in the racing world these poor horses are being thrown away by the time they reach that age.  (very very sad) 

Barbaro, like all other horses that have past, runs free now.............

You must have missed my point, I don't care if it was about the money, I was just trying to explain the economics of the horse industry. $20 million for a Derby winning sire is beans.

They'll still collect on the insurance...

I do agree that it's OK to make money on horses, if not we would be in a world of hurt.  I also believe that making the best medical choices for our animals is part of our duty to them.

After reading all the posts thus far, I can't seem to find where any of these posts suggest that it's evil to make money off of horses.  Also, please explain why you think we should go to work for free in comparison to "horse racing and money".  I don't understand that statement.

Any intelligent horse person knows that these horses are put under saddle before they are fully developed and then forced to race at such a young age.  That's a damned true fact, period.  Now you can call that "evil". 

Heres a thought.....maybe they run so hard and fast on the track because they're hoping they can get the hell away from where they were just at.    

" Maybe they run so hard and so fast on the track because they're hoping they can get the hell away from where they just were....

You have obviously never owned a Thoroughbred,Or ridden one at a gallop next to another horse. The race is in their blood. They LOVE to run! Thoroughbreds that have never been race trained possess the will to win, possess an insurmountable amount of courage. Have you ever heard of the true story of Thoroughbred named Moifa? I believe that was his name. He was aboard a ship out in the ocean, the ship wrecked and sank.He swam 100 miles to an island. He was there until fisherman sighted him.Half dead and starved. Someone heard about a horse on this island and thought "No way" this could not be Moifa could it? Sure enough it was! The only survivor of the sunken ship. He went back into race training and became a champion. No this is not the story of "The Black Stallion". Although I do wonder if this is Where Walter Farley (author of The Black Stallion)got his idea for the book?Actually everything in the first book had the same incidents that happened to real live racing TB's though- all compiled in the first book.

I do think that Barbaro's owners truly loved him and truly didn't want this story to end up the tragic "Ruffian" story that we all have heard of. I truly think that they thought, "We have the money- Let's not let him end up like Ruffian or Go for Wand- Or at least try. But, You need to remember- It was not the broken leg that ended up killing him. It was the laminitis that set in the other hooves. So, technology has come farther.

Yes, I do agree that TB's are pushed too hard at too young an age in the racing industry. Now, What can we do about that? Maybe ban the whips that the jockey's use? That way they wouldn't be able to push the horse above and beyond what that horse is capable of doing? Maybe raise the racing age to 3-4years old. Do remember that TB's do mature Physically, much faster than most other breeds. How about no metal shoes? Do they really need it on soft dirt? I would think with all the hard pounding that this has to be shock inhibitive to the leg bones! Just a thought.....

I rode a pony once that had racing in her blood, does that count?  Man she'd beat any horse to the barn, with or without her rider and I'm speaking from experience.

If racing is in their blood, whip or no whip they would run themselves to hurt...you said they have a drive to win.

Show horses are also equipped with the drive to win, they know exactly when the "show's on" and when it's over.  I feel you read too much into a single breed and not enough into the entire species.

Bad horses come and go and so do their owners...news at nine.

Let me clear up your comment about me.  I've owned TB's and have ridden at a dead run too.  So what. 

Yes, they love to "run". I don't think theres an argument there.   What makes you think they love to come back to a "stall", left there until the trainer shows up and then the next great thing is to be put on a track to "run"?................that was my point on "Here's a thought"..............

And your story about Moifa........he had to swim for his survival,,,,good thing he loved to run huh?...............and after that ordeal he then  had the privledge of having owners that put him back on the track,,,,,,,swimming 100 miles is enough racing for a life time for any horse that "loves to race"............Shows what kind of people owned him.  And how wondefull, he became a "Champion". Guess all the survival swimming got him into shape.  Too bad he swam to an island that knew who he was.   Makes my "Just a thought" more credible.........

Give me a break.

Good point HWBar......................but Thorobreds arent' forgotten by the time they reach 18 years old, it's more like  their  no-where on the planet.............unless some kind soul adopts or rescues them.......or like you stated, end up on the breeding side of the industry................I'd love to know what percentage actually end up being used for breeding after they race.

Thanks

Another good point Horsecrazi,,,,,,,,thanks.........It's good to hear from people that agree that it's most likely race horses are "running" away" from where they've been...............I too do not believe they live for the friggin "RACE'".......that's a load of crap...............they don't know what a "race" is..............."bred for racing"..........yea, OKAY,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but if they were given a choice they'd tell the owners to stick it where the sun don't shine.................we'll run when WE choose, not you.................

Its no different than some horses are very talented at reining and some aren't even if they are bred to do so. Tb are indeed bred to run ( at least those who are into racing. Others breed Tb but not for racing attributes),they are selectively mated to produce a horse capable of running very fast but not all are fast enough to comepte at higher level, or even low levels, sucessfully. When horses are frightened they don't do anything well. Watch the end of a race,the winners ears are usually pricked forward, thats not a sign of a frightened horse. A frightened horse will not perform, just as a frightend horse cowers in the back of a stall.

Based on observations of just two TB, I don't think thats a adequet representation of the breed. I like racing knowing full and well there are is dark side, thats true of any endevor. You just cannot beat,abuse,mistreat and neglect a horse yet expect to make money in the business. since I am not into racing, I'd give the horsemen of sport the benefit of the doubt rather than rushing to judgement.

BTW- there is a study done and printed on Thehose.com- TB started at a younger age developed more bone dentisty and strenght than young colts that were started later. Barabaro was not heavily raced prior to the Derby- he won it after the longest lay off of any derby winner.

horsecrazi-

Sorry you have two ex-racers that seem to have been abused. Horses don't cower in the back of their stalls because they were whipped in a horse race. someone was obviously mistreating these horses ALL the time. Not all TB's love to race. I merely suggested that almost all of them do possess heart. Whether it be any sport. What I was trying to say about "Moifa" was that he had "heart" and the drive and the will. Honestly, do you know of any other breed that would have been able and fit enough to swim 100 miles?That's what is so special about TB's. They are COMPETITIVE. They have drive like no other breed. It is bred into them.Most of them anyways. No I am not a breeder or a racing owner. I love horse-racing as a sport. Though I do not agree with a lot of stuff that is allowed in the sport and would like to see many changes. I used to work on the track as a groom. I don't know where you got most of your "racing-knowledge" but what you said about the feeding and everything else, you are generalizing which is not fair. Never did we feed straight alfalfa. We fed Timothy hay. Yes, they got more grain than they should have, but supplements that were healthy for them was part of their diet too. The owner/trainer that I worked for loved her horses. The horses loved getting out on the track to exercise. They loved getting onto the hot-walkers. They loved their everyday routine. They all had personalities that were un-believable! I have two Standardbreds off the track now. That is all I will ever own is a recycled racehorse. They don't run because they are scared, they do it because that is what they enjoy doing. Mine all run and play hard out in the pasture and race each other up and down the fence-line ALL THE TIME. Like the other post said- They come across the finish line with their ears pricked forward. The winners do know that they have won the race!

How many horses do you see out running and racing out in their turnouts?

Horsecrazi-  What discipline do you do? Look at dressage riders. Why do they wrap their horses in polo wraps, splint boots and bell boots to turn their horses out? Because horses DO hurt their legs all the time! Why is it that most reiners, cutters horses usually are lame (dead lame) by the age of 12 or 13? So see, you can pick apart all equine sports. What about 3 day eventing? Some of those people were the most abusive towards the horses physicall being that I have ever seen!

If you want to see damaged bones, X-ray a three year old cutting horses' hocks.

I think more tragically than body damage is mental damage done to young horses.  Imagine telling your 2 year old child to perform flawless tasks or you'll make him! 

Thank God I figured out from a wise old trainer early on:  They are just horses, they need to act like horses, and if you don't allow them time for it they'll do it while everyone is watching.

People like horses can't stand around and gaze at four walls all day everyday, it ruins their minds.  Ever visit an old folks home?

I do believe the topic has left the building...