Are racehorses being bred to run too fast for their own legs?

Question

filly Eight Belles to a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby

she shattered her front ankles as she galloped out around the far turn and had to be euthanized on the racetrack

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4785169&affil=wtnh

Answer 1

Yes, I think so.  We're breeding for speed and sacrificing durability.  It used to be that when horses got hurt, they were euthanized immediately.  With the advancements of science, we're able to save the horses... that's a great thing.  However, then we use them in breeding so we're breeding frailties into the horses.  Ruffian's sire, Reviewer, broke his leg in each season he ran... he broke his leg as a 2 year old, came back for his 3 year old season, broke his leg again, came back for a 4 year old season, then broke his leg a 3rd time and retired to be stud duty... then he bred with Shenanigans who had a beautiful filly named Ruffian who suffered a minor fracture her 2 year old year, came back to have an amazing 3 year old year, then broke down in the match race against Foolish Pleasure.  We're making our horses weaker than we used to... they go faster, but can't race as long because they ultimately end up with injuries, and fatal injuries to the top stakes horses are becoming too common.

Answer 2

Yes. Thats what happening and its terrible. These rich schmucks need to realize what they're doing.

Answer 3

First of all, she ran the entire race and finished in second place.  She looked perfectly fine and happy when she crossed the finish line.  The break-down happened in the back stretch as the jockey we slowing her down.  It did not happen during the race.  

These Derby horses are still babies - only three!  And most of them begin their racing careers at two.  Their legs are not fully mature yet.  Add to this the size of today's race horses on top of those spindly, still-growing legs, while running them often, and you have a recipe for thse kinds of accidents.  It's simply a tragedy that hits the horse racing world more often than it should.

Answer 4

Race Horse owners, Jockey's, and anyone that is beating on the races should have to run races on their finger tips