How many years is a horse allowed to race?

Question

How many years is a horse allowed to race?

Answer 1

A horse can race for as long as it is able and willing.  Most thoroughbreds will start their race careers at 2 or 3 and will go on till they are about 6 and are retired to stud.

For those that cannot go to stud (geldings) they will continue to race for as long as they have ability and soundness.  YAVANA'S PACE famously wona  group 1 in Germany when he was 10 years old in 2002.

National Hunt (jump) horses do not tend to start their racing careers till they are 4 or 5 and will carry on much longer.  I've seen horses racing that are aged 13 or 14 and as long as the horse is happy and enjoying himself I see no reason why they cannot continue to do so.

There are no rules that state a horse must retire at a certain age.

Answer 2

i dont think there is an age limit. in england ive seen flat racehorses race at 11 years old and i remember a horse called mc vidi that raced over fences at 16

Answer 3

There is no set cut off age in the US. Look at the Tin Man who ran a very good race in the Arlington Million a few weeks ago. The Tin Man is NINE years old. As long as horse is sound and doing well and happy there is no reason to retire him. Brass Hat is running well at age 6 and just won the Mass Cap last week and Funny Cide was just retired as a 7 year old earlier this year.

One thing you will notice is that all these horses I just mentioned are geldings. They have no value in the breeding shed so if they are sound and racing well their owners keep them in action. Most race horses are mares and colts that have reproductive potential. Because of this most horses are retired at age 4 or 5 and more and more often you see top colts retired after their 3 year old year. This is because their value in the breeding shed is so much greater than what they could earn racing. Plus, racing comes with risks (fatal injuries) so horses are being retired earlier and earlier if they can reproduce.

Answer 4

A horse can race for as many years as its owner and trainer choose as long as it remains sound and still has the urge to win. Most horses only race for a few years but others can race for many, many years. The oldest winning race horse was 19 year old, Al Jabhal, an Arabian. My dad trains thoroughbreds and he has a gelding that has been racing and winning for seven years but next year he is probably going to retire him as my hunt horse.

Answer 5

they usually race until they are about 6 but they are started wayto early also around 2 or 3 before the horse bones are fully developed.

Answer 6

USA- Illegally 4 years

UK- 3 years (mixed breeds are allowed up to 5 years)

Canada- 3 Years (except for Calfs)

Australia- 6 Years with lisence, but is subject to change

New Zealand- 5 Years

South Africa- 5 Years (throughbreds 6 Years)

Zimbabwe- 4 Years with lisence (due to be changed in 2008)

Answer 7

In Standardbred racing, (Trotters + Pacers), the mandatory retirement age is 15.