Why does the American Horse Racing Industry still race horses cruelly on hard dirt tracks ?

Question

It seems the rest of the developed world now race horses on much softer turf or grass race courses. As a result in places like Australia, UK, New Zealand etc....we have far fewer injuries and less of a problem with horses breaking down afterwards or having to be destroyed because they broke their ankles or fetlocks on such a dirt hard surface. Just like the runner up at last weekends Kentucky Derby, why can't America stop being so cruel to its Race Horses ? Run on grass or turf why don't you!

Answer 1

Most dirt tracks aren't just dirt...  I believe Churchill Downs uses "PolyTrack" (link below), which is a synthetic mixture that looks like dirt, but contains rubber and other products.  It softens the impact and improves drainage.

The real reason behind dirt tracks those is the horse can get more "grip" and the race times are faster.  Most tracks have turf tracks too, it's just the majority of races are on the "dirt".

ETA: CNN reported today than an average of 2 career ending injuries everyday on US tracks.  There are significantly less injury on synthetic tracks than plain dirt tracks, 1.4 deaths per 1000 starts verses 2.1 deaths per 1000 starts, respectively.  News link is the last one below.

Answer 2

So many? How many have you heard of? I've heard of about five in so many years. One injury a year...I'd like you to show me a sport that has such a low injury rate.

Answer 3

In Australia all our racing is done on turf apart from in the outback where there is not enough rain for turf. But it still happens here, during the running of the 2005 Caulfield Cup (on turf) a horse called Mummify, a previous winner, broke his leg with about 75m to go and finished third past the post and had to be put down. They're animals not machines.

Answer 4

I don't really know why, but I don't think Eight Belles died because of the track. She just was galloping funny and tripped. And its not really "cruel" to have a dirt track, but grass or turf is something to consider.

Answer 5

Churchill downs does not use poly track.It is 100% dirt track and I hope it will stay that way.Churchill has been that way for 134 years why on earth would you want to change a tradition.