How Has Horse Racing Changed in the Years Since Ruffian’s Death?
Question by Starlight 1: How has horse racing changed in the years since Ruffian’s death?
This might sound like a gruesome question at first glance, but it’s not intended to be. With the 40th anniversary of Ruffian’s ill fated match race approaching in 2015, I am interested in getting a discussion going about racing as a whole- how it’s changed, how it hasn’t, differences between today’s racing climate and the one that existed 40 years ago, and so forth. I want to hear what people think. How has racing changed? Is it safer or more dangerous? Do you feel that the industry as a whole has learned anything in the decades since the match race took place? Are there lessons from the match that are still applicable to racing in the modern age?
How might racing be improved upon? Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here- I am just interested in what people are thinking.
Thanks to all who have responded so far. I am going to hold off on picking a BA for awhile longer, because I am hoping to get some further responses. Sandy, I agree with you that drug testing has helped to eliminate at least some unethical and cruel behavior in the sport. I also believe that there have in fact been efforts to make racing safer and more humane- I’m just not sure that they have gone far enough. There are so many, many issues that need to be addressed in this sport, from the over and inbreeding that is weakening the horses and making them more vulnerable to injury to competition from other forms of entertainment such as video gaming that hurt the sport financially. I’m looking for more people to add their opinions, folks. Remember, this isn’t about judging anybody- I just want to know what people THINK.
Best answer:
Answer by Dragonmistress
I don’t think the industry cares to learn anything; especially if it gets in the way of making money.
They start training them to young, don’t let them mature and race in unsafe conditions. There have been some horrific breakdowns since Ruffian.(Go For Wand comes to mind Eight Bells)
If you look into some of the backgrounds and bloodlines there are breeding’s that should not have happened. The results have been unsound horses. Actually born that way; nothing that happened in training or at the track.
the people who handled Alyadar had things so messed up (financially)
that the poor horse was worth more dead than alive. (I don’t think his “accident” was an “accident”)
the weights have gotten lighter since Ruffian’s day, so you can’t say that is a factor.
I love horses, they are magnificent, but I don’t watch racing live anymore. It’s to painful.
0
the people who handled Alyadar
that is human stupidity and greed. the people that handled Alyadr
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
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