To the Editor:
I am writing this after watching the evening news, reporting again on the problems the Saratoga race track is having with its Thoroughbred racing.

The stories of continued death amongst several horses (Churchill Downs is a similar story) related to racing is being spun around a “track conditions” problem, which Saratoga assures the quality and safety of their track as a priority.

Thoroughbred racing in general promotes these horses in competition before the horses are fully matured physically. They may look mature, but they are not.

If you have any doubts, please Google “At what age is a horse fully matured physically?” (“Physically” being the key word.)

The answer: No horse is skeletally mature until around six years of age “at the earliest” with some not reaching their full skeletal maturity until eight years of age. This is not breed specific, despite what is sometimes believed.

Thoroughbreds start their training around two years of age and are racing shortly thereafter, so they are far from being physically mature.

There is no mystery about why these “catastrophic injuries” as one newscast reported, are happening over and over.

These horses have to be euthanized right on the track because their legs have shattered beyond repair. Their bones, ligaments, and tendons have not fully developed to withstand the intense concussion of pounding during training, conditioning, and racing.

Having these horses insured also covers the loss, so these horses become relatively “disposable.”

Keeping a high energy horse quiet long enough for bones to heal, even if it’s in a cast can be done, but the outcome is still uncertain not to mention the high cost, care and manpower to accomplish a task like this.

So please understand when you hear these stories of horses being euthanized related to racing, it could have been prevented.

Yes, injuries happen to all athletes, but we don’t ask our toddlers to go out and run cross-country races, because that would be ridiculous for many reasons.

But we do it to the horses for the purpose of entertainment and money to be made.

It’s not the racing that’s the problem. It’s the age at which these horses are made to compete. Skilled horsemen know this; it’s just how the industry currently works. It’s just ignored.

Waiting even two more years before competing would lessen the injuries and death of these horses.

The problem is that it would cost significantly more money for the care and upkeep of these horses before there was any return on investments made.

Sadly, it’s always been about the money and prestige, not about the wellbeing of these horses. Maybe if more people are aware a solution may be found in the future.

Please advocate for those who have no voice, the horses.

Teri Stark

Delanson

Editor’s note: Teri Stark is a certified equine therapist.