I can't help but think that the high insurance premiums will likely nip that in the bud though. I shudder to think what might happen to some horses in lieu of waiting out that retirement to stud, provided they don't get sold to the unregulated Japanese or Saudi markets. Possibly even hidden deals to the Aussies in exchange for them being sold back later. I'm sure they'll get creative and even more sure we'll lose perfectly good prospects that shouldn't be punished because counterparts are unsound. The people breeding and selling these animals should be more responsible, there's no way of getting around that. I wouldn't be opposed to getting rid of the grotesque 150-200 mare books. It's economically unsound, nevermind irresponsible to the horses.

i don't see how waiting to breed an unsound horse til they're five or six is going to strengthen the breed. if they want sound, you'll see a change. but simply dictating the age at which a horse can be bred won't change anything. many of the horses are still not what breeders used to seek. most now want speed-well, you've got that, but at a price. eight belles gets the attention since she was lost-but what about the winner? no one really says much about the fact that they derby was his fourth lifetime start. yet farms are already foaming at the mouth at the thought of getting him for their farm.

Moss is right -- but doesn't go far enough
 

Tradition can't be used to justify the problems that are all too evident today in racing. The gambling industry is regulated -- at least in theory -- and can thus be forced to change and reduce the incentives for misbehavior by the owners and trainers.

Moss is right about the need for change -- and I think more needs to be done.

I'd push the Breeders Cup races to the spring and switch TC to the fall (spaced out with three weeks between). And I wouldn't allow any 2 year olds in the BC. That way, the one "big" 3 year old race -- a "juvenile mile" -- in the BC would be more of a prep for the later fall, than an afterthought.

I'd also push sponsorship for a "mature" horse series of races -- perhaps three races spread out over the whole year for 4 year old's and up?

I agree, the policing of riders is outrageous in America and we need to step it up and get with the program.

Giving riders days and actually making them explain why they did what they did during a race helps the sport.

If Eibar Coa was riding in Hong Kong or Australia, he would only be able to ride about 10% of the time, the rest being on the sidelines for infractions.