[Linny]

Over the last 20+ years, many of the top US breds have left our shores. Before the mid 80's the # of top runners that went overseas permanently was pretty small. Mr Mellon raced some in Europe as did Bunker Hunt. Once the Sangster crew then the Sheikhs then Coolmore and the Japanese began spending like sailors in port, a significant % of the elite members of the breed left for good.
The international quality of racing is great except that there are almost no outcrosses left. In the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's when breeders saw stagnation they imported. Horses like Sir Gallahad, Bull Dog, Blenheim, Princequillo and Nasrullah added to the breed here. Now you travel to the ends of the globe and get what? A Northern Dancer great grandson, from Raise Native on the bottom. Now with horses covering in both hemispheres, international leases and the ease of shipping, finding full outcrosses is rare.

I am not in favor of having only "A" tracks any more than I endorse baseball dropping the lowest performing teams. What exactly would happen to the rest of the animals? Sure over time moderate to small breeders would just stop producing horses but then what? Where do all those slow Storm Cat's go? You must consider the entire industry. Hundreds of thousands of people depend on racing for their livelihood. The breeder, at any level hires help, vets and farriers. They buy products like feed, strap goods, blankets, buckets and fencing from folks who are also dependent upon racing breeders. The trainers and their staff obviously are employed in the game but those who provide them services and goods also need the industry to thrive. The 30,000+ registered TB's foaled each season will generate millions of dollars in accounts payable to everyone from vets to leather goods makers to accountants and hay growers.