Comeback Horses!

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Richi,

I know we have shared several posts about this topic, but do you think that if we did do what the poster suggested by training them hard and running the piss out of them, we would eventually get a sounder breed overall.

It would obviously take generations to weed out the weak lines, but don't you agree that there is a tougher form of thoroughbred underneath all of the high-priced yearlings and unproven sires?

Do you feel that the breed is just categorically unsound, and can't be pushed or expected to run drug-free?

By the way, did you read Alan Shuback's article on the German horse Soldier Hollow (3rd in the Arlington Million) and how he has never raced on medication and it is illegal to stand a stallion in Germany if they ever raced with raceday meds?

It was pretty interesting.

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do...8&subs=0&arc=1

I don't know if that would work or not. It certainly makes sense. That's how natural selection works. The ones with the strongest genes survive. In theory it makes sense. As you said, it would take several generations.

In practice, it would obviously never happen but in theory it makes sense. People are not going to intentionally break down their horses in hopes that it will help the breed in the long run.

I'm not familiar with the German horse you mentioned. I will read the article if I have a chance.