Why was this allowed to happen???

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

I'm not trying to express outrage, I'm merely asking if there should be better safeguards for old-timers. How old is too old to race? Doesn't there have to be a cutoff at some point? Weren't there some signs that this guy maybe should have been allowed to enjoy his retirement and not asked to compete in a grueling race?

Given the outcome I don't know how one could conclude for sure he was sound to run. True his legs were not injured but are you really so sure that the heart giving out was totally unrelated to his age? None of us know all the facts about this case but I just don't think its a knee-jerk reaction to question whether its appropriate to races horses under those circumstances at that age.

I wasn't saying you were outraged. The one quote in the article said they were outraged. From what I understand of that sort of event many horses actually peak at much older ages. For all we know the horse may have been miserable the past year not able to compete which is why they brought him back. If so, at least he died doing something he loved instead of being miserable for the rest of his life in some field.