Proven Cure

[ShadowRoll]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I disagree that this is an absurd rule. This particular horse may be ok running at this age but he is an exception. Truthfully they are playing with fire by running him at his age and chancing that the great story that he is and has been doesn't have a really bad ending.

I understand the sentiment behind the rule, but don't you think there is a better way of determining whether the horse is dangerously unfit, such as the pre-race vet inspection. Using winning as a barometer of fitness seems a little unreliable. A horse could run very well and just miss winning (like SWLY) in several races and be undeniably fit. Or a horse could get lucky in a small field at some bullring and get a win, or could get a win through more nefarious means, and nevertheless be quite unfit.

Also, you seem to imply that you think there should be a mandatory retirement age when you say that "they" are gambling with running the Cure (I assume you don't have some inside knowledge about this particular anumal). Wouldn't that fail to take into account the rare outstanding individual whose genetics or training gives him greater fitness than most in their advanced years (as a human example, I'm thinking Jack La Lanne)? And wouldn't that also interfere with the trainer's exercise of judgment?