What's Wrong With Horse Racing?

In the wake of Eight Belles' death at the Kentucky Derby, critics are calling for radical reforms in horse racing.

Post columnist Sally Jenkins worries that without changes, there may be "nothing in the sport worth preserving."

So what changes should racing authorities make? Readers weigh in:

daviddonahue2: The problem with horseracing in America is obvious. Greed has taken over the sport. She is right about the breeding practices but the horses have been built for speed and then they are so lightly raced that breakdowns are going to occur.

lmiwa: Raising the Triple Crown age to four years seems like a good place to start.

howjensen: require that every thoroughbred registered to race be "tracked" (no pun intended) throughout its entire career. If you want to save the most horses, start with the thousands who always finished out of the money, those that meet their death out of the limelight, in a slaughterhouse.

Paul_in_KY: I mentioned this a few months ago on another website. Horse racing needs to institute a 'Division 1' class for racing. Only these horses would be eligible for the biggest races.

bandita: Someone needs to. . . create incentives for avoiding injury.

What other changes should horse racing make? Or is the sport fine the way it is?

By Lindsay Applebaum |  May 8, 2008; 2:03 PM ET  | Category:  Horse Racing , Rants
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