Horse & Dog What has changed over the years?

[kenzow]

Jerry Brown, an expert who owns Thoro-Graph, argues that horses are much faster now, and he bases his argument from this service that compiles high-tech speed figures for all major tracks. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Tolly]

Several jockeys have mentioned the races are much faster now. The last one I read blamed changes to the track for making steeplechases faster, because the jumps have been lowered and made safer due to concern for the horses so the jockeys risk a faster pace on approach. It may make the races faster, but there have been recordably fewer casualties since the changes so I'd say they are a good thing.

 

[Kutcher]

I agree, although not many people other than the jockeys would care much about the changes creating safer conditions for the riders and the horses.

 

[Tolly]

I agree, although not many people other than the jockeys would care much about the changes creating safer conditions for the riders and the horses.

I think more people cared than that. Animal rights groups, people who love horses including the stable owners, and people who love the sport and don't want to see it banned cared a lot. There was a popular movement in the media to ban it entirely which has never really gone away, which is why the changes were made to stop the deaths and save the sport.

 

[kenzow]

Several jockeys have mentioned the races are much faster now. The last one I read blamed changes to the track for making steeplechases faster, because the jumps have been lowered and made safer due to concern for the horses so the jockeys risk a faster pace on approach. It may make the races faster, but there have been recordably fewer casualties since the changes so I'd say they are a good thing.

Wow, isn't this a good thing? I agree that the safety of the horses is a good thing altogether. Animal rights groups have a basis for their argument based on this but I don't agree when they suggest banning the races altogether.