02/05/2026
Reasons I struggle with the horse racing industry: (from someone who owns multiple OTT horses and breeds Thoroughbreds)
I do want to start by saying this isnt an attack on horse racing or people I know involved with horse racing, it still has its place but I think itās time to wind it back. Thereās so much that can be done to make this sport horse friendlier.
I strongly disagree with 2yo racing. Some horses are technically still yearlings when they begin training and even when they first race. Asking animals that young (physically and mentally immature) to handle that level of pressure and workload doesnāt sit right with me.
Hoof health is another big concern. While itās often said that āThoroughbreds have bad feetā and that itās genetic (which is partly true) but I think thatās only part of the picture. Hooves are often overlooked in breeding decisions, and when you compare yearling photos to how those same horses look a few years later, itās hard to ignore the impact of farrier work and the sheer load placed on them at such a young age.
Thereās also the issue of overproduction. The industry creates an incredible excess of horses. Most are only āusefulā as racehorses for a very short period, often just two years, or maybe up to 4ā8 years if theyāre successful. Yet Thoroughbreds commonly live 20ā25 years. It raises the question: is it fair to mass-produce animals for such a brief purpose?
Rehoming is another complicated area. While many horses do find homes after racing, not all of those homes are good ones. Most people in the horse world know at least one sad story involving a Thoroughbred or Standardbred. Because there are so many, theyāre often cheap and, unfortunately, treated as disposable. This oversupply has also affected how theyāre perceivedāsome people dismiss them due to temperament issues, even though many are perfectly good horses.
The human side of the industry is concerning too. Jockeys are often under immense pressure to maintain extremely low weights, and it can be incredibly unhealthy. Thereās also the risk factor of putting themselves in danger regularly. On top of that, gambling is deeply tied to racing, and it can easily become an unhealthy obsession. In a world where gambling is already widely accessible, itās worth questioning whether we need to base it around animals at all.
Breeding practices also vary widely. Iām not talking about the large, well-funded stud farms Iām talking about smaller operations that often fly under the radar. Iāve personally seen some of these, despite the industry insisting they donāt exist. They can be overstocked, provide substandard care, and put excessive strain on broodmares. Very seldom do they have a good racing return either. Even in non racing scenarios, many studs use thoroughbred dams for crossbreds and their treatment is sub par because āoh well she was only $500ā
Another concern is the long-term impact on the Thoroughbred as a breed. Longevity, conformation, and soundness often take a back seat to speed and early performance. Because of this, the type of Thoroughbred once valued; athletic, balanced, and durable is becoming less common. While they still exist, theyāre harder to find in a system that prioritises early maturity over resilience. Itās also worth acknowledging that some breeders (even larger, well known operations) will openly admit in casual conversation that theyāll breed from an unsound mare if it means producing a potentially top-performing foal. That mindset speaks volumes about where priorities can sit.
Before anyone says āracehorses are treated like kingsā or that āeveryone loves their horsesā I donāt doubt that many people do care deeply. But care and good intentions donāt automatically make a system ethical or sustainable. At its current scale, the industry feels excessive. If it were significantly reduced and more regulated, I think weād see meaningful improvements. Until then, I stand by these concerns.
