Thoroughbred Breeding and Racetrack Injuries

Question
Hello, I am curious as to whether Thoroughbred breeding practices are a major cause of racetrack injuries (breakdowns on the track)?

Answer
Hi Bekah:

Breeding practices can certainly affect breakdowns on the racetrack.  For example, continually breeding animals with thin/brittle bone structure would tend to increase the number of racing injuries overall. That being said, this type of causal relationship is sometimes overstated.  There are obviously some thinly-boned horses that have healthy racing careers and relatively sound progeny.  

In any event, the economics of the game will continue to be the determining factor in breeding practices.  On average, the fastest horses will bring the most return (in dollars at the auction ring), and, therefore, will continue to be bred regardless of conformational and/or constitutional deficiencies.

Brad Adler
www.superthoroughbred.com   

P.S. I sent you a response on this several days ago.  Apparently, the system did not deliver it to you.  Sorry for any inconvenience.