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Sorry Folks. Racing Two and Three Year Olds Is Wrong

The thundering hooves, the roaring crowd, the flash of silks — horse racing captivates millions. But beneath the spectacle lies a troubling reality: the industry is asking babies to perform like athletes. Racing two and three-year-old horses isn’t just pushing boundaries; it’s breaking bodies.

At two years old, a horse is the developmental equivalent of a human pre-teen. Their bones are still growing, their joints are soft, and their skeletal system won’t fully mature until age five or six. Yet saddles are strapped on their backs, loaded with riders, and then they sprint at speeds exceeding 35 miles per hour. The results are predictable — and preventable.

The statistics paint a grim picture. Studies show that two-year-old racehorses suffer catastrophic injuries at significantly higher rates than their older counterparts. Fractures, particularly in the cannon bones and sesamoids, occur with alarming frequency. These aren’t just career-ending injuries; they’re often life-ending. When a yo…