NY Times · May 25, 2023
Why Do They Euthanize Racehorses Who Break Their Legs?
Images before and after an operation on a leg of Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who broke down at the Preakness.Credit...University of Pennsylvania/European Pressphoto AgencyThere is a lot to enjoy for a new fan introduced to thoroughbred racing. There is the beauty of the animals, the thrill of watching them move and the joyful feeling of outsmarting the other horseplayers and cashing a bet.
But there is a cold fact about the sport that can be hard for fans — and impossible for critics — to accept: Sometimes a horse gets hurt, and sometimes it is euthanized, often right on the track.