The Sunday, March 25 edition of the New York Times has a lengthy expose about problems in the racing of horses, both thoroughbreds and quarter horses.  The Times reports on average 24 horses die each week at racetracks across America and about 3,600 horses died racing or training at state-regulated tracks over the last 3 years.
    The article is on the front page of the online edition of the Times along with a short video and some pictures that are shocking.  The states with the most deaths between 2009-2011 are California - 635; New York - 366; New Mexico - 349; Louisiana - 266; Pennsylvania - 243 and West Virginia - 233.

    The story cites drugging of horses and making them race with existing injuries as the primary cause and it deals with the hazards faced by jockeys, including death.  

    Kind of makes you proud to own Walking Horses!