Cross Breeds

how many years can a race horse race before you haft to retire the race horse?

Public Comments

1. about 4-8. it matters the horses condition and its age.
2. it depends
3. 3 is usually the magic number. The horses end up having injuries from working too hard while their bones and muscles were not yet completely. In San Francisco, the police ride former race horses. Many are put out to stud.
4. It really depends on the horse, many racers are already retired by the age of three or four. This is sad that their career ends so soon, but racing is hard and breeding is worth more money. However, some horses peak at older ages, and race as late as six years old, or even later. It is rare to see a top quality pro racers older than six. Many racers are considered to be prime racing age at three years of age, this is when all the important races are such as the Kentucky Derby. Steeple-chasers are different, they tend to be racing longer, sometimes into their teen years. Keep in mind your question is a total opinion question. Horses generally do not mature fully until the age of four to six, so as you can see racehorses are all still babies at the height of their career. This is why it is SO important that your racers get lots of rest, and train in NOTHING but racing. Racing is hard enough for them, so please if racing be sure to rest your babies and keep them ONLY racing until they retire from their racing career. :)
5. the oldest one i have known was still racing at 13
6. They can race in America until 13. However you can petition the stewards at the track that you want to continue to race at after 13 if your horse has been in the money or won races at 13. I had a horse named Bookie Buster (surprise surprise) who won 4 races at 13. He raced another 5 times at 14 for different owners and sadly never hit the board again :(
7. 14
8. someone said 4-8? HAHA wow, I cannot speak on the throughobred side but the Harness Racing side, horses can race untill they are 14 years old