How many people have had the opportunity to visit the "behind the scenes" at tracks, stables, and the training farms? I can't say a lot because my personal experience is limited, but what I do have is first hand real life behind the scenes and not from the opinion made from the appearances of what appears to be well cared for horses and luxurious barns and beautifully well manicured pastures.
I would not argue that race horses generally get the best of grains, hays, and vet care. They are also started in training around 18 months - which is where a large part of the problems occur - horses don't mature until they are between 5 and 6 years of age. Had this magnificient filly been allowed to mature BEFORE she was trained and asked to run against the boys then perhaps she would have had the opportunity to win and live out her life as a happy life as a brood mare and produce great colts and fillies to carry on her name. As it is, her ankles gave out - and she was killed.
We haven't even begun to touch on the injury and loss of human life in the form of trainers, exercise boys and jockeys. If anyone has any doubt, try to find the video called "Jockey" -
HBO: Jockey - Synopsis