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The one thing that could change the sport would be if very lightly raced horses started being held is lower regard than top horses that sustained and fully demonstrated their greatest over more races when it came to the breeding shed.
What makes a horse great?
What makes a horse a great stallion?
Is it a very high 4 race peak in the middle of a 7 for 11 record and then tailng off?
Is it a Triple Crown against immature 3 yos and a 6 for 6 record?
Is it a more sustained high level of performance in Grade 1 races over multiple seasons against multiple crops even if it doesn't come with the same ultra sharp peak as the 1st horse or without the unblemished accomplishment of the 2nd?
In terms of greatness this is a somewhat subjective subject.
In terms of who makes the best stallions, someone should be able to compile some data on the longevity of the high level of performance as a factor.
I don't know the answer. However, intuitively I'd way rather breed to a horse that was a top 2yo, top 3yo, and top 4yo than one that got amazingly sharp for a few races and had a higher peak but with no greatness surrounding it.
If people would start valuing longevity, then perhaps the prices would change and a result so would the incentive to retire so quickly.
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"Unlearning is the highest form of learning"
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