The Paradox of Race Horse Breeding

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Abbey Vertex: For years there has been an assumed paradox in the world of horse racing. People thought that horse racing times were not improving and they hadn't over decades or even a century, but people were putting so much effort into making faster horses. But now authors are asking how much breeding has to do with speed, and whether race horses have hit their genetic peak.

They lead startups, giant corporations, even countries: people of Indian origin are finding great success outside their home country—and wielding much influence inside it. On its 30th anniversary we revisit Derek Jarman’s film “Blue”, finding it to be a sound-design masterpiece as much as a daring cinematographic experiment. And examining whether breeding racehorses has hit a genetic limit of speed.

Additional audio taken from Blue Now featuring: Joelle Taylor, Russell Tovey, Jay Bernard, Neil Bartlett. Sound/music: Simon Fisher Turner

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