Racehorses require an incredible level of fitness and soundness to run all out against their competition. The best of them, like Zenyatta, possess a combination of natural ability and the courage and desire to win. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

It takes careful conditioning and management to keep any racehorse in tip-top shape; here we’ll examine flat racing disciplines.

When more than 50,000 people cheered Zenyatta to victory in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic, they were responding to the mare’s personality and charisma as well as the sheer athletic prowess with which she defeated rivals repeatedly.

Racehorses require an incredible level of fitness and soundness to run all out against their competition. The best of them, like Zenyatta, possess a combination of natural ability and the courage and desire to win.

Just like any athletic horse, a racehorse requires proper feeding, management, and training to perform well. The most successful trainers have learned how to bring a racehorse to its peak and detect very minor health issues before they flare into major problems