I love horses. I would have a stable full of them if I had the funds.

Tennessee Walking Horses are my favorite horse breed. My daughter rode for many years and made a special connection with one of her horses, Gen’s Ten High, which lasted long after the bay gelding passed away from colic.

But I have always been intrigued with thoroughbred horses as well. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to hug Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown 50 years ago, while he was in his paddock at Claiborne Farm.

Covering the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky was one of my top experiences as a sportswriter for many years.

There are a number of partnership deals arranged for the purchase of thoroughbreds making it possible for those who aren’t ultra-rich to participate.

But my enjoyment of thoroughbreds has been dampened by the multiple deaths at tracks hosting Triple Crown races this spring. A dozen horses have died in the past few weeks at Churchill Downs. One died at Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness and two died this past week at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, site of the Belmont Stakes. Six horses have died at the race course since May 4.

PETA officials are outraged of course. There have been calls for suspension of track operations and for investigations.

If one horse had died at a major Tennessee Walking Horse event like the Celebration SWAT teams would have invaded the grounds. Not only the show, but the breed would be shut down during an investigation.

Thoroughbreds are fragile and their racing careers are short. But with so many untimely deaths I have to ask where are the United States Department of Agriculture officials who keep such a close high on major walking horse shows? Veterinarians do check thoroughbreds before races and scratch horses they judge unfit. But these veterinarians are not government officials.

I assume, based if nothing else on their fantastic purchase prices, that most thoroughbreds are treated well. I have not spent enough time at those barns, outside of Kentucky Derby week, to know firsthand.

The Tennessee Walking Horse has long been the poster child for animal rights activists shouting about abuses. While any competition that involves humans is open to cheating or abuse, you can’t paint either breed with a broad brush of accusations.

Unfortunately, not all abuse and cheating can be prevented, but you can be equal in the way you regulate all breeds.