In comparison to animal science it pales to human science, trillions spent world wide, so much of a bigger emphasis.
Mankind was subjected to a virus recently, here in our own continent, and many before globally that could of nearly wiped out mankind.
EPO's, other performance enhancing drugs, illegal and otherwise have a serious side effects we never discuss.
They weaken defense against pathogens, impair immune response time and thus can spread a virus more rapidly.
What the hell would happen if a airborne transmissible / contagious equine virus went live and under the aforementioned conditions - a perfect storm.
Takes it down hard, the time treatments, vaccines happen. Harness racing, because of its instability, lack of self sufficiency, become fair game, would of course fall first. Reasonably irrecoverable, and possibly be the cause for more casinos, legal sports betting and online poker betting to go wide spread.
I love animals, it's not why I gamble, I just understand, enjoy horse racing (not very good at it lately), and I wouldn't want it to happen, but theoretically this might be what ends it.
That's sad, and entirely possible.