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Steel was once the only racing shoe available, but with the creation of the aluminum racing plate, steel has decreased in popularity. However, it is not completely gone, with some trainers believing in their old-fashioned traditions in shoeing. According to the article “Some Think Shoes Make the Horse, But Others Tend to Say Neigh,” “There are two places left where the steel and aluminum industries still run neck and neck: automotive…and horseshoes” (Miller, 2013). Supposedly the popularity of the two materials is close to an even split with one side favoring the light weight and the other side favoring durability. While most believe the lighter shoes lead to a faster horse, some trainers believe aluminum is “harder on the horse […] and sometimes you have to add weight for their balance” (Miller, 2013). Companies are still producing lines of steel racing shoes among there other styles of steel shoes. The Kerckhaert Company (website below) produces a Steel Race Family with 19 styles available. According to their website, the steel shoes are a light weight and “only the highest quality of steel is used. This makes the shoes easy to work and fit, […creating] better wear and […being less] likely to twist on the hoof” ("Steel”). The steel racing plate industry is still alive and well, thriving through its stronger and longer lasting shoe. With the support of the old-fashioned trainers, steel and aluminum racing plates could be racing neck-and-neck for quite a long time.