Ted Narracott takes a huge risk in buying Joey. He needs a horse that can plough the family's farm, but Joey is clearly a racing horse. He and Albert fall in love with Joey and purchase him, despite the fact that Ted is sinking the family deeper into poverty by doing so.

What is the main reason for Ted's decision to buy Joey?

1) Ted wants to win races with Joey.

2) Ted wants to use Joey for breeding.

3) Ted wants to sell Joey for a profit.

4) Ted needs a horse to plough the family's farm.

Ted Narracott's decision to buy Joey is most likely because he needs a horse to plough the family's farm, as other motives provided are not supported by context.

Explanation:

The main reason for Ted Narracott's decision to buy Joey is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text; however, based on related literature and common themes from novels involving horses, one could infer possible motives.

Often in literature, characters purchase horses not only for practical reasons but also out of a sense of pride, emotional connection, or the potential they see in the animal, which sometimes overrides their more pragmatic needs.

In the case of Ted Narracott, it seems the main reason that aligns with the given options would be that he needs a horse to plough the family's farm (Option 4), given that the alternatives are not supported by the context.