Fonzie says, "I promised Eddie Milkis I'd be his mechanic in a stock car race in Chicago." Eddie Milkis was the show's executive producer.
Charlene Tilton and Marc McClure who both guest starred on this episode went on to bigger stardom two years after this episode aired. Charlene went on to star as Lucy Ewing on the hit CBS series, Dallas and Marc playing Jimmy Olsen in Superman The Movie.
The title of this episode is a joke based on the movie They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), which also involved a grueling dance marathon. Richie's repeated line, "Yowza yowza yowza!", is used throughout the movie by Rocky, the dance contest emcee, played by Gig Young.
If Potsie is singing the released in 1958 song Rockin Robin, then that means it is at least 1958. If it is 1958, then Richie is either 17 or 18 and still in high school. That mean richie was born in either 1940 or 1941.