A Baltimore (Home of the Preakness) teevee report says two horses die **daily** from racing

[Stinky The Clown]

They're doing stories about the racing industry. Horses forced to run before their bones are formed is a big part of it. Kinda like pushing kids nto sports too early.

But two horses a DAY are dying or suffering career ending injuries ..... two a DAY.

That's unacceptable.

[MercutioATC]

1. How many cows are slaughtered every day? Pigs? Chickens?

Animals are bred to do things. Horses are frequently bred in ways that make them fragile but fast and agile. It's no different than breeding a steer to yield a lot of beef.

That said, I believe that some events could perhaps be modified so as not to provide so much danger to the animals...the Rolex and those insane jumps they use come to mind.

[Texasgal]

2. for food...

I haven't had horsemeat in years...:eyes:

Horse racing is a shitty sport and should be outlawed!

[MercutioATC]

4. It's all about using an animal for a purpose. Food or sport makes no difference.

People just have a natural psychological hangup about "cute" animals.

Horsies are cute.

[Texasgal]

7. That's BS...

I don't eat horsemeat... or dogs...or cats... and I do belive that horsemeat is outlawed here in the states. Your argument dosen't add up.

Racing these animals is cruel...period...

[MercutioATC]

9. Do you eat chicken? Beef? Pork?

It's a fact that "cute" animals are considered taboo as far as cuisine here in the states. Many other countries don't share that view.

Horses are animals that are bred for a purpose...the same as any chicken or cow is. I don't support overt cruelty to animals, but it's not cruel to use them for their intended purpose.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. i have a problem with horse racing due to how the animals are treated

and shall we say shit is better treated...

And also we have bred these animals to the point that there are apparently more injuries any longer

[MercutioATC]

21. Yes, and chickens are bred to have abnormally large breasts...

...white meat is more valuable, so they breed them that way to the point that they can't walk properly...not that it matters, because they cut off their beaks and cram them into little cages until they're ready to be slaughtered...

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Hmmm horse-meat, if memory serves goes into some animal feed

in the states.

By the way... the hangup is fairly recent too

Perhaps I should say that I have eaten some delicious meat over my lifetime, and a few cases I didn't ask what animal this was

[libnnc]

6. they shouldn't race them so young though

the inbreeding is a problem. I think they're beautiful creatures but the way that they've been bred and raised isn't doing them any good IMHO. :shrug:

by the way off topic...my SO came home from work at CLT and told me a heartbreaking story about a controller in ATL who killed himself after a "last chance" incident. Have you heard about it?

[MercutioATC]

8. That's when they're the fastest...that's when they run.

It's a sport...it isn't supposed to make sense.

I've been off for three days...missed the ATL controller stuff. I'll ask about it at work tomorrow.

[Miss Carly]

3. it's sickening

those poor horses are raised for running purposes only, way before their bones are strong enough. They are not shown kindness or treated like a member of the family like owners who really love their animals. Regular horses don't run as fast or as long as these racing horses do. It's not natural. I hope that kicks down and opens up the doors into the racing industry.

[coriolis]

11. Look at the type of people who own these animals...it's all you need to know.

:grr:

[Prefer]

5. It's Michael Vick all over again

Horseracing is inhumane. It must end.

[InvisibleTouch]

10. I suspect the problem is the breeding....

...though I don't know how the current mortality rate compares with, say, 100 years ago. But we do know Thoroughbreds are selected for speed at the expense of strength, and it's high time the breeding practices were reconsidered. I also question why they have to start racing so young, at 2 and 3 years of age. If they were universally started at age 4, that would give an extra couple of years for bone growth, an ease into training for the longer stretches, and still have plenty of time left over for breeding after their racing career is over. As horrifying as the Derby was this year (I didn't even know who Eight Belles was a week ago, and now I've been traumatized for days over her), I hope something good comes out of it, some new overall guidelines. Most of these horses are loved and cherished by their owners, trainers, jockeys, and grooms, and I don't believe the sport overall constitutes abuse - but there definitely need to be changes made. Mabye it takes a public tragedy to set changes into motion.

[wtmusic]

16. Thoroughbreds are inbred freaks

every one of which can trace its ancestry to one of four sires. They are extremely weak at the ankles, for their size, and are bred that way for speed.

At this point, it can only get worse. There's too much money to be made, and they're "just" animals.

[SoCalDem]

12. They race them too young..and who knows what drugs they pump them up with?

all so people can watch them run and maybe win some money..

I never understood horseracing or bullfighting.. I was dragged to the bullfights every Sunday as a kid.. I ALWAYS rooted for the bull..and one Sunday a bull DID jump into the stands and...you should have seen the people scatter.. It never ends well for the bull, and on that day it did not either, but for a little while that bull was winning :(

[LWolf]

13. They race too young,

and breeding for a single trait, speed, weakens the breed. Modern TBs are built like greyhounds, with bone too light and feet to small to bear their weight on the track without excess stress.

Horses have always died on the track, though. There are MANY things that could be done to cut the injury and death rate down, should the industry be sufficiently pressured to do so.

[InvisibleTouch]

14. "...should the industry be sufficiently pressured to do so."

I'd certainly be on board with that, if I had any idea where to start. Any suggestions?

I agree with a lot of what PETA stands for, and disagree with numerous other things, and I'm not sure they're on the right track with this incident (I don't see how the jockey was at fault), but at least they're bringing attention to the matter. The movement needs to be much broader, though. How to get the breeders, stable owners, and racing fans involved?

[LWolf]

20. A good start would be for PETA

to focus on the source of the problems, rather than the jockey.

Other groups could join in as well.

Viewers could start pressuring networks that carry horse racing and sponsors as well. Peaceful demonstrations at the gates of race tracks to bring media attention. The industry does NOT want any negative press.

I'd work for these 3 reforms:

1. Begin training in June of their 3rd year, no more than 2-3 races in the fall, and rest for the winter before taking up a more rigorous schedule in their 4th year. That means that the triple crown races would be run by 4yo instead of 3yo.

2. Ban lasix. That means that the most successful horses, sent on to breed the next generation, are those that can perform without it, and thus hardier and sounder.

3. Inspections at the age of 4 to certify for breeding purposes. Inspections to look at soundness, and ensure adequate bone and hoof for the size of the horse and the aggressive strain it will have to endure. No new foals allowed in the registry if both their parents didn't pass the inspection.

[Warpy]

15. Not that so much

but they've bred so much for speed that they've sacrificed bone structure.

They're going to have to settle for slower horses that can run the course without breaking anything.

What they have now is nervous, twitchy and fragile animals, useless to their trainers as they are to themselves.

[soothsayer]

19. Horses are so fragile. They can barely eat without dying (get their guts all

twisted really easily). Can barely lie down without causing fatal internal injuries. Die during foaling. It's a miracle they can make it to 30! But you gotta' love 'em.

[marmar]

22. It just seems to me that a horse was not meant to run top speed around a track.....

..... with a human on top of it, whipping it to go faster, so that people can place bets and be entertained.

[Gold Metal Flake]

23. Horse racing consumes horses like auto racing consumes engines.

It's a profit-making enterprise. Take the romance out of it and it's just a big horse eating machine.

[dorkulon]

24. Not to be insensitive, but people die all the damn time

for all kinds of messed up reasons. I don't care if there's ever another horse race again, but 2 dead horses a day I can live with, compared to all the people dying meaningless, avoidable deaths out there.