Racing Has Lost Its Appeal

my heart is heavy with the passing of eight belles...too young and full of life to be put down.i question why she was put down so quickly, all alone without anyone near to comfort her in her last minutes....how could the vet put her down without the owner at least seeing her and making his own decision...also the jocky...walking by in a photo that clearly shows he is unconcerned.....i love animals and even with the knowledge that she might not make it what with the severe injuries she suffered...at least afford some comfort her in her last moments with those that care for her and love her...what a sad way to die...without anyone you love beside you.. i am devastated and will always hold this special horse in my heart

It’s breathtaking to watch a horse run or race but not at the expense of the animal. These days, after the deaths of all the poor high-profile horses and the hundreds or thousands of horses who haven’t been mentioned over the years because they weren’t high profile, I just would rather see a horse run with other horses in a pasture. I know they could get hurt there or die but that is part of a horse’s normal life and at least they are running because they want to and aren’t in a high-pressure situation like a horse race. Horse racing these days is a lot deadlier for the horse than it used to be in the past because the horses are just not strong enough anymore or sound enough to race much, if at all. The horse racing industry has a culture that is hard to change. For years now there has been over breeding of racehorses and there has been very questionable quality of breeding of racehorses, since for the past twenty years or so they have been bred for speed and not soundness. These horses are racing at too young an age before they are physically mature subjecting them to a greater chance of injury or death. It all comes down to money. It’s expensive to take care of a horse, so people race them sooner than they should to make money and because the culture of horse racing says it’s okay with no real proof to back that up. The bad breeding practices are all about making lots of money quickly and screw the long-term consequences of bad breeding. Horses aren’t the only ones that have been adversely affected by bad breeding practices and over breeding. We humans continue to do it with dogs, cats, etc. We are very arrogant in that sense messing with nature and bending it to our desires or needs with no concern for the animal. We are also arrogant in that we like to make a lot of money the easy way without considering who or what gets hurt along the way to get that money. If you can’t afford to take care of a horse while you are waiting for it to mature physically so it can maybe have a safer racing career, then you shouldn’t be owning a horse or be in the horse racing business. Horses require a lot of care and a healthy amount of money to properly take care of them whether they are pasture horses or race horses. Some common sense should be used before even considering having a horse. Betting on racehorses unfortunately is a recipe for corruption and all of the other problems above that I have mentioned. I just hope it doesn’t take hundreds or thousands of more dead racehorses for the horse racing industry to finally admit to these problems and failings and start making sincere, real changes to their industry so that maybe someday we might actually be able to watch horses race without worrying about whether the horses will make it through the race alive.



Joan Cornett

Thank you for your support!!!
55 HORSE DEATHS IN TWO YEARS AT DEL MAR RACE TRACK 2004-2006 So how many other equine deaths are there every year that go unnoticed in a sport that's largely ignored on a day-to-day basis? Let's just take one track, like Del Mar near San Diego: 55 deaths from 2004-06, says the San Diego Union-Tribune I have seen this time and time again. Horses pushed beyond when they should be. They can be forced to run to their death as I have seen many times before. After reviewing the video any trained eye can see Eight Belles front ankles hyper extending as she is being WHIPPED LITERALY TO DEATH. She was weak and NOT SOUND CLEARLY SEEN ON VIDEO during her victorias final race. I would imagine her ankles were bruised and weak FROM HER 9 PREVIOUS RACES not giving the YOUNG filly a chance to recover. May God Bless Eight Belles as I saw this happen to my own mare but I pulled her from the old owners after she collapsed by running her heart out. She lived and is with us today if only I could of done this for Eight Belles. There are a few mares/horse very few who will not fight back no matter how much they are hurting. She was one that would die for her owner and she did. She was on in a million to have been like this to not fight back and a very special mare. This is a long race and now to continue the abuse in the name of greed even knowing full well Big Browns feet are bad the owners press on to the Preakness in just two weeks. Barbaro was not ready to run again. He was injured going into the derby. We took that hard because Dr. This sport is mean and cruel and for those hundreds of horses who are bread to run and never even make it pass Los Alamitos or those who run even in the derby are never heard from again. I do not need to tell anyone where these horses end up. Especially now the Warmbloods are the choice of the hunter jumpers. I hope the owners have a chance to read this as do Eight Belles trainer. You know it and I know it. Training for over 20 years would how could you of missed this? ENJOY YOUR SECOND PLACE EARNINGS . Besides these horses are all insured for their deaths. There is still money to collect from the insurance even when dead. We love your heart Eight Belles we love your spirit and I am so sorry this world is cruel.

Statement from Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The HSUS, on Kentucky Derby Death

May 5, 2008

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, issued the following statement on the horse racing industry following the tragic death of Kentucky Derby finisher Eight Belles:

“This industry has not had a rigorous critic to set it in the straight and narrow, and major problems have grown and festered. It's time for the thoroughbred industry to deal with its problems, and if it does not, animal advocates may well decide they can no longer continue to give the industry a free pass.

Here are some of the historic problems. Drugging of injured horses to keep them running, which makes vulnerable horses more susceptible to breakdowns. Racing horses too young. Because the marquee events feature three-year-olds, these horses must start racing at the tender age of two years, and that's well before their skeletal systems are sturdy enough to endure the pounding from the rigors of the race track. And third, racing horses on track surfaces that are not forgiving – with American tracks favoring dirt surfaces over grass or synthetics.

And then there are the problems coming to light more than ever – problems related to breeding. Breeding too many horses, and waiting for someone else to clean up the problem. And breeding them for body characteristics that make these animals vulnerable to breakdowns, especially those spindly legs underneath these stout torsos.”

For more, read Pacelle’s blog on this topic: Alarm Bells over Eight Belles.

-30-

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty – On the web at humanesociety.org .

http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/pr...

Gretchen23 wrote:

Statement from Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The HSUS, on Kentucky Derby Death
May 5, 2008
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, issued the following statement on the horse racing industry following the tragic death of Kentucky Derby finisher Eight Belles:
“This industry has not had a rigorous critic to set it in the straight and narrow, and major problems have grown and festered. It's time for the thoroughbred industry to deal with its problems, and if it does not, animal advocates may well decide they can no longer continue to give the industry a free pass.
Here are some of the historic problems. Drugging of injured horses to keep them running, which makes vulnerable horses more susceptible to breakdowns. Racing horses too young. Because the marquee events feature three-year-olds, these horses must start racing at the tender age of two years, and that's well before their skeletal systems are sturdy enough to endure the pounding from the rigors of the race track. And third, racing horses on track surfaces that are not forgiving – with American tracks favoring dirt surfaces over grass or synthetics.
And then there are the problems coming to light more than ever – problems related to breeding. Breeding too many horses, and waiting for someone else to clean up the problem. And breeding them for body characteristics that make these animals vulnerable to breakdowns, especially those spindly legs underneath these stout torsos.”
For more, read Pacelle’s blog on this topic: Alarm Bells over Eight Belles.
-30-
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty – On the web at humanesociety.org .
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/pr...

blah blah blah......... everyone quits reading after the first line of your long winded blah blah...

LAKOTA wrote:

<quoted text>blah blah blah......... everyone quits reading after the first line of your long winded blah blah...

Maybe if you tried laying off the Molson and weed for a while, your attention span would exceed that of a puppy.

Speak for yourself, not "everyone".

Irony Man wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe if you tried laying off the Molson and weed for a while, your attention span would exceed that of a puppy.
Speak for yourself, not "everyone".

as i said ironhead........ everyone !!!! and yes my attention span does exceed that of a puppy ... thanks for the compliment ya dumbhead !! I didnt include you because you are no-one !

Great article.

It’s breathtaking to watch a horse run or race but not at the expense of the animal. These days, after the deaths of all the poor high-profile horses and the hundreds or thousands of horses who haven’t been mentioned over the years because they weren’t high profile, I just would rather see a horse run with other horses in a pasture. I know they could get hurt there or die but that is part of a horse’s normal life and at least they are running because they want to and aren’t in a high-pressure situation like a horse race. Horse racing these days is a lot deadlier for the horse than it used to be in the past because the horses are just not strong enough anymore or sound enough to race much, if at all. The horse racing industry has a culture that is hard to change. For years now there has been over breeding of racehorses and there has been very questionable quality of breeding of racehorses, since for the past twenty years or so they have been bred for speed and not soundness. These horses are racing at too young an age before they are physically mature subjecting them to a greater chance of injury or death. It all comes down to money. It’s expensive to take care of a horse, so people race them sooner than they should to make money and because the culture of horse racing says it’s okay with no real proof to back that up. The bad breeding practices are all about making lots of money quickly and screw the long-term consequences of bad breeding. Horses aren’t the only ones that have been adversely affected by bad breeding practices and over breeding. We humans continue to do it with dogs, cats, etc. We are very arrogant in that sense messing with nature and bending it to our desires or needs with no concern for the animal. We are also arrogant in that we like to make a lot of money the easy way without considering who or what gets hurt along the way to get that money. If you can’t afford to take care of a horse while you are waiting for it to mature physically so it can maybe have a safer racing career, then you shouldn’t be owning a horse or be in the horse racing business. Horses require a lot of care and a healthy amount of money to properly take care of them whether they are pasture horses or race horses. Some common sense should be used before even considering having a horse. Betting on racehorses unfortunately is a recipe for corruption and all of the other problems above that I have mentioned. I just hope it doesn’t take hundreds or thousands of more dead racehorses for the horse racing industry to finally admit to these problems and failings and start making sincere, real changes to their industry so that maybe someday we might actually be able to watch horses race without worrying about whether the horses will make it through the race alive.



Joan Cornett

Joan Cornett wrote:

Great article.
It’s breathtaking to watch a horse run or race but not at the expense of the animal. These days, after the deaths of all the poor high-profile horses and the hundreds or thousands of horses who haven’t been mentioned over the years because they weren’t high profile, I just would rather see a horse run with other horses in a pasture. I know they could get hurt there or die but that is part of a horse’s normal life and at least they are running because they want to and aren’t in a high-pressure situation like a horse race. Horse racing these days is a lot deadlier for the horse than it used to be in the past because the horses are just not strong enough anymore or sound enough to race much, if at all. The horse racing industry has a culture that is hard to change. For years now there has been over breeding of racehorses and there has been very questionable quality of breeding of racehorses, since for the past twenty years or so they have been bred for speed and not soundness. These horses are racing at too young an age before they are physically mature subjecting them to a greater chance of injury or death. It all comes down to money. It’s expensive to take care of a horse, so people race them sooner than they should to make money and because the culture of horse racing says it’s okay with no real proof to back that up. The bad breeding practices are all about making lots of money quickly and screw the long-term consequences of bad breeding. Horses aren’t the only ones that have been adversely affected by bad breeding practices and over breeding. We humans continue to do it with dogs, cats, etc. We are very arrogant in that sense messing with nature and bending it to our desires or needs with no concern for the animal. We are also arrogant in that we like to make a lot of money the easy way without considering who or what gets hurt along the way to get that money. If you can’t afford to take care of a horse while you are waiting for it to mature physically so it can maybe have a safer racing career, then you shouldn’t be owning a horse or be in the horse racing business. Horses require a lot of care and a healthy amount of money to properly take care of them whether they are pasture horses or race horses. Some common sense should be used before even considering having a horse. Betting on racehorses unfortunately is a recipe for corruption and all of the other problems above that I have mentioned. I just hope it doesn’t take hundreds or thousands of more dead racehorses for the horse racing industry to finally admit to these problems and failings and start making sincere, real changes to their industry so that maybe someday we might actually be able to watch horses race without worrying about whether the horses will make it through the race alive.
Joan Cornett

Im sure your little write up was quite interesting,but you should realize that short points are better because no one wants to read a novel when entering these sites...I took one look at the length of your sermon then wrote this.... get the picture ??

I think that all the publicity that this incident attracted will actually help the racing industry...... there is always an attraction to controversy........ watch the crowds increase and the t.v. ratings go up !!!!Isn't America a great place ???

May a wolverine bite your butt.

Clueless wrote:

May a wolverine bite your butt.

OUCH !!!!!Hey how did you do that ???

Horse Racing DeathsMay 2008

[ESPN - opinion - comments at full story link]

This one is different. This time, the people are not going to buy that tired, old "it's part of the game" line. The public is outraged by the death of Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby and asking some very serious, very appropriate questions about whether or not horse racing is tantamount to animal cruelty.

This is usually where the sport buries its collective head in the sand, tells people how much everyone involved with the game loves their horses, and hopes the controversy dies down. This time, that's not going to work. The horse racing industry has to be proactive and take some severe measures to make this sport safer and more humane for the animals that compete and the humans that ride them.

...

People are tired of seeing horses die. Perhaps some of the reactions that have come from the Eight Belles situation are over the top, but that's not the point. Horseracing has to react to public sentiment, something it has never been very good at doing. It has to do so because it's the right thing to do for the horses and because it has to deal with a public relations nightmare.

Are we that far from the point where sponsors pull their ads from Triple Crown telecasts because of pressure put on them by animal rights activists and/or the media outcry over all these deaths? Horseracing has come to a crossroad. It had better go down the right path.

Bill Finley is an award-winning racing writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today and Sports Illustrated. Contact Bill at wnfinley@aol.com

--

full story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triple...

Mirabel_858 wrote:

Horse Racing DeathsMay 2008
[ESPN - opinion - comments at full story link]
This one is different. This time, the people are not going to buy that tired, old "it's part of the game" line. The public is outraged by the death of Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby and asking some very serious, very appropriate questions about whether or not horse racing is tantamount to animal cruelty.
This is usually where the sport buries its collective head in the sand, tells people how much everyone involved with the game loves their horses, and hopes the controversy dies down. This time, that's not going to work. The horse racing industry has to be proactive and take some severe measures to make this sport safer and more humane for the animals that compete and the humans that ride them.
...
People are tired of seeing horses die. Perhaps some of the reactions that have come from the Eight Belles situation are over the top, but that's not the point. Horseracing has to react to public sentiment, something it has never been very good at doing. It has to do so because it's the right thing to do for the horses and because it has to deal with a public relations nightmare.
Are we that far from the point where sponsors pull their ads from Triple Crown telecasts because of pressure put on them by animal rights activists and/or the media outcry over all these deaths? Horseracing has come to a crossroad. It had better go down the right path.
Bill Finley is an award-winning racing writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today and Sports Illustrated. Contact Bill at wnfinley@aol.com
--
full story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triple...

who is barboes ??

petaputa08 wrote:

animal abusers suck

yes them petapukes should be ashamed of themselves for killing so many animals !!

Crescent Wrench: The only living abortion....

Lanie wrote:

Crescent Wrench: The only living abortion....

the best part of lonely ran down her mommies leg !

I completely agree with Sandra from Farmington. I have loved watching thoroughbred horse racing over the years. These animals are magnificent. But, after the Derby, I am done watching this "sport." I cannot stand to see another horse put down. I can't stand to even think about all of the horses that are sacrificed for the pleasure of humans. It's not right.

"Eight Belles" Should Sound the End of Racetrack Betting
Just after crossing the finish line in the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008, a young filly named Eight Belles collapsed when both of her front ankles snapped. She was euthanized in the dirt where she lay, the latest victim of the dirty business of thoroughbred racing.

Eight Belles' death is yet another reminder that these horses are raced when they are so young that their bones have not properly formed, and they are often raced on surfaces that are too hard for their bones—like the hard track at Churchill Downs. Eight Belles' jockey whipped her mercilessly as she came down the final stretch. This is no great surprise, since trainers, owners, and jockeys are all driven by the desire to make money, leaving the horses to suffer terribly.

PETA is calling on the racing industry to suspend the jockey and trainer, to bar the owner from racing at the track, and, at the very least, to stop using young horses who are so susceptible to these types of horrific injuries. We're also demanding that the industry stop racing horses on hard tracks and switch to softer, synthetic surfaces, which would spare horses' bones and joints, in addition to calling for a permanent ban on the use of whips. Help PETA call for an end to cruelty masquerading as sport by using the form below to take action today.

Although Eight Belles' death, like Barbaro's before hers, made headlines, countless lesser-known horses suffer similar fates—their broken legs and battered bodies are simply hidden from public view. Most racehorses end up broken down or cast off or are sent to Europe for slaughter.

Please use the form below to join PETA in demanding that the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority institute sweeping reforms that would stop needless, preventable suffering and cruelty in the racing industry.

Take Action on This Issue

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/eight_bell...

The HSUS Facts on US Horse Slaughter

***Which kinds of horses are slaughtered?

Horses slaughtered include (losing race horses) lame or ill, riding school, camp horses, pergnant mares, foals -"byproducts" of (PMU), drug Premarin®. Ponies, mules, donkeys as well.

HSUS investigators witnessed horses purchased for slaughter in good health, bought for a few hundred dollars. Horses of all ages & breeds are slaughtered, from draft to miniatures.
**********
***How many horses are slaughtered each year?

(Tens of thousands) of live horses are transported across the border to
Mexico and Canada for slaughter.
**********
***Who eats horse meat?
The largest markets are France, Belgium, Holland, Japan, and Italy.

**********
***How do unwanted, surplus horses end up at slaughterhouses?

Most horses destined for slaughter are sold at livestock auctions or sales. Often, terrified horses and ponies are crammed together and transported to slaughter in double-deck trucks designed for cattle and pigs. Some horses arrive at the slaughterhouse seriously injured or dead.
**********
***How are the horses killed?

Highly alert horses are stabbed multiple times in the neck with "puntilla knife" to sever spinal cords. The horse is conscious, is "not" stunning method. It paralyzes, leaving horses twitching on the ground, unable to move or breathe, death from suffocation or blood loss & dismemberment. With US export of horses to slaughter over 300%, undercover footage shows live horses dragged, whipped, crammed in trucks in 110 tmp to a horrific form of slaughter in MX & CN. Conditions in slaughterhouses—stressful & extremely frightening.
**********
***What is The Humane Society of the United States doing to protect horses?

The HSUS continues to assist states in passage of effective laws to govern treatment of horses sold for slaughter within their borders.
__________
More Facts on Horse Slaughter:
http://www.hsus.org/horses_equines/issues/get...