Kentucky Derby- Sad News!

[ali's_pigs123]

As many of you may know- yesterday was the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. The favorite number 20- Big Brown was the winner. The runner up- Eight Belles, ran "The Race Of Her Life." Immeadietly after the race, Eight Belles was euthanized because both of her front ankles has compound fractures and could not be saved.
I feel so bad about this.
Rest In Peace- Eight Belles.
You ran a great race.

[chexxy]

I was near tears. Something needs to be done. I am not against the sport, but the age they run them at. Even if the just started at 3 and really raced at 4, it would be better.

[Rachy1412]

Is the Kentucky Derby a flat race? I am on the fence about flat races but any races with jumps in I do not support. Maybe I am in the minority because horses enjoy racing but so many die!

[salana]

For those who don't know, yesterday at the Kentucky Derby, the filly Eight Belles placed (came in second) and then broke her ankles and had to be euthanized on track.

Some news articles:
Bloomberg.com: North American
SignOnSanDiego.com > Sports -- Eight Belles ran strong until end
The Associated Press: Filly Eight Belles breaks down after 2nd-place Derby finish
Death of Eight Belles prompts questions - USATODAY.com

I like this quote, I think it sums up everything I could think to say:

There is a contradiction to the conversation that comes from horse racing. – one easy to overlook until a moment such as this. Words such as courage and determination and heart are used to describe the animals. It is as if they become human athletes, as if they become family.

OK. But if that is the case, is this the way we treat athletes – breeding them for maximum speed, even if it kills a few of them? If they are family, how can an enterprise watch so many of them die?

Personally, I would like to know who sponsored the Kentucky Derby, and who had commercials during the coverage of the race. And I would like to boycott them, and write them letters to explain why.

[guineapigluver1]

My mom told me yesterday, it is really sad. I am sort of against racing because of all the risks that run on running the horse.

[Susan9608]

It's quite an institution in KY. I went to nursing school in Louisville and saw the city explode in a huge frenzy during Derby week. Quite a sight to see.

It would be a great thing to have the Derby shut down ... for good.

[VoodooJoint]

While I'm not necessarily against horse racing I think that the industry needs to have some major changes made. The American Racing industry has a habit of racing horses too young. 8 Belles was only a yearling. Her owners and trainers had no business putting her out on a track. Hell, at that age she shouldn't even have a rider on her. If they had given her another year or two to finish growing it's likely this tragedy would not have happened and she would have gone on to have a long and stellar racing career. Instead they race them too young, break them down and end up with a crippled horse that often ends up going to slaughter instead of enjoying a well earned retirement.

One of my favorite bloggers shares my views about the issues with racing and ran a blog about 8 Belles and the industry yesterday Fugly Horse of the Day!: Another one bites the dust

[RufussMom]

I think that racing horses in this way is wrong, but I do think things like dressage (?) and cross country is better because the horse isnt being pushed so hard to do short bursts of speed. So many horses get hurt in those races, but not in races that invlove jumping. Its really sad and makes me angry...

[babybunny]

I heard on the news that Eight Belles was attempting to become the 4th filly to win the race. I always have a soft soft for the underdogs and was hoping she would win. It's heartbreaking to hear of the tragedy of such a valiant girl.

[chexxy]

Originally Posted by RufussMom

I think that racing horses in this way is wrong, but I do think things like dressage (?) and cross country is better because the horse isnt being pushed so hard to do short bursts of speed. So many horses get hurt in those races, but not in races that invlove jumping. Its really sad and makes me angry...

I hate to break it to you, but I know one, and I am pretty sure two horses just died in the cross country stage of Rolex. And many horses die jumping. Even in dressage they are many suspicoiuns about some very cruel training methods. Des this mean we shouldnt support any of them? No. I want to train Jumpers. But it means there are evils in every sport.

[CF#5]

Anyone who supports any form of the business of horse racing is partially responsible for every death and every incident of suffering.

As a society, we've made it routine to be entertained by athletes who suffer and often die (especially in wrestling) as a result of their participation. There is inherent risk for athletes of all sports, but humans have the choice to not participate.

[Weatherlight]

What's even more sad to me is the attention the other horses don't get. Look at Exceller. So famous, but he died later, after his racing days, in a slaughterhouse far away. Almost no one cared. And even worse, the horses you can't look at, the ones who might as well not exist as individuals, because they don't run on the high grade tracks.

horses enjoy racing

Eh, while I'm on my soapbox, I'd like to preach against this argument. This should make people be in favor of giving horses large areas in which to run with each other if they'd like to, not forcing horses onto racetracks that humans choose, at times humans choose, etc.

Even in dressage they are many suspicoiuns about some very cruel training methods.

To me, they don't have to be "very" cruel. They don't have to inflict "extreme amounts" of suffering. ANY is enough for me to be against it.

[chexxy]

Originally Posted by Weatherlight

Eh, while I'm on my soapbox, I'd like to preach against this argument. This should make people be in favor of giving horses large areas in which to run with each other if they'd like to, not forcing horses onto racetracks that humans choose, at times humans choose, etc.

They do enjoy it. At that level they have to. I dont know if you are a horse person or not but no wsay could you get a horse to go that fast that willingly if they didnt like it. No human cna force a hrse to do anything. I cant get my horse to go over a 2 ft. jump, and you thinkt hose racewhorses dont like what they are doing? So many horses probaly could have been saved, but after they break a leg they keep running. There was an old story, about a horse, I think Black Gold, but I am not sure, broke won of his legs but kept going on tree, the jockey couldnt stop him, and he ended up finishing the race, of course, sadly he had to be euthenised. Hes known as the horse who ran with three legs and a heart.
Now this I think is ridculous-
washingtonpost.com
And I hope they dont get their way. Horses break down, its not the jokceys fault. We all watched the race, nothing was wrong until she took a bad step and he was pulling her up.

[CF#5]

Maybe they like running at high speeds, but that is not the issue. It's a question of exploitation and objectification. Really, like most animal matters, it boils down to speciesism.

[Susan9608]

I dont know if you are a horse person or not but no wsay could you get a horse to go that fast that willingly if they didnt like it.

Sure you can. You can "make" almost anyone do anything with the right motivation, it's all a matter of finding it. And for the money these race horses bring in, I'm sure their owners, trainers, and jockeys are quite adept at finding that motivation.

You also have to consider the fact that thoroughbred horses, like most breeds of dogs, have suffered from genetic manipulation to make them better racers, and thus suffer from all of that weight on those tiny legs. And at the Derby, they are racing on a hard, dirt tracks, and have owners who view them as "investments" - investments to be treasured for as long as the money continues to role in.

ETA: There's already a thread about this in the Kitchen; I'm going to merge them.

[auburnmare5]

I don't think racing shoudl be banned, it is just the age they run them at is unbelieveable. I heard somewhere that is they were allowed to race later, and spend time actually being a horse, their bones can become stronger and they would be less prone to fatal injuries such as Eight Belles.
***I don't think Eight Belles would have been allowed to race if she was a yearling. I am pretty sure the Kentucky Derby is for three-year olds.***
I was near tears when I heard this.