The Kentucky Derby: thoughts?

[Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith)]

Every year I get sucked into the hoopla that is the Kentucky Derby, and find myself at least watching an hour of the pre race show, and the race actually lasts for a minute.

Of course this year, the filly Eight Belles broke its ankles, and had to be euthanized on the spot. Predictably, PETA is in an uproar, and now the poor owner and jockey not only have to deal with a dead horse, but bullshit like this.

sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown08/news/story?id=3381932

I am an unabashed animal lover, but PETA are just not much short of terrorists with the way they threaten. I felt kind of sick when they announced they had to kill the filly, but if you compare the number of horses killed in races to drivers killed in NASCAR accidents, I don't think it would be that far off.

My question, and I'm hoping Bluzman can chime in, is, what are these horses treated like between races? Are they treated like royalty, better than most humans, or are they kind of like some greyhounds, that are just disposed of after they peak?

I thought this would be an interesting topic, share your thoughts. RIP Eight Belles.

[MoHawk]

I agree. I'm no fan of PETA. Absolute crap what they're trying to do.

I'd be very interested in knowing how these animals are treated in between races as well. I'm not a big racing fan, but I'd be willing to bet they're treated very well...but that's just a guess.

[Hawkeyes1982]

for the past 2 years, i find my selft watchen a couple hours, and i flip channels between shit and i miss the race somehow! frickin gay.

[TBELL]

I tried to do some research for you, and could only find that there have been 8 NASCAR drivers killed since 1950. I did find one site that had upwards of 180 horses killed after races, but you should also take into account that it was from a newspaper in the UK, and there are FAR more horse races year round than NASCAR races. PETA needs to find something else to do.

[Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith)]

May 5, 2008 18:17:45 GMT -6 TBELL said:

I tried to do some research for you, and could only find that there have been 8 NASCAR drivers killed bince 1950. I did find one site that had upwards of 180 horses killed after races, but you should also take into account that it was from a newspaper in the UK, and there are FAR more horse races year round than NASCAR races. PETA needs to find something else to do.

The thing that pisses me off about PETA, is that they are wanting the jockey suspended because he was beating the horse too hard. These PETA people no nothing about horse racing. Officials have reviewed the tapes and have agreed the jockey did everything right, and that his reason for hitting the horse was because he was afraid she would get to close to the railing, which would be a disaster as well.

PETA doesn't look into stuff like this, though. They just shoot and then aim. They are convinced the horse showed some kind of signs it was injured (unfounded).

"What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?" PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."

In other words, "if it's not our first theory, we're going to blame it on something else unfounded".

[GhostMod 5000]

[TBELL]

I like the choice of the word "mercilessly". I'm sure if the horse had a limp they probably wouldn't have run it in the race. I don't know what good it would do to run a horse that you know isn't going to win, so why bother. I'd have to agree, they just "spray and pray" with their theories and complaints.

[hawkeyedug]

LINK said:

Eight Belles ... was euthanized on the track.... there will be an autopsy to determine cause of death

Can someone explain this to me? Why perform an autopsy if we already know?

I'm also pretty sure that these multi-million dollar horses are treated QUITE well. And if they are male they get put out to stud after they are "retired". Probab ly not a terrible retirement.

[socal]

I've got no real clue, but I'd guess the "top end" horses are still treated like horses between races. With horse food, horse homes, horse accouterments, etc... so they aren't treated like Royalty per se - unless horses have themselves - developed a cultural monarchy.

While some people in the world would undoubtedly consider such (or any) horse food & horse housing an upgrade, I think keeping things in perspective is required.

In that regard though, why wouldn't PETA focus their attention towards the less fortunate horses... that have to carry fat people on mini excursions around, say, a remote Nicaraguan village, all for the lowly pay of cheap horse food, cheap/non-existent horse homes, and no frills accouterments?

[hawkeyescott]

From what I have heard the "Top End" horses are treated better than the people that care for them on a daily basis. These horses are worth millions of dollars so they are going to be pampered. The owners spare no expenses when training these horses and try to give them the best of everything so they will have the best chance to succeed. These horses become part of their families and you won't find any Michael Vick type of people raising these types of horses.

[Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith)]

May 5, 2008 19:00:47 GMT -6 hawkeyedug said:

LINK said:

Eight Belles ... was euthanized on the track.... there will be an autopsy to determine cause of death

Can someone explain this to me? Why perform an autopsy if we already know?

quote]

I don't think this was worded right, but my guess is they are waiting for the blood tests to come back. Blood samples are sent to Iowa State, of all places, to be examined for performance enhancing drugs...and probably want to make sure there was nothing like that is its system. I think that's why they called Big Brown the "unofficial winner", when he clearly won...they have to get blood tests back to make it official.

[thunderhawk]

Yeah, I've got a thought. Quit jamming fucking steroids into these animals.

[The Bluzmn]

I am sorry but I have no idea what they are treated like. I did read an article once that ranked the various sports and how harmful they were to the horses. I don't remember the exact heirarchy, but I remember rodeo horses being really well off and the most abusive sport for horses being polo.

[Saggitariutt Jefferspin (ith)]

Further information...make sure to read what the owner says about PETA...spot on:

sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown08/news/story?id=3383931

[TBELL]

Couldn't agree with him more. I hadn't thought of that angle, but I agree. It reminds me of the Reverend or Al Sharpton doing their thing.

[hawkeyedug]

Uhhh, they said the cause of death was the fractures in the two front ankles. I'm pretty sure it was whatever was in the syringe.