Okay here is the deal.
I was watching TV and they had said that Peta was upset over the KY Derby and that they thought that horse racing is crule.
Myself, I do not watch it much. but would like to know what everyone here in Trap17 thinks.

Is it crule or not?

In my opinion horse racing itself is not cruel. It is the uncaring owners and trainers that race horses starting at such a young age that is the problem. For those of you who are not racing fans, at this year's Kentucky Derby, the second place horse (a filly named Eight Belles) broke down on the track just after crossing the finish line. She fractured both of her front ankles and was euthanized on the spot.

Horses that are raced before their bones are fully developed and their joints have closed, break down from the stress of racing all too frequently. The sport has allowed for the racing of horses during their second year. In most cases, this is before they have developed strong enough legs to hold up under the pounding on the track.

I try to watch the Breeder's Cup program every year and it becomes a tragedy before the day is over. Young horses break down throughout the day and I find myself shouting at the TV when this happens. "Why do you fools insist on racing such young horses?" Of course then I am watching through tears. The owners are in it for the money and most of them view the horses as a commodity rather than a living, breathing animal. This just sickens me.

I am not a PETA supporter, but maybe they can do something to change the conditions under which these animals are expected to race. The Kentucky Derby has always been a race for 3-year-olds. The long-standing tradition (since 1875) will probably never be changed. But since a young horse must qualify for the derby they are raced as 2-year-olds to establish this qualification. There-in lies the cruelty. Horses that young should not be raced.

QUOTE

"The entire Churchill Downs Incorporated family -- as well as the horse racing industry -- has been devastated by Eight Belles’ tragic accident following her courageous performance in Kentucky Derby 134. With all of the advancements made by our industry to improve the overall health and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses, losing a competitor like Eight Belles will never be easy or acceptable. While injuries like the kind Eight Belles experienced are extremely rare -- even one is too many -- and public reaction is understandable given the fact that her accident was seen by millions of people following world's most famous and most watched horse race. We extend our deepest sympathy to Eight Belle's owners, trainer and jockey for their loss, and we join the entire horse racing industry in looking for ways to prevent catastrophic injuries in the racehorses that are the very heart of our sport.

-- Bob Evans, President and CEO, Churchill Downs Incorporated

I find this statement by Bob Evans a flowery cover-up made in order to ignore the real issue at hand. I point to the fact that the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner (a colt named Barbaro) was also euthanized because of injury suffered when he broke down during the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. Story.

This post has been edited by Mich: May 17 2008, 03:43 AM

This business of literally running horses into the ground and well past their physical limits is to be condemned by all who profess humanitarian ethics and common decency. If someone out there can explain how watching an animal pumped up on drugs and stitched together by veterinarians run around a track with a demonic midget on it's back constitutes entertainment, I'd love to hear. As I see it, the horrible realm of horse racing is not unlike the antiquated Barman and Bailey's Circus freak show which profits by the torture of the kingly lion, regal elephant, and other beautiful beasts of the wild.

I'll never forget a scene I witnessed as a child. We were still naive to the ways of animal exploitation, and our mother took us to the circus for an afternoon's entertainment. Sitting outside on the hot concrete in a lonely cage barely large enough to contain him, sat a large male lion with a full, golden mane (think Narnia's Aslan). This kingly creature, once the king of all he surveyed in the African bush was now enclosed in a cage barely large enough to contain him, dragged from freak show to freak show in miserable, intolerable conditions. His worn body showed the scars of several beatings, no doubt whip marks inflicted by his sadistic "handlers' as they forced him to perform acts unnatural to his proud disposition.

Children possess senses that adults have lost, and I could sense this lion's misery and felt the worse for him as my guilt for attending this freak show overwhelmed me. Never again did we visit a circus other than to protest its' vile presence. Now, this particular circus is banned from the fair city I grew up in, thanks to hard work and protest from humanitarian citizens and groups like PETA. Their tactics may reek of Hollywood, but I do support PETA and others like them who have done so much to help the innocents among us. And no, I do not support the spectacle of horse racing in any of its' dubious presentations anymore than I support greased pig contests or dog fights.

The wicked miscreants who profit from the exploitation of horses should not be surprised when humane organizations like PETA expose their cruelty for all the world to see. These magnificent animals are abused for human entertainment, not unlike the human gladiators of old. A day will come when the masses will recognize the correlation. I envision a day when horse racing, like it's cruel predecessors, will at last be smitten and removed from all progressive societies and left behind in the dark ages where it belongs, nothing more than an embarrassing reminder of our barbaric history. Until then, PETA and their humane ilk will continue to trail blaze a better future for those who cannot speak for themselves.

PETA hates ANY interaction between people and animals. They will condem anything related to such activities. They do not think that we need animals in any way shape fashion or form. This is not only limited to the use of animals for food, fiber or entertainment, but compainion animals as well. PETA does not want you to even own a pet! They are extremests in the worst possible concept of extreme and sometimes violent action. They value the life of an animal more so than the life of a human. They have gone so far as to claim Christianity as the biggest threat to animal rights. (God granted man dominion over the animals)

As far as horse racing, it is what the animals are bred for. Accidents happen. They also happen to human atheletes. Training for vigourous atheletic competition is a strain on the body, be it horse or man. I suppose we could all say being athletic is bad for our health and stop all exercise and become a world of fat greasy lumps that sit at computers all day and complain about the world and all those people in it that disagree with us.

PETA is a wacky, extremist organization for sure, and you'll not catch me writing them a check, ever. But, on the other hand, they do some good, too. You might consider that not everything they do is ridiculous or insane as you've portrayed them. I, for one, agree that a wild cat in a circus in this day and age is beyond reason. This is what they did in the Roman Games way back when. Centuries ago. Have we no ability to progress past such inhumane acts? I fully support the bearded lady, midgets on ice, and other human freak shows, but then these people, like athletes, are making a conscience decision to publicly humiliate themselves or to train to the point of injury and permanent disability. I don't imagine the animals have those choices presented to them. God didn't give Mankind domain over the animals to be cruel masters, but to exhibit care, compassion, and kindness toward them. We should all be considerate and aware that when an animal screams, that means the same thing as when you or I scream. No animal should have to suffer pain for our gratification.

seems as most are agree here. but as said by by Mitch, It is the owners. They breed these horses to run like anything. I live in New Jersey. In this state we have breeders who have had there horses run in the triple crown. If your driving in southern NJ you can see these horse in the field not only grazing but in a full run. So very beautiful to see I might add. But if you look closely you will notice there legs, vs there bodies. Like a tooth pick. Myself I feel if they the breaders and owners are going to have these horses running in a race for millions of dollors. They should also think. Is it worth having your milti million dollor horse get hurt and maybe being put down? I think not. Now I sound as a Peta supporter. one word NOT! But I do belive in rights for these animals. They are not able to say to anyone this hurts or it is unfair to us.

Just remember this next time you watch horses running in a race.

Well, maybe I missed it, though I do watch pretty close. I can't think of a single thing that PETA has done that is good for animals. I do know of human lives that have been destroyed because of PETA, and I know of quite a few incedents were PETA has deliberatly caused animals to suffer just so they could make a point, or get a story, or make their own propaganda films. Their own shelter destroy over 90% of the amimals they take in. They don't even try to find homes, they just kill them. Drop off the bodies in a dumpster on the way back to their headquarters, after promising the people they got them from they would find them a good home.

We talk about the woman who cyber bullied the teenage girl who ended up commiting sucide,and how she should be punished for her "crime," but are you aware that PETA does very much the same thing? Anyone involved with animals can be a target for PETA and their harrassment campaign. I personally know one woman who I am quite sure her untimely death was due to the severe harrasment she recieved from PETA. Of course, you can't prove that sort of thing, but I am as sure as I am sitting here typing this that it is what caused her ultimate death.

When an organization gets as large as PETA, it's difficult not to find something, if not several things to criticize. That's simply the nature of the beast, as it were. But the very fact we are all sitting here discussing the plight of abused horses is a testament to their effectiveness in bringing animal awareness to the public eye, if nothing else. Would we be doing so were it not for the efforts of PETA? They may utilize outrageous tactics, but are they any more outrageous than the industries who profit from the pain and agony of millions upon millions of innocent animals each and every year?

With their large marketing budget and Hollywood backing, PETA is successfully able to bring to the fore issues that are often otherwise swept under the carpet and conveniently ignored by the masses. Those who are inherently predisposed toward humane treatment of animals have been aware of these issues for some time, but the general public doesn't realize anything until they see it on the evening news. Your average Joe is not going to go out of his way to research the horrors of horse racing, and most animal welfare groups - as well meaning as they are - do not have the budget to advertise on major media. That's where PETA fills the gap. They are controversial because they challenge preconceived, archaic ideas of man's relationship to other sentient beings we share the planet with. And they are hated because they target huge, industrial agri-businesses that have long profited from the exploitation of innocent creatures. Exploiters will always resist being exposed, and will turn the tables on the messenger to deflect attention from where it belongs. The evils of the horse racing industry need to be made a part of the collective consciousness to affect change, and I thank PETA for helping bring this change about.