Comments on: Fans of racing (and those who aren’t): Speak up http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/ The Web blog of the Pet Connection, a pet-care feature syndicated internationally by Universal Press. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:58:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Deanna http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260796 Deanna Tue, 06 May 2008 14:32:49 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260796 In all of these blogs, I read Barbaro's and George Washington's names mentioned along with Eight Belles, but what about Charismatic in 1999? His left front leg was broken in two places at the finish of the Belmont. These horses are started too young, pushed too hard and 'roided up as babies to make 'em bigger (hmm, think that has any effect on bone strength?) and drugged up so they can't feel their injuries and put back on the track so they can earn their keep. The whole flat-track racing industry makes me ill. Until there is a zero-drug policy, until horses aren't raced until the *real* age of at *least* 4, until there is soundness criteria for entry and vets able to uphold the criteria, and until speed isn't the only breeding criteria, the sport has and will continue to make me ill. In all of these blogs, I read Barbaro’s and George Washington’s names mentioned along with Eight Belles, but what about Charismatic in 1999? His left front leg was broken in two places at the finish of the Belmont.

These horses are started too young, pushed too hard and ‘roided up as babies to make ‘em bigger (hmm, think that has any effect on bone strength?) and drugged up so they can’t feel their injuries and put back on the track so they can earn their keep.

The whole flat-track racing industry makes me ill. Until there is a zero-drug policy, until horses aren’t raced until the *real* age of at *least* 4, until there is soundness criteria for entry and vets able to uphold the criteria, and until speed isn’t the only breeding criteria, the sport has and will continue to make me ill.

]]> By: slt http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260733 slt Tue, 06 May 2008 12:51:23 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260733 I'm trying to picture myself winning Best in Show at Westminster (ha!) and I can imagine I'd be very excited and overcome with emotion BUT if say the Herding Group winner had gone down behind me and was being euthanized while I was being presented with my silver bowl and such - it's hard for me to think I'd be screaming in delight and whooping it up, ya know? I’m trying to picture myself winning Best in Show at Westminster (ha!) and I can imagine I’d be very excited and overcome with emotion BUT if say the Herding Group winner had gone down behind me and was being euthanized while I was being presented with my silver bowl and such - it’s hard for me to think I’d be screaming in delight and whooping it up, ya know?

]]> By: Marcy http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260505 Marcy Tue, 06 May 2008 04:28:50 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260505 I was turned off to horse racing years ago, when a similar accident happened to a filly, which wound up with her euthanized. I decided at that time...no more horse races for me. I do enjoy watching the horses run...they are magnificent animals. But if they run at the possible expense of their lives, then that's where I draw the line. I think that the time has come, when many are saying, "enough is enough." I was turned off to horse racing years ago, when a similar accident happened to a filly, which wound up with her euthanized.

I decided at that time…no more horse races for me.

I do enjoy watching the horses run…they are magnificent animals. But if they run at the possible expense of their lives, then that’s where I draw the line.

I think that the time has come, when many are saying, “enough is enough.”

]]> By: 2CatMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260365 2CatMom Tue, 06 May 2008 00:19:48 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260365 That's good cause I thought I must have said something really bad! Now that I seem to be able to post again - I'll give it one more try: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/young_horses/69350 Let's see if this works. That’s good cause I thought I must have said something really bad! Now that I seem to be able to post again - I’ll give it one more try:

http://www.suite101.com/articl.....rses/69350

Let’s see if this works.

]]> By: Christie Keith http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260361 Christie Keith Tue, 06 May 2008 00:12:25 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260361 No reason I know of... email me the link and I'll edit it in... No reason I know of… email me the link and I’ll edit it in…

]]> By: 2CatMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260354 2CatMom Mon, 05 May 2008 23:59:34 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260354 Well I keep trying to post a link to a table - but I can't. Have I been banned in Boston? Well I keep trying to post a link to a table - but I can’t. Have I been banned in Boston?

]]> By: straybaby http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260225 straybaby Mon, 05 May 2008 20:32:38 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260225 "As for the trickiest issue of all, breeding … well, that’s going to be like herding cats to reform." Herding cats can be done! Reward system works around here. Then follow the leader comes into play ;) “As for the trickiest issue of all, breeding … well, that’s going to be like herding cats to reform.”

Herding cats can be done! Reward system works around here. Then follow the leader comes into play ;)

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260221 The OTHER Pat Mon, 05 May 2008 20:26:06 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260221 Yeah - I can tell he leads a REAL rough life! (I just wish retired racehorses could have it so "rough") Yeah - I can tell he leads a REAL rough life!

(I just wish retired racehorses could have it so “rough”)

]]> By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260214 Gina Spadafori Mon, 05 May 2008 20:16:23 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260214 I like "The Prince of Darkness Would Like a Doughnut": http://flickr.com/photos/rockandracehorses/1805115652/ I like “The Prince of Darkness Would Like a Doughnut”:

http://flickr.com/photos/rocka.....805115652/

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/05/fans-of-racing-and-those-who-arent-speak-up/#comment-260205 The OTHER Pat Mon, 05 May 2008 20:05:13 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2459#comment-260205 Or this one: http://flickr.com/photos/rockandracehorses/438210363/in/set-219309/ Or this one:

http://flickr.com/photos/rocka.....et-219309/

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