Comments on: Eight Belles, horse-racing and PETA: Let’s be honest http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/ The Web blog of the Pet Connection, a pet-care feature syndicated internationally by Universal Press. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:23:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-263320 Gina Spadafori Sat, 10 May 2008 01:56:27 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-263320 Blaming the owner, the trainer or the jockey is natural shock and horror being manipulated by those groups whose true goal is the extinction of all domestic animals. What happened to Eight Belles could have happened even if all the changes being suggested and even demanded now are put in place. Horse-racing will never be risk-free, but it can and must become safer for the horses and the jockeys. The racing industry has to stop looking the other way when speed and greed drive breeding practices and the use of drugs is wide-spread and widely tolerated. (Big Brown's trainer has a <a href=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3378296&sportCat=horse rel="nofollow">long and well-documented history of drug-use</a>, to name but one.) Big Brown's feet are a joke, and now he has a stud deal in the works? He needs to be gelded, along with Unbridled Song, Eight Belle's sire. (I gotta few other candidates for gelding, including a few folks in the trainers' ranks.) I have nothing but sympathy for the connections of Eight Belles. But the horse-racing industry seems to be saying, "Well, it's just PETA, and it'll blow over." No, it won't. I follow racing year-round, following the top horses at the top tracks. I'm tired of the drugs. I'm tired of an industry that sends horses who made millions down the claiming ranks to squeeze every last dime out of them before they die on the track or in a Mexican slaughterhouse. I know many, many wonderful people in racing, people who don't cheat, do care and love horses. These people have been speaking up all along, and now, they need to be heard. Again, my sympathy for all involved with Eight Belles. Thank you for commenting. Blaming the owner, the trainer or the jockey is natural shock and horror being manipulated by those groups whose true goal is the extinction of all domestic animals.

What happened to Eight Belles could have happened even if all the changes being suggested and even demanded now are put in place. Horse-racing will never be risk-free, but it can and must become safer for the horses and the jockeys.

The racing industry has to stop looking the other way when speed and greed drive breeding practices and the use of drugs is wide-spread and widely tolerated. (Big Brown’s trainer has a long and well-documented history of drug-use, to name but one.)

Big Brown’s feet are a joke, and now he has a stud deal in the works? He needs to be gelded, along with Unbridled Song, Eight Belle’s sire. (I gotta few other candidates for gelding, including a few folks in the trainers’ ranks.)

I have nothing but sympathy for the connections of Eight Belles. But the horse-racing industry seems to be saying, “Well, it’s just PETA, and it’ll blow over.”

No, it won’t.

I follow racing year-round, following the top horses at the top tracks. I’m tired of the drugs. I’m tired of an industry that sends horses who made millions down the claiming ranks to squeeze every last dime out of them before they die on the track or in a Mexican slaughterhouse.

I know many, many wonderful people in racing, people who don’t cheat, do care and love horses. These people have been speaking up all along, and now, they need to be heard.

Again, my sympathy for all involved with Eight Belles. Thank you for commenting.

]]> By: Jack Wortman http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-263230 Jack Wortman Fri, 09 May 2008 22:56:05 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-263230 Larry and Cindy Jones are members of my family. I was with them at the finish line on Derby Day when Eight Belles passed us behind Big Brown. We left our seats to make our way down to the Winner's Circle to unsaddle and check Belle, completely unaware anything had happened. When she crossed the finish line, ears up, her head totally in the race. There was absolutely no sign of distress. Larry and Cindy Jones have one of the best reputations in the business when it comes to the care, training and affection they have for all their horses. They would not have run Belle if they thought she did not belonged in the race or if she had any type of impariment. They have never been suspected nor have they ever used drugs with their horses. Gabriel Saez rode Belle perfectly, he did not abuse the crop and if you look at the final quarter of the race, you will see the crop was only used to position Belle for advancement and to keep her off the rail. PETA has slandered my family and my friend Gabriel with baseless accusations. In my heart I feel they immediately realized an opportunity to seek finanical donations (emails sent to thousands seeking contributions immediately after the race). PETA has done wonderful in the defense of animals, but these emails completely discredit their denials they were not in this for finanical gains. Eight Belles was a wonderful girl, loved by all who ever saw her race or was involved with her. We should be celebrating her magnificent heart and great accomplishments. I hope her legacy is to become the rally point to improvements within the industry. Now that would make her nicker. She did her part, lets do ours. Larry and Cindy Jones are members of my family. I was with them at the finish line on Derby Day when Eight Belles passed us behind Big Brown. We left our seats to make our way down to the Winner’s Circle to unsaddle and check Belle, completely unaware anything had happened. When she crossed the finish line, ears up, her head totally in the race. There was absolutely no sign of distress.

Larry and Cindy Jones have one of the best reputations in the business when it comes to the care, training and affection they have for all their horses. They would not have run Belle if they thought she did not belonged in the race or if she had any type of impariment. They have never been suspected nor have they ever used drugs with their horses. Gabriel Saez rode Belle perfectly, he did not abuse the crop and if you look at the final quarter of the race, you will see the crop was only used to position Belle for advancement and to keep her off the rail.

PETA has slandered my family and my friend Gabriel with baseless accusations. In my heart I feel they immediately realized an opportunity to seek finanical donations (emails sent to thousands seeking contributions immediately after the race). PETA has done wonderful in the defense of animals, but these emails completely discredit their denials they were not in this for finanical gains.

Eight Belles was a wonderful girl, loved by all who ever saw her race or was involved with her. We should be celebrating her magnificent heart and great accomplishments. I hope her legacy is to become the rally point to improvements within the industry. Now that would make her nicker. She did her part, lets do ours.

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-263027 The OTHER Pat Fri, 09 May 2008 12:52:32 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-263027 I'm learning to keep the mouse ready with the "Back" button when I click on these links, so as soon as I realized there was a picture there, I backed out without more than a quick glance. Just wanted to save anyone else who might not be so prepared! (For two days I wouldn't go to Salon.com because they had the picture front and center on their homepage.) I’m learning to keep the mouse ready with the “Back” button when I click on these links, so as soon as I realized there was a picture there, I backed out without more than a quick glance. Just wanted to save anyone else who might not be so prepared!

(For two days I wouldn’t go to Salon.com because they had the picture front and center on their homepage.)

]]> By: kb http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-262888 kb Fri, 09 May 2008 05:15:55 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-262888 I'm sorry and apologize for not including a warning that there was a photo with the Seattle Times article. I hope I didn't upset anybody. I’m sorry and apologize for not including a warning that there was a photo with the Seattle Times article. I hope I didn’t upset anybody.

]]> By: Mary http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-262802 Mary Fri, 09 May 2008 01:44:51 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-262802 I'm no fan of PETA either, although I will give them credit that they are good at using the media and keeping issues in front of people. I'd never send them any money, but actually I think it's good they have jumped on this. These problems in the TB industry need lots of ongoing publicity in order to promote change. I’m no fan of PETA either, although I will give them credit that they are good at using the media and keeping issues in front of people. I’d never send them any money, but actually I think it’s good they have jumped on this. These problems in the TB industry need lots of ongoing publicity in order to promote change.

]]> By: C.L.H. http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-262755 C.L.H. Fri, 09 May 2008 00:07:21 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-262755 Which are the specific organizations in need of reform? How would thoroughbred breeding be regulated? How is drug abuse monitored? Is it track by track or is there an official national testing organization. Would it take an act of congress to change track surfaces or do we start lobbying state by state? I guess after reading through all the posts (and no I don't want to see the end of racing and yes I do want to see reform) I'd like to know specifics. How do we really make a difference? I've never spent money on horse racing so a boycott by me will make no difference. So, what else can I do? I follow cycling, which has been rife with drug abuse and corruption for decades. It's one of the most tightly regulated sports in the world, yet they can't manage to clean it up. Horse racing is much bigger, so where do we start? Which are the specific organizations in need of reform? How would thoroughbred breeding be regulated? How is drug abuse monitored? Is it track by track or is there an official national testing organization. Would it take an act of congress to change track surfaces or do we start lobbying state by state? I guess after reading through all the posts (and no I don’t want to see the end of racing and yes I do want to see reform) I’d like to know specifics. How do we really make a difference? I’ve never spent money on horse racing so a boycott by me will make no difference. So, what else can I do?
I follow cycling, which has been rife with drug abuse and corruption for decades. It’s one of the most tightly regulated sports in the world, yet they can’t manage to clean it up. Horse racing is much bigger, so where do we start?

]]> By: Dr. Patty Khuly http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-262445 Dr. Patty Khuly Thu, 08 May 2008 15:45:07 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-262445 That was a good piece, though, despite the money shot. That was a good piece, though, despite the money shot.

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-262325 The OTHER Pat Thu, 08 May 2008 12:51:23 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-262325 WARNING: The link above also has a picture of her down. WARNING: The link above also has a picture of her down.

]]> By: kb http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-262094 kb Thu, 08 May 2008 05:46:51 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-262094 Another call for reform. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrybrewer/2004394617_brewer060.html Racing needs to turn tragedy into reform. And if it doesn't do something about it, the sport will become too unbearable for the average fan. [NOTE FROM GINA: THE LINK GOES TO A PICTURE OF EIGHT BELLES WITH HER INURIES.] Another call for reform.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....er060.html
Racing needs to turn tragedy into reform.
And if it doesn’t do something about it, the sport will become too unbearable for the average fan.

[NOTE FROM GINA: THE LINK GOES TO A PICTURE OF EIGHT BELLES WITH HER INURIES.]

]]> By: Marcy http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/05/07/eight-belles-horse-racing-and-peta-lets-be-honest/#comment-262054 Marcy Thu, 08 May 2008 04:34:34 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2465#comment-262054 Ruffian is the one I saw break down on TV, which cured me from ever following racing again. I remember all the hype, but most of all remember her tragic death. Ruffian is the one I saw break down on TV, which cured me from ever following racing again.

I remember all the hype, but most of all remember her tragic death.

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