Nice Post and nice counter argument Gina!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related

Watch Rachel Alexander win the Kentucky Oaks (same jockey as derby winner) the day before the Derby if you haven’t. When you see that kind of beauty, you know why people breed and race horses. I haven’t had a moment like that since watching Secretariat win the Belmont. Usually horse races are won as other horses tire and the winning horse just has more gas in the tank. This filly continues to accelerate and accelerate to the finish line, and her jockey is holding her even, not even pushing her. This is a horse with a HUGE heart.

The Derby was won by a good horse and a great jockey. The Oaks was an Awesome horse and a great jockey.

I was shocked and disgusted when I learned how deeply drugged racehorses are, treated like they are pieces of meat, instead of soulful animals who understand the demands of racing.

Dogs understand us when we ask them to fetch. Horses understand us when we ask them to go fast.

Dogs don’t need drugs to fetch. Why should horses be treated any less?

You remind me of the many, many people who see everything in black and white, such as:

1) You are either a vegan, or you are supporting factory farms.

2) You are either in favor of forced-spay neuter of all pets, or you are choosing for pets to die in shelters.

3) You are either in favor of all guns and all hunting, or you are in favor of banning all.

Well guess what?

1) I am in favor of sustainable animal agriculture that respects the needs of the animals and offers outlets for their natural behaviors, and provides death without pain or fear.

2) I have bred a litter AND run a breed rescue, and I believe forced spay-neuter will kill more pets than it saves, which is why I work towards a no-kill nation and support the preservation of our heritage breeds through ethical, responsible breeding.

3) I am a liberal gun owner who believes in the Second Amendment and ethical, sustainable hunting but I don’t think it’s reasonable to grant the right to own any weapon you want or any ammo to go with it.

And I’m also a horse-racing fan, and will remain one, albeit one who has argued for reform for as long as I’ve been writing, which is a very long time indeed.

Your opinions are yours, and I support your right to have them and state them. But I guarantee you I do not come to mine without a great deal of research, backstretch and farm-time, soul-searching and thought. And you insult me to suggest otherwise. That may not be your intent, but that’s the result over time.

Again, if you think racing is the only equine sport to use performance-enhancing or injury-hiding drugs, YOU are the one with the rose-colored glasses. Or 21 dead polo ponies, take your pick.

I’m sorry that you can’t see that you can’t have a great racehorse without the horse wanting to win, and trying to do so, every time. The great ones have a desire that’s so keen you can taste it in the air at the finish line. I’m not a gambler at all: It’s THAT horse I come to see, and THAT moment of greatness.

Racing is not black and white to me, nor is it rose-colored. Funny how life is the same way.

News flash! Thoroughbreds are known for crappy feet. Of the dozens I’ve known, I’ve only seen one who had normal feet! What Big Brown had done to his feet is pretty commonplace; it was people outside of the competitive horse world who were so intrigued.

(C’mon, Gina. Rose colored glasses.)

Thoroughbred racing is also not a zero drug tolerance sport. Lasix anyone? This is a drug that is used regularly to reduce fluid volume. Sounds crazy for an animal that is going to give a supreme athletic effort, right? Except that a lot of these TB’s bleed through the nose with extreme exertion introducing the risk of aspiration, so Lasix is administered to reduce that risk. But is dehydrating the horse *really* in that horse’s best interest? Sure, it’s not performance enhancing, but it’s not for the animal’s welfare.

Zero drug tolerance is the only answer.

Yes, I have spent the entire First Saturday in May watching “Breakfast at the Derby,” “Derby Day,” “Derby Pre-Race” and the entire Derby undercard plus the “After the Derby” on ESPN.