Is horse racing worth saving?

[twogunsid]

Jane Smiley's opinion piece from the Los Angeles Times: I first heard about the unusually high number of horses dying at Santa Anita Park — which led to the temporary closure of the racetrack last week — from a friend at the barn where I keep my horses. She is still interested in horse racing. I am not.

Like a lot of former fans, I never loved racing for the betting — I loved it for the beauty of the animals. What drew me was their individuality, their pleasure in their job, whether it was running, jumping or standing still. But after breeding some, sending them to an honest and caring trainer, and writing a novel about the racetrack — a microcosm of capitalism itself — I backed away....

https://www.postbulletin.com/opinion/other_views/commentary-is-horse-racing-worth-saving/article_e6fb2db7-6186-51aa-a1a1-95217da32bbd.html

You would be hard pressed to find a bigger fan of racing than me. I don't believe that racing is filled with dishonest, evil and uncaring people. My time at the track as a breeder and owner of Standardbred horses I sold and raced brought me in contact with so many people that loved horses. Still, after the rash of breakdowns at Santa Anita and the lack of a sense of urgency in addressing the issue by the racing community I am rethinking my involvement. Arthur Hancock III of Stone Farm and charter member of the Water, Hay and Oats Alliannce (WHOA) said this week, "The phrase that “the horse comes first” will ring hollow because a preponderance of evidence indicates otherwise. Sadly it is hubris believing that we can keep on giving these beautiful horses the drugs they are getting and thinking that there will be no consequences, especially in light of the recent tragedies. The debate about the connection of these breakdowns on the tracks and the use of powerful drugs such as Bute and Lasix is irrelevant. Perception is reality and it is quite clear what the perception of our sport will be if we don't clean up our act immediately.” - twogunsid

[hlthe2b]

1. Sadly, I think horses will get scarcer and scarcer if racing ends...

because that would likely include rodeo events like barrel riding and other equine sports that maintain horse popularity. Horses are incredibly expensive to keep up and sans a viable horsemeat industry (which I strongly oppose), keeping horses would largely become a mere "hobby" of the 1%.

I have mixed feelings, but I really tend to think bull riding should go before horse racing (if either are to go).

[Mosby]

2. bull fighting should go first.

But it won't.

[hlthe2b]

3. Yes... n/t

[twogunsid]

5. We are breeding far fewer horses....

....the foal crop last year was less than 20k. The last time that happened was 1965. The high was in 1986 with over 52k foals born. So it is already trending that way.

What was shocking to me in the Jockey Club foal report was the fact that only 20 foals were born in New Jersey last year.

[leftieNanner]

4. What you never hear about with horse racing

is that most of these animals end up begin shoved into a trailer, terrified, and shipped off to Mexico to be slaughtered for horse meat. As spectators, we love the majesty, elegance, power, and beauty of the horses. But we never ask about what happens after the race. That horse didn't win, so it's a garbage horse. The breeder, owner, trainer don't want the expense of keeping it so they dump it.

Every year, the new collection of foals is called a "crop" - like corn or wheat. They are not well-loved animals. This is all about money.

If you can't tell from my tone, I am very much against horse racing.

Disclosure: I am involved in an equine rescue sanctuary.

[3Hotdogs]

6. N.J. gub'mint just allocated $$$ to subsidize horse racing. I believe it was 1 Million.

Horse racing was big in N.j. Few people go to the tracks anymore. Casinos offer faster action.

2 years ago, N.J. had more horses than Tennessee.

[2naSalit]

7. Morally indefensible...

A holdover of aristocracy which seems to be the real religion of whipeepo.