Horse Racing

Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
in A Moving Train
I went to the races for the first time in my life today. I was curious. I have to admit it was fun and exciting but something just did not feel right about it (and that should have been obvious, no doubt). When I got home, I did a little research and what I found was this very disturbing video. I will be writing a check to PETA tomorrow morning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TJVA2lwW4A
"It's a sad and beautiful world"
-Roberto Benigni

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  • Posts: 3,562
    Those poor horses. I go once a year because it can be fun, but I feel bad for those horses.
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    Free said:

    Those poor horses. I go once a year because it can be fun, but I feel bad for those horses.

    I'm super bummed about this because it was fun and exciting. We got up close to the staging area and could have reached out and touch these beautiful creature (we didn't) but I noticed the handlers averted our eyes.

    There is a lot of dirty business in this business. The first video in the link above is gruesome and highly disturbing. Now true, it points out the most egregious mistreatment of the animals, but a lot of that kind of thing probably goes unreported. I doubt the sport will ever be banned and even though I personally would support that kind of ban, at the very least I hope the worst aspects of these events are dealt with in a just manner.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Posts: 9,617
    Nothing will be done too much prestige money and politics involved. The owners see the horses not as animals but as any other business asset or widget maker.
  • Posts: 3,562
    JC29856 said:

    Nothing will be done too much prestige money and politics involved. The owners see the horses not as animals but as any other business asset or widget maker.

    Agree.
  • Posts: 9,617
    imagine running so fast and long that your lungs bleed! then imagine that bleeding lungs is considered ordinary and normal.
    82% of 3 years old lungs bleed
  • St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 24,229
    my band played at fairmount racetrack a few years ago. they used to have bands on friday nights and they would play between races. the slogan was "every 19 minutes the place goes crazy." we played for an hour to warm up the crowd, and then we played in between races. in the first race a horse broke down and threw the jockey. the horse was euthanized on the track. it completely ruined the atmosphere. we felt awful for being a part of it knowing that a horse died and the jockey was seriously injured. We told our manager we never wanted to play there again. i have never been a fan of horse racing but i was open to providing entertainment. this experience cemented how i feel about it.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • Posts: 24,524
    Years ago we went to a greyhound race in Tijuana. The poor dogs were so fucked up on speed, they kept running around the track long after the race was over. I swore never again.

    Fuck that. I can find better ways to have fun.

    I just can't see reconciling the entertainment aspect with (if, what I've read is accurate) the darker side. Then again, we are creatures who tend to rationalize, so...
  • Posts: 19,316
    I was at a chariot race and they were starting the horses on the back stretch and they had a false start. While trying to get the horses back in line a horse freaked out and escaped through the area in the track fence that was left open when they drove the starter car. It got his by a semi on the nearby freeway.

    I think that was the last time I went to a horse race.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    gimmesometruth27 said:

    my band played at fairmount racetrack a few years ago. they used to have bands on friday nights and they would play between races. the slogan was "every 19 minutes the place goes crazy." we played for an hour to warm up the crowd, and then we played in between races. in the first race a horse broke down and threw the jockey. the horse was euthanized on the track. it completely ruined the atmosphere. we felt awful for being a part of it knowing that a horse died and the jockey was seriously injured. We told our manager we never wanted to play there again. i have never been a fan of horse racing but i was open to providing entertainment. this experience cemented how i feel about it.

    I'm sorry you had to be there for that. Just looking at a few of the videos of what can happen to both horse and rider last night really threw me for a curve.
    JC29856 said:

    Nothing will be done too much prestige money and politics involved. The owners see the horses not as animals but as any other business asset or widget maker.

    Yes, and I read that these horses get bought and sold and moved around like pieces of furniture with little regard to their sensitivities and intelligence.

    The track we went to was well manicured and nice to look at but off in the distance the stable area looked like a dingy dirty ghetto. The workers all looked unhappy (and over-worked and poorly paid, I've read) and the owners in the winners circle looked like shady characters who were congratulating each other. Not one, not one single owner, went up to the winning horse after the race to give it a pat on the back. All grins and money in the bank.

    First and last time for me.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    Jason P said:

    I was at a chariot race and they were starting the horses on the back stretch and they had a false start. While trying to get the horses back in line a horse freaked out and escaped through the area in the track fence that was left open when they drove the starter car. It got his by a semi on the nearby freeway.

    I think that was the last time I went to a horse race.

    Oh man, I can see why you would not return, Jason. Sorry you had to see that.
    hedonist said:

    Years ago we went to a greyhound race in Tijuana. The poor dogs were so fucked up on speed, they kept running around the track long after the race was over. I swore never again.

    Fuck that. I can find better ways to have fun.

    I just can't see reconciling the entertainment aspect with (if, what I've read is accurate) the darker side. Then again, we are creatures who tend to rationalize, so...

    Another sad story of animal abuse. So sad.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Posts: 9,617
    The stables are another story...most "undocumented workers" get paid peanuts and actually live at the tracks they work on. The major tracks have shacks next to the stables for the trainers helpers and breezers. Like I said that's a whole story itself.
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    edited February 2016
    JC29856 said:

    The stables are another story...most "undocumented workers" get paid peanuts and actually live at the tracks they work on. The major tracks have shacks next to the stables for the trainers helpers and breezers. Like I said that's a whole story itself.

    That blows my mind. I could see the stables from up higher in the grandstands and I had no idea some of those accommodations house people. I thought it looked bad enough for horses. It's a situation I had never known about and it's disturbing to see how badly it is for both the horses and, like you say, for the trainer helpers.

    Sounds like you have some good knowledge about all this.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Sweden Posts: 4,004
    One of my very best friends was a horse, I think humans has a responsibility towards all animals to treat them with respect.
  • Posts: 9,617
    Annafalk said:

    One of my very best friends was a horse, I think humans has a responsibility towards all animals to treat them with respect.

    I've never been to Sweden, hopefully I can get there some day.
  • Sweden Posts: 4,004
    JC29856 said:

    show previous quotes
    I've never been to Sweden, hopefully I can get there some day.
    I hope so too :)
  • Posts: 13,576
    I've never been to a horse race, BUT I had to drive around some Amish Buggies today and I sure feel bad for those horses!
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • Posts: 9,617
    Annafalk said:

    show previous quotes
    I hope so too :)
    We were all set to go one summer 2007 I think, my wife is friends with Forsberg's ex but then he dumped her so we bagged the trip. Prob would been awesome.
  • Sweden Posts: 4,004
    edited February 2016
    JC29856 said:

    show previous quotes
    We were all set to go one summer 2007 I think, my wife is friends with Forsberg's ex but then he dumped her so we bagged the trip. Prob would been awesome.
    Cool story thanks for sharing :)
    Post edited by Annafalk on
  • Posts: 9,617
    Annafalk said:

    show previous quotes
    Cool story thanks for sharing :)
    Cool story bro, tell it again?
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    Long live The Horse and love to the horses. Horse racing must end!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

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