OT: Kentucky Derby Tragedy - When is it too much?

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sat May 03, 2008 7:54 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/ ... id=3380100

I watched the derby this afternoon and am just sick about what transpired. The filly called Eight Belles finnished 2nd and then collapsed on the track due to 2 broken ankles on her front legs. They had to euthenize her immediately.
It was almost like an afterthought the way they brushed over it on the TV coverage. It was almost like "Uh oh, we don't need another Barbaro to hurt the popularity of the sport". The filly ran her heart out and probably made her owners a bundle of money and for what? She paid with her life. I am done with this "Sport of Kings". It's all about money and greed with no concern to the horse's well being. The cameras focused on the owners and their friends, giddy with the elation of just winning the race and all the money that they just won, while another beautiful animal layed dead on the track, her last breath already gone.

It's just wrong.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat May 03, 2008 8:07 pm

Jack:

Take a step back, man. These thoroughbred horses are some of the most well-treated animals on Earth.

They are trained scientifically, washed and groomed daily, fed only the best diets, housed in luxurious stables, shoed by the best farriers in the world, etc., etc.

There is absolutely nothing barbaric about horse racing at the highest levels. These animals are pampered almost beyond belief, trained to do what they love -- run fast.

When a horse breaks down after a race, it sucks. Even worse when the horse must be euthanized on the spot.

But that's the risk these animals and their owners take every time they run. But man, that's what they're born to do -- run. That's what they love to do, risks and all.

Horse racing is a lot like auto racing. I'm sure training methods have come just as far in horse racing as safety has in auto racing. But there's no way to make either completely safe.

Don't blame the sport for the superficial, insensitive TV coverage. Blame NBC Sports and its Derby production crew.

Take care,
PK

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Sat May 03, 2008 8:42 pm

pk500 wrote:Jack:

Take a step back, man. These thoroughbred horses are some of the most well-treated animals on Earth.

They are trained scientifically, washed and groomed daily, fed only the best diets, housed in luxurious stables, shoed by the best farriers in the world, etc., etc.

There is absolutely nothing barbaric about horse racing at the highest levels. These animals are pampered almost beyond belief, trained to do what they love -- run fast.

When a horse breaks down after a race, it sucks. Even worse when the horse must be euthanized on the spot.

But that's the risk these animals and their owners take every time they run. But man, that's what they're born to do -- run. That's what they love to do, risks and all.

Horse racing is a lot like auto racing. I'm sure training methods have come just as far in horse racing as safety has in auto racing. But there's no way to make either completely safe.

Don't blame the sport for the superficial, insensitive TV coverage. Blame NBC Sports and its Derby production crew.

Take care,
PK

I agree Paul. It's what they do. It's a sport. s*** happens.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat May 03, 2008 8:44 pm

JackDog wrote:
pk500 wrote:Jack:

Take a step back, man. These thoroughbred horses are some of the most well-treated animals on Earth.

They are trained scientifically, washed and groomed daily, fed only the best diets, housed in luxurious stables, shoed by the best farriers in the world, etc., etc.

There is absolutely nothing barbaric about horse racing at the highest levels. These animals are pampered almost beyond belief, trained to do what they love -- run fast.

When a horse breaks down after a race, it sucks. Even worse when the horse must be euthanized on the spot.

But that's the risk these animals and their owners take every time they run. But man, that's what they're born to do -- run. That's what they love to do, risks and all.

Horse racing is a lot like auto racing. I'm sure training methods have come just as far in horse racing as safety has in auto racing. But there's no way to make either completely safe.

Don't blame the sport for the superficial, insensitive TV coverage. Blame NBC Sports and its Derby production crew.

Take care,
PK
I agree Paul. It's what they do. It's a sport. s*** happens.

Yes and Yes.

I did feel bad and do feel bad for the horse

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:23 pm

While the end definitely sucked I don't have a problem with how NBC televised it. It just came off as bad when you go from such somber news to showing people that are elated. My first thought was "This guy is a total d*****bag." until I realized that he had no idea what had just transpired, he was just celebrating a win. I mean what is NBC supposed to do?

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:26 pm

ScoopBrady wrote: I mean what is NBC supposed to do?

Good question.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sun May 04, 2008 12:29 am

pk500 wrote:Jack:

Take a step back, man. These thoroughbred horses are some of the most well-treated animals on Earth.

They are trained scientifically, washed and groomed daily, fed only the best diets, housed in luxurious stables, shoed by the best farriers in the world, etc., etc.

There is absolutely nothing barbaric about horse racing at the highest levels. These animals are pampered almost beyond belief, trained to do what they love -- run fast.

When a horse breaks down after a race, it sucks. Even worse when the horse must be euthanized on the spot.

But that's the risk these animals and their owners take every time they run. But man, that's what they're born to do -- run. That's what they love to do, risks and all.

Horse racing is a lot like auto racing. I'm sure training methods have come just as far in horse racing as safety has in auto racing. But there's no way to make either completely safe.

Don't blame the sport for the superficial, insensitive TV coverage. Blame NBC Sports and its Derby production crew.

Take care,
PK

Sorry but I can't agree. I am not as mad at the TV coverage as I am at the whole sport in general. It's not natural for a horse to run as hard as he can for 2 minutes on hard dirt or artificial track surfaces and be pushed past his limits by the prodding and whipping of his jockey. The only reason they are "pampered" and treated as such is because they are money making machines for the owners. One only needs to look at all the old, forgotten champions that are not "pampered" anymore and are put down because there is noone to take care of them. That filly that died on the track today only lived to 3 years old because of this greedy sport and you'll never convince me otherwise. You said "that's the risk these animals and their owners take". Are you saying that these horses actually gave us consent to race them? You know I'm being sarcastic, but seriously, these horses have no choice in the matter. It's not like auto racing at all. Humans that CHOOSE to get in a race car for a living make that choice themselves.

Paul...usually you make me see some flaws in my logic, but you didn't do it this time. I cant agree with you on this one. If you are interested, I will point you to articles that discuss the harsh and ignored ugly truths about horse racing that the sport doesn't want you to know about. It's not pretty and very inhumane. Here is a good starting point: http://www.downbound.com/Horse_Racing_s/438.htm

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JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sun May 04, 2008 12:34 am

ScoopBrady wrote:While the end definitely sucked I don't have a problem with how NBC televised it. It just came off as bad when you go from such somber news to showing people that are elated. My first thought was "This guy is a total d*****bag." until I realized that he had no idea what had just transpired, he was just celebrating a win. I mean what is NBC supposed to do?

I was more pissed at the sport in general and not really at NBC. I understand what happened, but I thought they still glossed over it. But they are in the "sports entertainment" business and I dont they dont want to bring everyone down.....especially after what happened with Barbaro. My beef isn't really with the TV coverage, but more with the sport in general. It;s just not natural the stress these horses are put through. Even the equine doctor said that the horses muscles were so fatigued at the end of the race, they they couldn't support the horses weight on it's ankles.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Sun May 04, 2008 12:55 am

I don't feel sorry for that horse, because IT'S A HORSE! These racing horses get so much special treatment that most humans don't even get. I think more people should concentrate on saving human beings from drugs and homelessness than these animals.

brendanrfoley · Post by **brendanrfoley** » Sun May 04, 2008 1:20 am

I don't believe it's fair to say.. "that's the risk these animals take" when they take to the track. They don't really have a choice.

At the same time, I would not be one to advocate the banning of horse racing. But today's tragedy (in my opinion) is a black eye for the sport and certainly (again, my opinion) taints horse racing.

That animal provided entertainment for thousands, and paid with its life. Doesn't exactly seem like a fair trade off.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:08 am

Jack:

I'm supposed to take a report prepared by PETA as an objective work? Come on. That's the beauty and the beast of Google: You can find all sorts of partisan PR on the Web to buttress your position.

I found this column:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/ ... tCat=horse

Does this sound like an account of people who don't give a sh*t about the animal that died today?

Also, this is believed to be the first horse to die on the track in Derby history, and that goes back to the 1870s.

Banning horse racing because of a high-profile injury and euthanization is a knee jerk of the highest order.

Take care,
PK

Post by **Jared** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:02 am

Locking this thread just because we've got a very similar thread also on the forums. Carry on the discussion there.