Comments on: Eight Belles' Death Sparks Controversy
Demise Of Filly In Kentucky Derby Prompts Debate Over Image And Safety Of Horse Racing
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- Posted by sblake63 at 08:50 PM : May 05, 2008
Please stick to the topic or go to another site where you can discuss the Abortion issue.
Posted by mrconservatv at 08:55 PM : May 05, 2008
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LOL this is not a moderated site. My issue is valid. We have half of america crying of an ANIMAL and most of which who are doing the crying, whining and compaining have no problem with abortion. Again the life of 10,000 animals isnt worth the life of 1 unborn child. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by sblake63 at 08:50 PM : May 05, 2008
Please stick to the topic or go to another site where you can discuss the Abortion issue. - Reply to this comment
- sblake63-
There is no such thing as "pro abortion"; you pro life people are such propaganda-slingers. It''''s really easy to get people on your side with such a phrase as "pro abortion". How would you like it if I called you "anti choice"? Because that''''s what you *** are.
Posted by spadeisspade at 08:41 PM : May 05, 2008
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Manipulating words, titles what ever to cover up what''s really being done. Ending a life before the person can even defend themselves. Call me what ever, anything''s better than a murderer what you clearly are if you would allow this outage to go on.... - Reply to this comment
- Please remember that you take ANY athlete... equine or human... and push them to their limits freak things can happen that cost that animal/person their life. Human beings occasionally drop dead at football practices, at basketball games, etc. No sport is perfectly safe. But what many people have been saying here is absolutely true; these horses are being raced too young. A chronological 5 year old should be the youngest an animal is allowed to compete.
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- Do you all realize how many human athletes are severely injured every year? It is unfortunate that this filly broke both front feet at the same time, but the sad truth is that if she were able to be in bed rest for several months she probably would have healed. Unfortunately she is a horse and it is very hard to put a horse on bed rest. Equine athletes do not receive any more injuries in their sport then most human athletes. Most race horses love their jobs which of course is racing, and that competitive spirit drives them. You shouldn''t jump to conclusions about the trainer or jockey until all of the facts are known. As far as cremating a horse that is common practice when one dies. Do you realize how large they are? I know that I wouldn''t have room to bury a horse, and once the necropsy is finished then what is wrong with her being cremated?
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- sblake63-
There is no such thing as "pro abortion"; you pro life people are such propaganda-slingers. It''s really easy to get people on your side with such a phrase as "pro abortion". How would you like it if I called you "anti choice"? Because that''s what you *** are. - Reply to this comment
- By the way, LaurenD6 comments are ignorant, but this one takes the cake; prior comment about them "planning" on Eight Belles dying is so shallow-why would they want her to die? If they are training her to win races, wouldn''t it be counter-productive for her to DIE during one?
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- PETA lost its credibility years ago when they started directly funding eco-terrorists that blow up science labs. They didn''t seem to have a problem with jockeys whipping their horses prior to this, as they were likely too busy picketing city pounds for putting down vicious and unadoptable animals for which their (human) owners stopped taking responsibility.
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- Let''s hope Eight Belles and her tragic ending will serve as a reminder to us how fragile these animals are, and with all the finger pointing we are over looking the fact that it is never just one thing, but usually takes several things to occur to form such a horrendous event as this, After working for several years with race horses and grand prix jumpers the amount of adrenaline that goes through these animals in these moments is truly incredible, so did both ankles catastrophicaly break at the same time? Probably not, it can even start with a miniscule crack before it explodes, there are several factors that need to be looked and of those not just one thing is 100% responsible.. so let''s learn from this and maybe Eight Belles will be remembered not for her tragic death, but for the positive changes brought forth in the industry that will lessen injuries and ultimately save horses lives.Ruffian, Ferdinand, Barbaro...Eight Belles you are in good company.
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- State Veterinarian
This is the veterinarian who supervises all licensed vets practicing on the grounds of the track, and oversees the well-being of all horses racing or working at that track. He or she runs the receiving and detention barns. In addition, the State Vet enforces the rules and regulations of the state racing commission regarding illegal medications and contaminants; supervises or performs all blood - and urine-test on specified horses; assists in conducting barn-searches (for illegal substances and equipment); and participates in the post mortems of - and investigations into - injuries or deaths of any horses working or racing at the track. (The State Veterinarian, also known as the "Official" veterinarian, may not directly treat or prescribe treatment for any horse on the grounds except in an emergency - Reply to this comment
- Racing Veterinarian
The Racing Veterinarian''s several duties include:
examining all horses before they enter their first race (at the meet) to determine their soundness and fitness for racing. (The Racing Vet may prohibit any horse he or she considers "unfit" from racing until such time as the horse gains a good condition.)
Besides assisting the State Vet in covering "morning rounds," the Racing Vet accompanies the horses all the way from the paddock through the parade to the starting gate, reporting to the stewards any horse in questionable physical condition.
This vet follows and observes (from the ambulance van) the racing horses, and examines any mounts which appear to be in physical distress after the race. (The Racing Vet has the authority to have a horse placed on the Vets List, and is expected to recommend to the stewards the placement of horses on the Stewards List.)
Last, it is the Racing Vet''s responsibility to administer emergency treatment to racing horses in the event of an accident or injury. This vet has the authority to humanely destroy - on the spot - any animal which is, in his or her opinion, injured beyond repair. - Reply to this comment
- Horse racing''s glory days are long since gone. Never to return. People pay attention to the big races like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, etc. But if you go to the racetrack nearest you on an average weekend, you''ll probably find that it''s not exactly bursting at the seams. Some places have slots in addition to the racetrack. Slots are popular. Buses of senior citizens hitting the machines.
I used to hit the track from time to time but then got bored. Most people like horses. They don''t want to see them in pain or being put down. People who were are at the Derby are probably still thinking about Eight Belles. But it won''t take too long for them to forget about her.
Can''t see us banning horse racing. Too much money to be made. - Reply to this comment
- That is because most of Americans are sick and tired of this BS that is coming from this sport
Posted by LaurenD6 at 07:47 PM : May 05, 2008
Come on that''s just plain BS, millions of American''s love the Kentucky Derby and although Horse Racing isn''t as popular the NFL or Nascar; Horse Racing in the United States still has a loyal fan base.
It''s those people like yourself that sit and wait for catastrophic breakdown on Horse Racings biggest day to get off your butt and start blowing your horn about the evils of horse racing etc. Please tell me what exactly has been your involvement in working with the Horse Racing industry over the last few years to make it safer for the horses or did Saturday%u2019s accident motivate you? - Reply to this comment
- LaurenD6: You are taking, what amounts to an isolated occurance and blowing it into the Kennedy Assasination, and it just isn''t that. Come off the whining towel and just stop. It is now beyond the point of ridiculous. You have a better chance of getting into a car accident, than a horse breaking down. Do you not understand that, is it that dense between your ears. Were you one of the O.J.jury? 1.6 horses every 1000 races. Did you read and understand that? A horse died and that is what it is. One of millions of animals a day that and that you eat, is what happened. You okay now. Geez!
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- In Europe, horse races are won and lost without jockeys ever whipping a horse. Here that isn''t a rule. Churchill Downs does not have the new safer track surface. Thoroughbreds are bred to be fast but they are also very physically delicate animals.
American horse racing needs to change its rules and regulations. All tracks should be made safe for the horses or races should not be run. If a horse isn''t ready to run, he often stalls before the gate. Even that should be accommodated. Big Brown wore some kind of supports on his lower front legs. Why didn''t the incredible, heroic Eight Bells? According to National Geographic magazine animals have almost all the DNA that human beings do. They want to protect their lives, and because we want to enjoy the beauty of the race and the thrill of the chase, we should want to protect their lives too.
This accident and the terms of its conditions should be investigated and any video footage should be released to the press. It is this watchful eye that keeps order in this country. And so with racing as it is with government. - Reply to this comment
- Blazerchoach1 you are exactly right! My thoughts exactly! Lets exume Eight Belle and lets just test the bone density and blood and muscles to see what exactly we are dealing with. Bet you it would be very interesting! bet you Larry Jones is out pouring gas on that filly right now!
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- Edward1975 I don''t watch, just for that reason, but i do watch the news and this--yet AGAIN--is headline. That is because most of Americans are sick and tired of this BS that is coming from this sport and the Larry Jones mentality that comes with it. "Oh well its just a horse." or "They won''t change and there is nothing we can do about it." BULL ***! Call the Downs and demand changes and work with PETA to get those changes. I am no PETA fan, but they are the only group we could join that has a shot at the A-holes and see laws get passed to see that the animals are breed humainly and not manipulating their Genes to have dense bone-thus killing them before they are even five. Never has these horses broke down on a scale as they are today--and oddly, it seems to keep coming out of the same stables and handlers. Michael Matz now has TWO to his name. And don''t get me wrong, i am not against horse racing, I just wish it would be done with better care to the horses AND jockey. I admit that I could love a good race, but they put too many of them out there at once, shoot the horses full of drugs, run them too young--there is a lot that can be done to prevent these horses from breaking down. Old age use to be what took a horse out. Now...its man and his greed for that Million dollars prize--and that is all its about! It could be an enjoyable sport, but men like Michael Matz and Larry Jones ruin the sport and should be banned from ever running a horse in any race!
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- blazercoach1: The owners have asked that the horse, after an autopsy, be cremated. No big conspiracy here.
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- I don''t know much about horses, but I know quite a bit about human physiology. If a human just got finished with non-contact physical exertion that caused bones to break, I would immediately suspect muscle growth hormones or another performance enhancing stimulant. If these have been taken and the subject has not had enough time to let the rest of the systems (skeletal and cardio, specifically) develop at the same (normal, healthy) rate......the bones could snap or the heart would over-exert.
I found it VERY interesting that last night I saw the trainer who was interviewed soon after the incident. He said something to the effect that the horse should be creamated. My first thought: Pretty hard to autopsy or exhume to re-examine a pile of ashes...... - Reply to this comment
- Some of you folks have gone bonkers, that was the 134th Kentucky Derby a filly called Winning Colors won the race in 1988. I''ve read a few comments where some of you have said things like the Trainer and Owner knew the horse was too young to be racing etc.
Two years ago the rant was that Barbaro was getting more special treatment to save its life than humans do etc.
This country is just choking full of pathetic whiners it%u2019s so annoying that most doing the complaining aren%u2019t horse racing fans. It%u2019s a select group of people that don%u2019t like horsing racing or knowing much about it and those that do should state all facts relevant to the incident. Saying a horse is to young to race at three when the Derby has ran over 134 years is a wee bit silly don%u2019t you think? - Reply to this comment
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