Set the easily-swayed straight about Racing

[sumitas]

This is a circle the wagons thread. Kinda reminds me of that cult down in Texas.

I am thankful for the Californias and Keenelands of this world and even PETA and ESPN to bring long long needed improvements to this sport.

The issue is Eight Belles and the KD and horse racing in general. The issue is not PETA.

[HaloWishingwell]

[i]Would anyone here be upset with PETA if they were strictly going after the medicating of the horses? Would this help with the breeding? Would we get strictly healthy horses on track?Or would cripple horses be sent to the track anyway by desperate trainers and/or owners?I]

[Riot]

In England, the breakdown rate is just about the same as the US on the flat (mostly turf racing).

In Australia, it's about half of England and the U.S. rate (flat, turf)

[sumitas]

I'd say there is room for improvement .

I rest my case.

[Riot]

There is always room for improvement. The point was to compare the breakdown rates from countries with different legal drug use laws.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by sumitas

I'd say there is room for improvement .

I rest my case.

Can you name 5 initiatives that have been undertaken within the past 20 years with the goal of making horseracing safer?

[sumitas]

I'm more interested in any initiatives now to make horse racing safer.

LOL, I rest my case.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by sumitas

I'm more interested in any initiatives now to make horse racing safer.

LOL, I rest my case.

There are indeed some initiatives "now" - can you name those?

In other words, do you know anything at all about what has been done in the past, or what is being done now, within the sport of horseracing to make it safer?

LOL, I rest my case.

[parsixfarms]

My intent is not to start a conversation on the merits of synthetic versus conventional dirt surfaces, but in light of this weekend's events, maybe it's not such a bad thing (from a PR perspective) to have the Breeders' Cup being contested this year over a synthetic racing surface (assuming that's the way SA goes).

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by sumitas

I rest my case.

I doubt it.

--Dunbar

[philcski]

Originally Posted by sumitas

This is a circle the wagons thread. Kinda reminds me of that cult down in Texas.

I am thankful for the Californias and Keenelands of this world and even PETA and ESPN to bring long long needed improvements to this sport.

The issue is Eight Belles and the KD and horse racing in general. The issue is not PETA.

You say more reasonable things at 2:30 in the morning (Miller Time) than this. Stop. Now.

Originally Posted by Kasept

Best.PantsPost.Evah.

I laughed

[horseofcourse]

Ask Steve Cauthen if he wins a triple crown without a whip.

I guess overall it would have been safer for Eight Belles to continually crash through rails. Jones has explained it. I'm not sure what Randy Moss is going with here.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

Ask Steve Cauthen if he wins a triple crown without a whip.

How about I ask him, instead, if he wins the triple crown without pace-favoring perfect trips? Or, maybe, if he wins if Alydar changes leads?

[Riot]

More terrible things the heartless horse racing industry has done to promote the safety of horses on the track over the years:

Elimination of excessively high toe grabs; what shoes are allowed on what surface

Presence of outriders in the morning and afternoon

Padded bricks as paddock and horse walkway footing

Second overgirth

Gate cards

Safety padding and alteration to construction of starting gates

Artificial racing surfaces - improved maintenance of all track surfaces

Greyson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

NTRA Charities Barbaro Memorial Fund

National equine drug testing laboratory standards and uniform protocol

Ambulances and veterinarians on-track for horses

Elimination/control over what drugs can be given as raceday medications

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

How about I ask him, instead, if he wins the triple crown without pace-favoring perfect trips? Or, maybe, if he wins if Alydar changes leads?

Yes you're correct on those points...he has nonetheless stated in every interview he has done on the race crediting the win to the only time he ever hit Affirmed left handed as what gave him the ultimate edge in that Belmont.

[2MinsToPost]

I am going to para-phrase my response at lunch today to several co-workers who were discussing it at the table I was sitting. Looking back I am quite proud of it (patting myself on the back lol).

Eight Belles is the exception to the rule. I invite you to sit at the track, any track for several days in a row and watch every race. Bet you a paycheck you will not see a horse euthanized. I then went on with this rant...........
Most of you know I love the track and have been a regular at Beulah, Scioto, Turfway and River for well over 5 years now. I have only seen 1 horse euthanized on track. These athletes exert incredible amounts of strength thru their legs down to their ankles. Just like your proffesional ball players. Hey, they get hurt too don't they? The difference is obvious comparing pro ball players to t-breds.

A couple of them seemed to understand the comparison.

[TheSpyder]

I think the biggest problem is the weight of the jockeys. I think they should be replaced with all the anorexic models that are now out of work and take the weight down to 86 pounds