Who else is sick of this?

Question

After the Eight Belles thing, there's been numerous idiots on this category who are saying we're evil people because we support horse racing. And when you try to reason with them, they're completely unwilling to listen. I mean, honestly, I don't give a rats @ss what they think about me or if they want to support horse racing or not. I'm just sick of hearing about it. The morons come here to shout their opinions at us and when you try to correct them, the idiots don't listen. Yes the sport has some problems, but we're honestly trying to work on them. And these people are just unreasonable and unwaivering in their opinions despite the fact that they have no evidence or experience to base their opinions on. Does anyone else wish there was a way to ban these people from our category?

Answer 1

I will express my thoughts too- but I want to start out by saying that one, I love horses and racing, and two, I also believe that the sport can and should be improved and made more humane and safe for everyone involved in it, no matter what his or her income or what walk of life he or she comes from. I'm a horse owner myself, and have been so for most of my life, and I also worked in the horse business ( though only briefly in the racing industry) for over 20 years. I changed careers about 8 years ago and went into medical coding at that point, because I could no longer stand being treated like dirt in the horse business. NO, I don't believe racing is EVIL- so don't accuse me of that. Nor do I believe that Eight Belles' tragic breakdown and death was the fault of any particular person. NO, I blame the ENTIRE SYSTEM which produced the filly and demanded that she run in such a race for this tragedy. Look, folks- it's been known for decades now that there are some families and bloodlines in the TB breed which are notorious for producing horses which have only a limited number of races in them before they break down and die, like this filly did. Eight Belles undoubtedly came from one of these families- that's why she was so tall and had such a superfine, inherently weak bone structure which was so prone to breakage under stress. I also believe that at some point when she was very young, this filly was overfed to make her look good for the yearling sales, and as a result, she grew much too quickly. By the time she reached her 3rd birthday last January, she'd already outgrown her own skeleton and bone structure- and it was really just a matter of time before she was likely to break down, either in or out of a race. It was just horrible luck and timing that it happened where and when it did- but to blame her trainer, her jockey, or her owner for this, when it was due entirely to circumstances beyond their control, is just PLAIN STUPID, I don't care what anyone else says about it. This is what these idiots at PETA can't understand, nor do they want to. Calling for a complete ban on racing will NOT SOLVE anyone's problems. Neither will making a public scapegoat out of the jockey or trainer, or forcing the owner to forfeit the prize money Eight Belles earned.

In order to really prevent tragedies like this one from happening again, the whole sport of racing, and the breeding industry which supports it, need to be rebuilt from the ground up- but these changes need to be made in a responsible way which protects not only the horses themselves, but also the MILLIONS of people nationwide who depend upon the racing and breeding industries for their livelihoods. This isn't narrowmindedness- it's just common sense. There is nothing narrowminded about wanting to improve the sport and make it safer for everyone by making changes at the most basic level. Raising the minimum racing age to 4 for the baby races and 5 for the graded stakes would be a smart first step in reforming the sport, but it shouldn't end there. There are numerous other steps which also need to be taken if more tragedies are to be prevented in the future. One of these is that efforts need to be made to put a cap on how much money stallion owners can charge for stud fees, mare care, vet care, and the like- and STICK WITH IT !

Right now, the economics of the racing and breeding business are such that it often costs owners and breeders a MILLION or more dollars just to breed and get a foal- and that is BEFORE the foal is ever BORN!! This simple fact of life is the main REASON why there is so much pressure to start these baby horses under saddle and in training at such young ages- these owners need to have a way of recouping some of the monies they have invested in producing such animals, or they couldn't stay in business themselves and show a profit, much less provide jobs and incomes for their employees. This is the part of the business which needs to change, folks. We need to change the rules of the game to make it more affordable for the owners of such babies to wait until the babies are older and more mature before they are trained or raced. Another part of this would involve reducing or eliminating the incentives which owners and breeders have to sell young TB's as yearlings, instead of letting them grow up and become more mature before their racing potential is judged. One of the factors which I know probably contributed in no small way to Eight Belles' breakdown and death was that she was undoubtedly overfed as a weanling or yearling in order to make her look good in the sales ring. This is a common practice on virtually every breeding farm- because the breeders know that bloodstock agents and the like will not buy yearlings which are in poor condition or are underweight or underdeveloped. In a word, fat sells. It's also not unusual at all for trainers who get new yearlings into their barns to have to spend many months during that first year trying to get the sales fat off these babies so they can race as two year olds- and a lot of the horses can't stand up to the stress involved in that process, and break down before their careers even get started. I know from reading Ruffian's biography that her trainer, Whiteley, had to deal with this problem with her, and with every other yearling in his string. But the problems with overfeeding yearlings and weanlings go beyond just appearances and training problems- they can also result in overgrowth in the young horse ( there was a REASON why Eight Belles was so tall, and this was a big part of it) and conditions such as epiphysitis, or inflammation and overgrowth of the plates at the ends of the long bones in the legs. Horses which suffer from epiphysitis and related problems are always going to be prone to soundness problems- and this is particularly true of young racehorses. Raising the racing age and putting caps or limits on the amount of money which can be charged to produce these young horses would also have the side benefit of eliminating the need to sell the babies so early- and it might just change how they are fed and conditioned early in their lives and development. That in turn might help eliminate or reduce the incidence of career ending, life threatening injuries- which in turn would mean fewer vet bills and more profits for the owners of such horses. After a while, this idea really starts to snowball, if you get my meaning.

So if some of the changes I have suggested were made, and breeding was made more affordable, we would soon see a reduction in these catastrophic accidents- and with the installation of Polytrack at most places around the country, it might even be possible to eliminate some of them altogether. It's all about changing the system so that people can afford to wait for these baby horses to grow up and become mature animals, without compromising their ability to make a living and show a profit in their business. I don't expect that these changes or these ideas of mine will catch on quickly, though- it takes time for people to understand what these horses are telling us with their injuries and deaths. There are some people who are catching on, but this hasn't reached a point yet where it's enough to really impact the entire industry. Until that point is reached, I am afraid that we will see more fatal injuries in races, at least in the short term.

I am going to end by saying to the asker that yes, I am as tired of the rants as you are- and I too wish there was a way to ban some of the people who are making them from coming on here. I am also sick of having to answer the same questions about why horses who break their legs get euthanized all the time. Like you, I recognize that people in racing ARE AWARE that there are serious problems, and ARE attempting to solve them- but that change comes slowly.

Answer 2

think about the horses who love this so much

i know people who say they just do it for the animals

Answer 3

I agree with you.

Answer 4

Quite frankly, I don't care. I gave up after the first or second day and started to go to other answers sections, or answer non-Eight Belles questions. This is blowing over pretty quick, considering that it's only five days after the Derby, so I'm not concerned. These people aren't regulars to the section; now it's almost back to normal but for a few late-comers, and business is slow as usual again (it will quicken a little bit for the Preakness, I bet). If you check, you won't find any of them still on here.

I think that we really wouldn't have any need (or right) to ban them. Next time this happens just duck for cover and let it blow over.

I'm personally quite happy this whole deal is over; it got in the way of real questions (everyone was so busy they forgot the real racing world!).

Edit: Yeah, I was very intensely miffed for the entire time that I spent looking at stuff. I think these people really do need to stick to their own niches.

Answer 5

Yes, I'm very sick of it.  I hate it because I always get sucked into answering one of their questions.  No matter how many times I tell myself that I shouldn't, I always feel like I need to correct them.  I love horse racing... it's a shame that it's falling out of popularity... it used to be the sport of kings and now tracks are closing everywhere and casino gambling is taking over.  No one appreciates the beauty of watching horses run anymore.  I feel it's my duty to the sport to stop misconceptions when I see them.  So I always end up trying to correct these people.  

Recently I've taken to the method of asking them for their suggestions to make the sport better rather than arguing with them... that usually shuts them up... they don't know enough about the sport to actually make suggestions.  

But there was one today that asked why the sport won't recognize that it's doing bad things and why we're unwilling to make changes... So I directed that person to Alex Waldrop's blog (NTRA CEO/President) where he asks us for our suggestions on how to make the horses safer... and despite the fact that I provided a link showing that the head of the NTRA wanted to make changes, this person was completely unwilling to accept it.  He was convinced that we are all evil people and that there's nothing good in the sport.  And what made it worse was that he chose the best answer that told the story of Ferdinand after I had explained that we created the Ferdinand fee to prevent bad things from happening like that again... that's a perfect example of how the industry is trying to change to make the horses safer... but the person said that nothing would ever change in the industry.  

I wouldn't mind so much about the questions if they were reasonable people who actually wanted to consider our side of the argument, but they're not reasonable... I hate to use the term, but you're right, they're idiots and morons.  What really gets me is how they close their ears and turn away from logic and reason.  Please, if I ever start acting like these people, just shoot me.  I hope that I never argue unwaiveringly for an opinion that I have no facts to support.  

This is our category and they're invading us.  I think we're all really sick of it.

Answer 6

As with most people who protest things they no absolutely nothing about what they are protesting about, they are fools looking for attention...maybe self righteos idiots is a better word!!!

   I'm annoyed because they've drawn the attention from Big Brown who ran a spectacular race!! This is the next triple crown winner, and it may be in walkovers...lol...no one wants to race him, well, 3 so far in the preakness.

   So, let the mourning be done and let's enjoy a horse who maybe the next triple crown champion!!!

Answer 7

I agree with you, totally.  I've been around horse racing almost my entire life(my dad used to be a jockey), and it's not a barbaric sport.  Comparing it to things like dog fighting is ridiculous.  Most of the people base their facts on something totally ridiculous, like PETA, and they don't know the truth.

Answer 8

Yes I have to agree with you.  The idiots need to get a life or go rant on the PETA forum instead of here.   If they do not have all the facts and have no clue about the people that are involved in the sport and they need to quit coming on here spouting out their opinions about the sport and the people involved in it or support it.

Correct me if I'm wrong crazydave but this an answers forum where people ask questions about horse racing.  So they should be asking question instead of using this forum to rant about something they think is wrong when they don't have all the facts.

Answer 9

I completly agree  with you. everyone thinks that being in the racing buisness means bing a cruel person who pushes their horse to the limit just for the money! they dont see how much time effort and care goes into racing, how well the horse is rewarded for winning. Big Brown must be treated like royalty. People are dumb for not trying to listen! What happened to Eight belles happened for a reason, its sad how tragic her death was but shes at peace her owner/trainer both seemed to agree that she was going to be in way to much pain. Yahoo has a horse racing category to disscuss racing, not for people  to talk about their personal concerns reagarding the sport!

Answer 10

While I am also tired of hearing about the tragic loss of an animal, I don't think anyone should be banned from voicing their opinion, which is exactly what you're doing by posting this question.

Answer 11

I'm sick of it.  I just signed up the week before the Derby and then the animal rights crowd moved in.  But it does seem to be blowing over.

I don't mind the genuine questions from people wanting to know what happened and if the horse could've been saved, etc., but the PETAesque ranting and name-calling was too much.  We would've been banned from their forums if we went over there and acted that way.

Answer 12

We Are not morons or idiots. We are trying to speak for these voiceless animals that have no choice to be free.

Answer 13

I am definitely sick of it.

People just don't get it, unfortunately, they look at groups such as PETA, and PETA is just not the place to get your info.

I guess if you are not educated on a topic, you are impressionable to opinions that make no sense.

Answer 14

Well, let them be haters. Wonderful Kentucky is never going to stop the racing. The sport is wonderful, unfortuneatly, like Eight Belles and Barbaro bad things happen, but think of football, basketball ect, many people also get hurt in those sports too and yet the sports still go on. But in our sports we can go in wheelchairs and all that, horses can't. All they can do is put them in a sling and make them do nothing. Think of it, if you were that horse, living the rest of the life in a sling, not able to do ANYTHING you would probably want to be uthanized (sp?) than be in pain and just laying there.

Mkkkkaaayyy?

Answer 15

I'm beyond irritated with it. And now PETA has started up yet another campaign against horse racing, and has proven (once again) that they didn't even bother to get just the slightest of facts. I don't post on YAnswers much anymore, but I knew there would be a lot of questions (and a lot of stupid) involving this. It's a sad situation, but people are taking this way too far. I hate to see Eight Belles' memory used as a tool of propaganda. I just take comfort in knowing that something else will probably happen soon to distract these morons and will let those who genuinely care do what they need to do.

Answer 16

OMG!!! i completely agree with you!!! it makes me sooo angry...most of these people probably have never even been around a horse in real life!! and yes, there are some problems in racing, but there are problems in every sport!! How come people don't get this outraged and upset in sports accidents that occur with REAL HUMAN BEINGS!!! I am so sick of hearing about how cruel it was to put the horse down on the track!!! If they had a clue, they would know that that was the most humane thing that could be done for eight belles!! People need to stop running their mouth when they have no idea what they are talking about...yes it's sad that it happened but accidents happen! And people do need to realize what happens in other countries, does not mean it happens in America....geez, how aggravating!!!

Answer 17

Lame PETA go against horse racing, but they go to Red Lobster and order lobster with steak.

Answer 18

All those Peta people do need to shut their mouths and go fuss somewhere else...but we could just act like they aint even here... then they wouldn't have anyone to fuss with and we could go on about our normal horse racing category...We know they are wrong and its not like they are gonna do anything. LOL!!! I SAY WE IGNORE EM!!!!!

Answer 19

I loved Eight Belles! She was amazing! But the people that post stuff about the cruelties of the horse racing should find another site to post their questions. This is a horse racing section with people that are fans of horse racing answer the questions. The sport does have its problems and the people that are in charge of the horse racing industry know that. I am always going to be a fan of horse racing.

Answer 20

Sick of it.   I don't know about banning, but I reported a couple of the really nasty "questions" and they disappeared a couple hours later.  I'm all for free speech, but I don't come here to be verbally abused, so when they start calling us perverts and the like, then I hit the report button.