Why doesnt PETA protest and shut down the Kentucky Derby and horse racing?

Question

Why wont PETA step in and finally shut down horse racing? In almost every race horses have to be killed after they break their leg or get minor injuries. Someone needs to finally step in and shut down this awful sport so no more horses have to be killed for no reason at all. Look at Barbaro and Eight Belles. They dont even tell you about the thousands of other horses out there that are also being killed in this evil sport.

Answer 1

PETA does protest, but they have no power to stop it.  The Derby is the epitome of glamor and lavish excess.  There is so much money invested in these animals and behind the whole event, not to mention a long and "rich" tradition behind it, that it is simply not something that could just be shut down.

Answer 2

Horse racing is evil.  I live just outside of Louisville, and my family owns several horses.  I would never subject a creature I love, or for that matter, an animal I just know, to the cruelty of the Derby.

I only listed one source.  It's not difficult to see how hard it is on the animals.  To all of your who have answered, "They love to run"...That's true.  Horses do love to run.  But when your forced to do anything, it's no longer fun.  Do you think a riding crop is used to tickle?  Come on.

Answer 3

We do not kill after minor injuries. Thats just ignorant.

I groomed racehorses for many years and spent many, many loving hours working  on them and tending to any discomfort they might have, if any. I also took very good, and careful care, to prevent injury.  People should  spend time with a true horseman (not many of us left) too even begin to see our passion for horses. Wether we race, or show, or whatever.  People make mistakes.

Also just like human athletes, the best racehorses like to compete against eachother. I have seen and spent time with true champions, and they know they are champions.

I disagree with certain things, but  we will disagree with others practices, in any sports, or buisness on any level, and in any  field.

Their are some idiots out there, I have told off more than one trainer I have worked for in the past, before I left his or her barn.

Too many people fall to propaganda, (like peta starts) without ever experiencing, or trying to seek the truth.

I have a strong feeling you have never spent one minute in your life in the company of the magnificence of a horse.

Answer 4

Most of the Hollywood and political "elites" (per their media/ego-induced references) in attendance are pro-PETA. Oh, and don't forget about Chelsea Clinton's attendance, being escorted in by no other than Terry McCaullife. PETA sucks and has one of the highest animal kill rates in the nation! Wake up if you really care about animals...educate yourself and get off the dmn CNN bandwagon.

Answer 5

kmnmiamisax,

Are you for real? You think that the horse racing industry is doing these intelligent living creatures a favor because the  only alternative is to let them loose and be "hunted like deer"?

I grew up with horses that continue to live into their 40s who are given food, shelter, love, and acres of fields to graze.  Sure, our companion animals aren't in their natural habitat like the Mongolia Steppe, but they have never been exploited for "sport", pageantry, or commoditized by greedy hedge funds.

Answer 6

I'm not a horse-lover, racing fan, or animal-rights activist, but I found a story titled "The Horseracing Industry: Drugs, Deception and Death" on PETA's website. Here's the link: http://www.peta.org/factsheet/files/Fact...

Whether you trust PETA or not, they cite numerous seemingly reliable sources. I don't have strong feelings about this either way, though. I'm just trying to learn more about this interesting topic and am glad others are as well.

Answer 7

To answer your question, there should never be bans put on sport. People die in baseball accidents, hockey accidents, football accidents, soccer riots, race car wrecks, ect. And if these people could talk (I know, they are dead, but pretend ressurection can happen) they would definitely tell you that they do not think that the sport that they died in should be taken away from hundreds of thousands of adoring fans. Eight Belles' trainer did not hate her. Eight Belles' trainer, jockey, and owner loved her. Don't you think that if they loved her, that they would give her the best life possible? I love my cat, so I feed her, bathe her (she doesn't like that one so much) and sleepy with her. I love the horses that compete, I think that it is horrible that horses die. But accidents happen. Also, if someone like you truly knew what happened in nature, you would be horrified ten-fold. Nature is much more cruel than human beings.

Answer 8

While Cincy's "thousands" may be an exaggeration, the sentiment is real.  Thank you to those who encourage safer practices related to horses and all animals.  While horses may love to run and a professional baseball player loves to play his sport, the human athlete makes a conscious choice to perform, take steroids - whatever. These horses who are unjustly injected with hormones and steroids have no say in what happens to their body. And just as many of us love to run, we are all not running marathons and putting unreasonable pressure on our bodies. To say that because these animals love to run means they love to compete, that is entirely unknown.  Animals can and should be treated better than as a pawn for human boredom and superfluous entertainment.

Answer 9

Because for one - horses do NOT have to be killed for breaking their legs or other injuries in almost every race. You've been suckered into believing false information. Don't believe everything you hear. Do your own research first.

And for another - the horse racing industry bribed PETA with a dump truck full of money to leave them & their horses alone. And since PETA is mainly interested in money, not saving animals, they took the cash & slithered back under their rock.

Answer 10

As the above. The horses like to run, and the number that die is extraordinarily low. Out of hundreds of horses that have raced in the past two days, two suffered injuries, only one of them serious.

That is above average.

Answer 11

Because PETA cares not ONE WHIT about animals, per se.

PETA is a radical leftist/Marxist organization that would take away your right to choose to own a dog, cat or goldfish. They would take away your right to choose to eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, or anything...except vegetables. Okay, and fruit.

(Vegetables aren't food, they're what food eats.)

PETA has been linked to the domestic terrorist groups like the Animal Liberation Front (ALF).

Oh, and they murder thousands of animals per year unnecessarily.

Please visit www.petakillsanimals.com and/or www.truthaboutpeta.com

Answer 12

PETA certainly does protest the cruelty of horse racing, but why is it their responsibility to "shut down the Kentucky Derby and horse racing." That responsibility lies with the questioner and all the rest of us. As long as people watch this "sport" and profit from it and the media hypes it, it will persist and horses will be exploited and die. My late husband was a farmer - certainly not an animal-rights enthusiast. He was also a farrier (blacksmith) all his life and could ride and manage any horse he ever came across.  He gelded his own horses and knew more about horses than anyone I ever knew. However, he hated horse races because of what the horses are subjected to. He said that a horse's legs and skeleton are not fully developed by the age of three and running them at that age is always dangerous. He would not have been surprised at what happened to Eight Belles. Horse owners know all this, but the money is worth far more than the horse. Gandhi said that you can judge a civilization and its people by the way it treats its animals. Amen!

Answer 13

I agree !!!  Any sport that pushes a beautiful animal to the point that it breaks both legs is inhumane. Forget tradition, we might as well start having bullfighting here in the states. We are supposed to be civilized people. All the movie stars and ladies getting overly dressed up to witness such a sad and inhumane sport should be euthanized as well... put us all out of our misery !  The sight of people cheering with delight because they just won a bunch of money while a beautiful animal hobbles to the ground in pain and put to death on the spot was an aweful thing to have to witness !  They should be ashamed of themselves. From this day forward I will boycott anything that has to do with any star that makes an appearance on the red carpet to the death race.  You would think that michael jordan would be a bit more sensitive after his dad turned up face down in a river.

Answer 14

PETA estimates that 800 thoroughbreds die each year in North America because of injuries.

PETA has killed 17,400 animals in the last 8 1/2 years. Avg 2,100+ animals per year.

Protest PETA !!!!!!

Answer 15

dont give them any ideas.  Horses would get hurt whether they were racing or not.  Horses die at horse shows every year too.  What do you want?  Have all the horses turned out and let them run around wild?  Then they'll get hit by cars and hunted like deer.  At least the horses are very well cared for during their lives.  Would you rather someone gave you food and shelter or would you rather run around fending for yourself?  Eight Belles was a very happy horse.  She loved running... Larry Jones, her trainer, would ride her and he's a massive 200 pounds and he had difficulty pulling her up because she loved running so much.  I hate seeing horses get hurt, but it's not racing's fault.

Answer 16

I WISH PETA could do something about the derby. it really sickens me, as goes for any sport that involves the intense training and euthanization of innocent animals.  As for the "economic" aspect,  I think we could come up with a better plan to boost the economy than to take the lives of these animals. the sad thing is, people are so ignorant and shallow that they support this sport! they make it a "family" event! I'd never take my children to see horses being beaten and killed, no. Running may be what horses are born to do and what they "love" but i doubt they "love" it when someone is standing on their backs beating the living h**l out of them. think about it..

Answer 17

These horses are very well taken care of.  These sort or "tragedies" very well happened more frequently 150 years ago. Back then, would PETA have been upset if a horse broke it's leg pulling a wagon?  The sport is fine. Please attempt to make a distinction between humans(I know we are animals) and animals.  Personification is just what it means.  PETA has no authority, nor backing to make such a bold move.  PETA's efforts should not be focused in this area.  Although tragic, this is a random incidence.  Get over yourselves.

Answer 18

Yes you're an idiot. "In almost every race horses have to be killed after they break their leg or get minor injuries." WRONG, it's just that you only bark loudly when an animal gets hurt. Also I'd like to know how exactly a laughing stock and sudo terroristic group could step in and shut down horse racing? Wow you gave a stunning number of examples here, Barbaro and Eight Belles, a whole two, how will the horse population recover?

Answer 19

You're perfectly right.  There is so much animal cruelty and horse racing is abhorrent.  For those who are reading this, if PETA is too controversial a group for you, please consider checking out some other wonderful groups such as Compassion Over Killing (COK), Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the Humane Farming Association (HFA), the Farm Sanctuary, and so many, many others.  A web search can put you in touch with an organization (local, national, or international) that could use your help, be it financial or the volunteering of your time.

Answer 20

I raise horses,  in your perfect world they wouldn't exist.

Horses die at home, doing what they do.  They run so fast and have so much fun, they accidentally run into a fence and break their neck. The slip and fall, they have accidents. They kick each other,  and break bones, they crack bones in kicking at another horse and hit a fence; they are herd animals by nature so  they are happiest with other horses but maybe PETA should step in and have them all kept in small padded  cages,  they wouldn't be able to move, but PETA would be happy. No more tragic accidents.  

I hope you don't ever have children, they have accidents too, and if you do and yours have a mishap, I hope you are reported for child abuse and have them removed from your home and care.  That is your line of thinking.  It should be applied in aspects of life.

Horses break their legs in jumping and eventing and many other things that they do.

Your comments and questions show you no nothing of the animal.

If you don't like the sport don't watch it. It is not a requirement in life.

Answer 21

I am behind PETA 100%.  These horses represent nothing but dollar signs to the owner and to the trainer.  They had to know she was injured, but they wanted to collect the prize money, totally disregarding the horses health.  The jockey should be banned from the sport as well as the trainer (obviously he can't tell an injured horse from a well horse) and the owner should have to donate his winnings(blood money) to an animal rights organization and suspend him from racing for 5 years.

Answer 22

Exactly. Thank you.  I just read a new book called Tails of the City about a NY vet in which he talks about how they give the horses Lasix, a diuretic so they will not bleed when racing. It eliminates all the electrolytes in their system. Its so so cruel and I just said what you asked here yesterday. I cant believe PETA isnt involved since they do so much good elsewhere. Who ever said horses like to race anyway.?

Answer 23

Hundred-thousand, sometimes million dollar purses ride on these thoroughbred racehorses. More money is spent on feeding, sheltering, and keeping each one of these animals in good health than most humans are able to spend on themselves and their families. The owners of these creatures have no reason to mistreat, harm, or maim them as it would cost them an exorbitant amount of money to lose a prized racehorse. They have it better than most people. Occassionally harm comes to them in the heat of competition. Sometimes horses die frolicking about when put out to pasture, too. Accidents happen.

Answer 24

I have ridden one of the fastest racking horses in a 100 mile radius since he was a 7 YO. He is now 30!! As a rider "I" always knew and respected his limits!!! I HATE the Kentucky derby. It is NO better than fighting bull dogs!!

The JOCKEY, Owner, Trainer, and the public that seeks a thrill.. IMO is to blame!

First the filly was too young!! Second if the Jockey was in tune with the horse HE WOULD HAVE KNOWN HER LIMITS!!

It is one thing for a race car driver to get into a race car...HE HAS A MIND!

Clearly jockeys and owners only have MOMEY on their minds!

I PRAY that NO MORE HORSES will far victim to such greed!!

I stopped watching this event years ago because of the ABUSE these horses go through for the love of money!

Just as the greyhound dogs that were used for racing!!!

If anyone knows how I can protest the derby PLEASE POST!! I am not one that usually takes a stand...BUT BY GOD IT IS TIME!

Sandy

Answer 25

I don't know how you people can say shut down horse racing. What do you think is going to happen to all the horses bred for racing in the U.S.? They're going to be sold for slaughter that's what. Most of us can't afford to keep a horse, I wish that I could keep a thoroughbred, but I cannot. Instead of talking about shutting down horse racing, maybe you can start asking what can be done to make it a safer sport for the horse? Perhaps horses could be raced at an older age, or maybe broader use of synthetic track surfaces? There are a number of solutions out there, people just need to get em out there.

Answer 26

I can't help but laugh when someone suggests that PETA simply look the other way because of the "billions of dollars it generates for the economy." Wow. Not only are these people specialists on what horses like to do with their spare time, but geniuses of high finance as well.

If this sport were conducted by a lower economic class of people, much like dogfighting, it would be shut down tomorrow. But it isn't. The people involved in this sport return year after year, decade after decade with noble animals that are, on any given day, considered expendable.

So the answers is, no. PETA should not shut down the horse racing industry because it would restrict the recreational options of so many wealthy people who really have earned a wider berth when it comes to their conduct. For the love of Jesus, leave these poor, rich people alone. After all, the rules and regulations that govern the lives of common folk simply don't apply to the well to do.

And yes, you very specific knucklehead, THOUSANDS of horses have died due to physical breakdown on the track over the last 134 years of the Kentucky Derby and throughout the world of equestrian events. THOUSANDS, you illiterate boob.

Hah!

Answer 27

It happens in all horse sports.

Horses are fragile, but trust me, these horses love what they do.  Look at Frodo Baggins the eventer that had to be euthanized...it sucks, but it's life.

Answer 28

Shut up.  Yes it not good that a horse had to be put down, but all they are doing is making horse do what they do best and that is run.  There not doing anything cruel to these horses.

Answer 29

PETA is just a front for another leftist liberal extremist group that picks and chooses their "animal causes" based upon what newsflashes run by them on any given day.  If the horse at the Kentucky Derby did not get euthanized on the track, PETA would have shut their mouths and butt into the next animal related newsworthy item.

Anyway, my experience with observing PETA "members for hire" during demonstrations and protests in San Francisco is basically when they used to throw either animal blood or red paint at women in SF's Union Square shopping district that wear leather or fur.  By spilling animal blood that they purchase from butchers or Asian markets, or staining the fur of animal hides, are they not desecrating the spirit of that animal?

They're backwards in thinking and basically the same people that are disturbing the Olympic Flame as it makes it's way around the world.  Just a bunch of liberal scum.

Answer 30

As sad as it may be that such a fantastic filly died, no, PETA shouldn't shut the Derby down.

For starts, do you know how much money the sport generates into our economy?  We would be BILLIONS of dollars poorer without racing.

If there is anything that I have learned from being around horses for about half my life, it is that they will only do what THEY want to do.

Most racehorses love what they do- running. She died doing what she loved.

Answer 31

They need to because although the sport itself is not "evil" the fact that the horses are so young that their bones are not fully formed is just stupid and inhumane.  I believe that the sport should be abolished completely or that it should be changed so that horses that young are not allowed to race.  And about those thousands of deaths, that is 100% true.  Look it up... at animalaid.com they have a "death watch" for Britain only and in the past 420 days there have been almost 200 deaths.  That's only Britain, but no matter where you are, almost 200 deaths a year is too much.