Do you agree with horse racing????

[cassiesmom]

I've only been to horse races once and honestly, I was mostly watching the horses go and what they did for them after they were done racing. So, I don't know if I agree with it or not.

Arlington Park is having their dirt track removed and putting in this new one because it will be safer for the horses and I think that is very good. The article refers to them as athletes which I like, because that is what they are.

Arlington Park to Install State-of-the-Art Racing Surface for 2007 Season
CHICAGO (December 7, 2006) -- Arlington Park announced today that it will begin construction immediately to replace its conventional dirt track with a new state-of-the-art, synthetic racing surface to enhance athlete safety in advance of the 2007 race meet, which begins on Friday, May 4, 2007.

“Arlington Park has always and will continue to provide the very best that horseracing has to offer,” said Arlington Park President Roy Arnold in making the announcement at the ESPN Zone in Chicago. “While we are confident the track’s current dirt surface is one of the best, the fact is we lost horses last summer and that’s not acceptable. If we lose one horse, it’s one too many. We have been diligently monitoring other synthetic track installations and racing results, and now possess the knowledge necessary to move forward with a synthetic surface to ensure that Arlington Park remains one of the finest racing surfaces.”

Track officials say the new, synthetic track will substantially raise the level of consistency and safety.

Synthetic horseracing surfaces are comprised of natural and man-made materials that combine to produce a turf-like track that is more forgiving than traditional dirt surfaces, resulting in reduced risk of injury when hooves are planting and sliding on the soil.

“The quality of the track surface has a direct effect on the safety and performance of the horses,” said Dr. Michael Peterson, one of the experts hired by the Illinois Racing Board to review Arlington’s dirt track this summer.

[Suki Wingy]

yes, I do. It's in the family. My grandma has followed racing for a very long time, she even saved up to live her dream of owning a little grey filly for a while. Every instance I have seen the horses are treated like kings. (Thats not to say there could be some cases of bad treatment) Ex-racer make great pets/competition horses. (my Player boy )

[IrishSetterGurl]

I dont like horse racing because some horses get hurt badly and would have to be put down like that one race horse that hurt his leg very badly.
For some horses it maybe good, but I never want my horses in a horse race no matter how much money they make.
My horses safety is more important to me than money!

[GreyhoundGirl]

I don't know much about it, but by some of the replys I see it seems to have much in common with grey racing. There for I am against it.

[mike001]

I don't like horse racing for many reasons:

1. The horses are put on the track too young and suffer too much damage.

2. To most owners, the horses mean money when they win and they will push the horse too hard.

3. I've witnesses too many horses being discarded if they don't win, not caring where they went.

4. I've also witnessed some horses racing while they should have been laid up for injuries.

5. Some of the horses are badly abused for the sake of money.

6. The horses suffer injuries and are retired with life injuries that never get proper treatment because of the cost involved.


These are only a few of the reasons and I should add that some owners truly do care about their horses' welfare.

[Suki Wingy]

6. The horses suffer injuries and are retired with life injuries that never get proper treatment because of the cost involved.

not all, a few get a second chance.
http://canterusa.org/



This is "I'm A Player" 1999 seal brown gelding who I shareboarded in 2004. He was sold.

[Giselle]

For those who mentioned Barbaro, there is speculation that Barbaro had an underlying genetic problem that contributed to the weakness in his bones. The horse people I've talked to were concerned about the preservation of his semen exactly for this reason. They worry that Barbaro's weakness could very likely be genetic. I know it's just speculation, but Barbaro received state-of-the-art care. That's not abuse at all. Athletes get injured and race horses are athletes. I guess I agree with horse racing. I just like to keep an open mind as I understand it's not fair when a few bad sheep cast a dark shadow over the entire sport.

[Alysser]

I guess I agree with horse racing. I just like to keep an open mind as I understand it's not fair when a few bad sheep cast a dark shadow over the entire sport.

I agree with you 110%.

Same thing goes for dog racing. If there is ANY kind of abuse, even the smallest hit for correction, I'm against it. Otherwise, I agree with horse racing.

[sprokett]

I do NOT agree with it at all they are trained to early they get mistreated, have to race on hot days (what about heatwave's) and are constantly getting whipped

[IRescue452]

Nope. I don't agree that horses naturally race like that either. Horses in nature might race each other for play, but they don't run in a line so tightly and they don't have a person on their back. Should they get tired or injured in the wild, they can stop anytime. In a race, they don't get to stop like that.

[Ceph]

lol, most of the time they do....

Its not hard to tell if a horse gets injured from their back...their gait changes, it becomes less even and you will probably loose the groove that you've been in because something changed. Most (good) jockeys will stop the horse at this point...however it is sometimes hard because the horses dont want to stop running....you should watch it...they have an amazing amount of heart, and sometimes they just dont realize it.

I would worry...horses are more likley to break legs in a pothole ridden field than on the track.

But then again, horses can break their legs doing anything....they just have so little muscle on those lower legs...everything is operated by stored and released energy, they are like rubber bands, so there is alot of tension and therefore it is not difficult for things to break in general.