The Kentucky Derby is tomorrow.
When I was a kid I loved going to the Woodbine racetrack (Canada's most prominent track) to watch the horses race on a sunny summer's day. For a family (unless you are a degen gambler) it is a very inexpensive day out.
I took my kids once, but my daughter was very young (still in a stroller), so I hung out by the track with my son most of the time and my wife walked my daughter around the grounds. We only stayed for a few races but it was a really nice day.
I like watching the horses run but it does seem to be if not cruel, at very least an exploitative sport. The horses are bred for racing, traded at auctions, transported around from track to track in trucks and trailers, pumped with meds, have aluminum shoes nailed their hooves, get blinders put on them if they don't stay in line and get whipped. On the flip side race horses do get the top of the line stabling, nutrition, training and veterinary care.
As an animal lover I don't like some of these practices but as an enjoyer of the sport I would be disappointed if the sport went away, as it is such a pleasure to watch these majestic animals run.
What say you. Is horse racing cruel?
Its none of my business. Additionally I do not know enough about horses and racing. I will say this. I wish more humans cared as much about humans as they do about animals. I love animals and we should care about both... but it is painfully obvious that at least in the US we have massively devalued human life.
Banning it is dumb though. If people feel it is inhuman it will go away. It already is and that is the best way.
I've long noticed this.....there is a corollary issue that many completely secular / atheist seem to be more stringent about animal welfare than those who are religious.
I can't help but find that curious....a colleague of mine is both a vocal atheist and a vegan for "moral reasons".
I really past the age of feeling the need to argue such things with people, but I've tried to gently mention to him that if he doesn't believe in any higher moral authority why does he care about what a random collection of atoms known as a chicken goes thru....he seemed either confused about my point or simply wanted to ignore it.
For the record, I do believe both that (a) God did gives us dominion over the animals and earth to use for our benefit and simultaneously (b) We have a responsibility to be good stewards of it...and that includes reducing animal suffering.
Athiesm is vapid. They need Christianity to exist. It's an overreaction an overreaction(Protestism). They don't even realize that they have adopted and adapted the morals of the God they hate. They pervert them but the moral framework they have is derived from Jesus.
I think that's fair.
I don't think you are dumb btw. There are animal entertainments I do find cruel and many are banned and they still happen. Just makes them more profitable for the scum that do it. I think is we focused more on improving our culture and communities we would need fewer laws.
If we had better culture and communities we would have less people looking to exploit animals. Makes sense.
I think in general we overvalue the ability of "leaders" (rulers) and undervalue local and family impact.
Its starts with us. Don't pay for things you find abhorrent. It's not as attractive as pulling the speck out of our neighbors' eye though(politics).
“Horses love to run” – yes, that’s true. But in the wild, not on a racecourse. With a human riding on their back. IMO
I think it's fine, as long as the animal is well cared for and treated humanely. There are many recreational activities that involve animals and mistreat them or take them from their habitats: circuses, dog fights, cockfights, dolphin shows, bullfights. I think horse racing is one of the least serious.
I keep wondering why people care so much for animals than human. 🤔🤔🤔
I don't imply that animals should be treated awfully..
I placed bets in NYC OTBs as a teenager, but I also loved going to the track. Belmont and Aqueduct, then later the small DC tracks- Bowie and Laurel. I went to the Preakness once in the mid 1980s, and the Belmont Stakes once. I even got an insider's tour of the Saratoga Racetrack once. That place is beautiful. I even went to Windsor Downs in England in the 1970s. I love horse racing. I still watch Secretariat's Belmont Stakes race on YouTube every few months, and it still gives me chills.
But, there's no doubt that it's a business, and the animals have often paid the price. I remember Ruffian getting shot under a tent after her final, heartbreaking race. Steroids, lasix, other doping. The fragility of a thoroughbred's limbs is the cause of many tragedies.
I love horse racing, but maybe it is best that it just fades away.
I think something like this happens in Anna Karenina. I had a flashback even though I'd never been to a race. I think I read it there.
I read it many years ago, but my memory isn't what it once was.
I think they have improved the conditions and standards for the animals over the years but it is still at least an exploitative sport. I knew someone that owned a few race horses and he invited me to dine in the owner's lounge at Woodbine once during an evening race session. That was a fun experience. He grew up on a farm with horses and had a great love for them. At the time I didn't ask how he felt about these things and unfortunately he passed away a few years ago, so I will never know.
I think there can be a balance of humane treatment of animals and utilizing them for human needs (including entertainment).
I just have a hard time seeing how someone could object to horse racing as a sport, while not objecting to eating animals. If there are cruel practices, object to the cruel practices, but if you want to ban the activity entirely, I think you have to be consistent and stop eating meat.
I am not saying it should be banned. I just added that as an option. I was just curious what people thought. As I said, I think at very least it is exploitative but I also enjoy the sport.
I played music at many corporate events at Churchill Downs and other facilities where they host these races back in the day and never though much of it. Then a number of years back, I worked an actual race and they said we couldn't even play a single note while the horses were in earshot because they are so drugged up that any sudden noise could set them off. They said it was a life and death situation. I don't know if that was hyperbole or not, but it turned me off to the idea ever since.
I have mixed feelings. As far as the racing, these animals love to run. The cruelest thing you could do would be to pen them up and that's it. Like sled dogs; you can't tell me those pups aren't happiest when they're running and pulling.
The bad part is the breeding to create a morphed hybrid running beast whose body is unnatural.
I wrote this last year called "The beautiful evil of horse racing": https://peakd.com/hostr/@crrdlx/ncuvjn44inh
Did you post this on SN previously. I think I have read it. Very well done.
I forgot, but looks like I did. #973869 And thanks.
Your musical knowledge is deep and impressive. Quite the reference.
I don't like it. There might be a way to do it that would be fine but the way they're treated is pretty bad.
I still like the sport. It is amazing to watch trackside but do think it is exploitative.
As far as I know, it is true that horses like to run, but the incentives will always be to push them to their limits
Yes and I don't know if they like to run like this. Some seem very annoyed about being stuffed into those gates.
I am guessing some horses like racing and others do it because they are forced to.
I bet that could be addressed with more positive reinforcement. Animals like getting rewards.
Maybe if we pay them in sats they will want to run.
Emerging market & So happy let's go Kentucky
Let the horse race
I thought it was tomorrow. Haha
I have it on.
Apparently the Kentucky Derby is today not tomorrow. My bad. I think I got confused with the F1 race. Horses, cars same thing.