banjomike

Hi, Williamina...
I doubt anything anyone says is going to deter PETA in the least. I support PETA on some of their positions, and I respect the need for the organization.

Remember that Eight Belles beat 18 other horses and finished the race intact. It was only when she was pulled up that her ankles broke. There is literally no way she could have run more than a step before collapsing... no mammal can run on 2 broken front legs.

Many folks are blaming the current breeding practices, but most breeders breed for durability, as a race horse's career may be a long one. They also must be sound to be bred. But there are bloodlines that do have weak bone.

There are only a couple of probable reasons why both ankles broke. This is an extraordinaily rare injury.
- Her jockey pulled her up too abruptly. The jockey was thrown, which indicates to me that this probably didn't happen. It requires a lot of strength to pull a Thoroughbred up suddenly after a race.
- The most likely to me: that part of the track was too soft and too deep, and snagged her. Althought this wasn't caught on film, I read that she end-oed, which means both ankles broke suddenly. posted 05/05/2008 at 20:52:13

Hmmmm.
3 headlines so far on HuffPost on Eight Belles' death, but none at all on the winner, Big Brown. The last time a horse won from the 20th post was in 1915, and Big Brown won by 5 lengths- that is a remarkable feat!
Eight Belles' breakdown was tragic, to be sure, and she ran a very valiant race, which makes it all the worse. But injuries like hers are part of the nature of horses; the same injury occurs daily in pastures, on the range, and on tracks everywhere, all the time, whether horses are being raced by humans or if they are racing by themselves.
There has been a lot of mention about Eight Belles' death being caused by the trainers, the way the horses are bred these days, and on how cruel the sport is, but so far, I haven't read much about the hazards of too-soft tracks, or how many race horses break down in comparison to the total number that are raced. There isn't any comparison to football, boxing, and human sports where people are injured, sometimes fatally. I think that before more condemnation kicks up, folks ought to take a closer look at the entire picture, not the the downed horse. posted 05/05/2008 at 10:52:46

Horses break down every day in pastures everywhere, racing each other, or just being horses. If anything, Remember that Eight Belles finished the race- she took second place! It was only when she was pulled up that she broke down, and I suspect the condition of the track was the culprit.

The horse racing industry in not inhumane- the costs of racing are much too high to treat a horse badly- but it is risky by it's nature. Racing in no way compares to dog fighting or other truly inhumane 'sports', where only the winner is still alive at the end of competition.

The crops used by the jockeys aren't inhumane or dangerous to the horse. They don't produce anything greater than a sting when used at their hardest, and the sting is only a cue. (Otherwise, riding crops wouldn't be the choice of thousands of masochists.)

And horses are just like humans- some refuse to give up in a race, and some do. When a horse gives up, there is nothing a jockey can do about it physically. Some are extremely competitive and some aren't. posted 05/05/2008 at 12:08:48

Very good post, Jane!
It should be pointed out, though, that Eight Belles' didn't break down during the race. She broke down pulling up after the race was over, which indicates to me that she may have been stopped too suddenly, or that the track was too soft and snagged her.

Very little has been written in regards to Eight Belles' breakdown about the conditions of dirt tracks across the country, but many are too soft, and I'm glad you made mention of that fact. Many of the old tracks that were once turf have been plowed up, and have no bottom. Turf requires expensive maintenance and grooming, and the racing industry is in general decline. The artificial turf you mention is a cheaper alternative to the real thing.

I noticed a couple of replies that mention breeder's 'greed', and can't help but wonder why someone would think any breeder is greedy. The costs of breeding, training, and upkeep are enormous, and the chances of winning a big race infintisimable. How can any owner be greedy under these circumstances? posted 05/05/2008 at 11:37:52

We are witnessing the struggle of one major American political party to select a candidate who will lead our country in the 21st Century, not replay late 20th. Which candidate is best prepared for this new century? The Republican, who is firmly rooted in policies over 40 years old? The Democrat bent on continuing the in-fighting and partisanship of the past 20 years? Or the other Democrat who is looking forward, not backward to the past?

Since 9/11, it is obvious that the 20th century's ways of doing things don't work. The Repubs won't face these challenges, so the Democratic fight is necessary. We have to allow it to play out.There has already been too much deadlock, stupid partisanship and indifference.

It is up to the Democratic party to re-define itself . Either we show we are tempered, strong, and ready to lead into the 21st Century, or we show that we're not up to the job.

Buck up, show some spine and see this through to the end... the voters have had enough of closed doors and secret wheelings and dealings. They want a President and a Congress who will get things done, and will show it in November.

If Democrats can't win the upcoming election handily, we don't deserve to be a political party. The Republicans are one step away from being as obsolete as the Whigs. posted 04/24/2008 at 13:43:34

Alicia said:
Another of her theories: That the bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled "by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing."

....It makes me wonder. Which one of them was "another great black leader"? Tupac or BIG?
Some leaders. One had "Thug Life" tattooed on his belly, and the other made a career out of menace. It seems to me that neither one could lead the way out of a parking lot.

I fully agree that the recording companies eagerly promoted the violence, but both, and many more rappers, just as eagerly bought into it. posted 04/15/2008 at 02:49:24

It's also wishful thinking. There will only be peace in the Middle East when the countries and the various people who inhabit them resolve the differences between them. This has proved to be impossible for the past 1000 years, but hope springs eternal. Peace is their job, not ours, and American style democracy doesn't import very well at all to the rest of the world. This is not the first time we have tried and failed, just the latest. posted 04/02/2008 at 17:05:48

Dead smack on the mark, Mojane. We won the war in 6 weeks, and have gotten our butts kicked in the 5 years of occupaition ever since. Occupation is not war, even if our troops die in the occupying. Don't let anyone tell you that we're winning- we already won. Staying will only prolong the agony, for the Iraquis and for us equally. The Middle East would have learned a better object lesson if we had left as quickly as we arrived. posted 04/02/2008 at 16:58:28