http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Horse-Racing-5000-Euthanized-in-Five-Years-and-Counting.139124 Discussion about: Horse Racing: 5,000 Euthanized in Five Years and Counting http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Horse-Racing-5000-Euthanized-in-Five-Years-and-Counting.139124#comment224953 Good article.]]> Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:59:01 PST http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Horse-Racing-5000-Euthanized-in-Five-Years-and-Counting.139124#comment224053
The problem is, the Thoroughbred industry (actually, the horse industry in general) is extremely traditional. This is the industry I'm making my career in, and believe me, horsemen don't like change. You can see catalogs of equipment from a hundred years ago, and most of the things in there are exactly the same things we're using today. Change comes slowly. Eight Belles was far from the first horse to be euthanized on live television; George Washington was put down at the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, Pine Island was put down in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Fleet Indian suffered a career-ending injury in the same race. Barbaro shattered his leg in the 2006 Preakness. Charismatic fractured his leg in the final strides of the 1999 Belmont. Ruffian and Go For Wand, two of the best known fillies of the century, suffered fatal injuries in major, televised races. The thing is, now people are beginning to realize that what we've written off as an unfortunate fact of life doesn't have to be that way. It's changing. It's very slow, but it is, and I'm hopeful it will continue to change.
My mom turned to me when we watched the Derby, and we found out that Eight Belles was euthanized, and she asked me, "Why do you want to work in an industry where this happens?" I looked at her and I said, "Because I want to change it." I'm not the only one. The industry will change. I am a member of the generation that is rising to power in it now, and things will change. ]]> Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:07:04 PST http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Horse-Racing-5000-Euthanized-in-Five-Years-and-Counting.139124#comment171281 ]]> Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:16:05 PST http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Horse-Racing-5000-Euthanized-in-Five-Years-and-Counting.139124#comment166883 ]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:11:52 PST http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Horse-Racing-5000-Euthanized-in-Five-Years-and-Counting.139124#comment166747 ]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:04:17 PST http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Horse-Racing-5000-Euthanized-in-Five-Years-and-Counting.139124#comment165445 racing scares me when I watch, because
I am always afraid for the horses, that
something will happen. You have to think,
if it took this long for those in power,
to outlaw the use of steroids on the horses,
then any investigation, will be papered over,
and put on a shelf. Sadly, money rules.
Take care. Why didn't you sign your name?
www.socyberty.com/quiet+voice.8137 Thank
you. p.s. nicely written article :o)]]> Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:06:04 PST http://www.sportales.com/Equestrian/Horse-Racing-5000-Euthanized-in-Five-Years-and-Counting.139124#comment165155 ]]> Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:29:46 PST