The Shame of the Sport of Kings

BTW:

The 'image' of horse (racing) is proprietary and subject to all sorts of 'appearance' fees, for which, ultimately, the punter pays.

Going by the visuals, what an image?

I showed it to my grand-daughter who was horrified!

'Why do people race and play the horses then?' she blurted!

As an owner, I have 4 choices with my retired racehorses
1. Suitably performed and bred mares to stud
2. Provide a retirement home for which I will pay a few grand per month
3. Re- home for use in other equine sports- dressage, show jumping, eventing, polo, riding hack
4. Euthanase

1. This is only applicable to 10-20%
2. Most people can't justify this expense except perhaps for retired champions or if owning suitable premises.
3. There are thousands of well treated and much appreciated ex racehorses in these disciplines, and there are a number of ethical people who successfully re- train ex racehorses for this market. I can be selective in whom I deal with, but I cannot control what happens to the horse thereafter.
4. The final solution and at least I know the outcome. For unsound, old and impaired horses clearly the best outcome.

The SPCA is a great organization and I strongly support their work. However, there are a number of people in that movement who believe racing is inherently cruel and would like it banned. I disagree with that view.

In my opinion the benefits of 3 above outweigh the negatives and I believe this is a sensible and viable solution for a significant number of retired racehorses.

Where does accountability lie? In my opinion, the current owner of a horse is responsible for it's treatment and for taking reasonable care that, if sold, it is sold to a suitably responsible person. Thereafter, the accountability moves to the new owner.
It is unreasonable to hold the original breeder or owner accountable.
Does the SPCA hold the breeder of a puppy accountable if the person they sold it to subsequently abandons that dog?

Whilst I cannot condone the ugly practices some people treat on retired racehorses (and these guys need to be hung, drawn and quartered) it is very sad that horseracing is implicated for this. Horseracing did NOT do this, those guys did and they need to be brought to book quickly.

good post peterd ,is there any way there can be regular checks on the well being of retired racehorses or is it to big an exercise to carry out?

All the Horse Care Units work on the same policy. They will try and adopt out suitable horses to approved homes that are then supervised and visited continually. If horses cannot be adopted out for any reason, ie soundness, mentally not suitable, then they put them down.

Mac Wrote:

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> Whilst I cannot condone the ugly practices some
> people treat on retired racehorses (and these guys
> need to be hung, drawn and quartered) it is very
> sad that horseracing is implicated for this.
> Horseracing did NOT do this, those guys did and
> they need to be brought to book quickly.


It's not only thoroughbreds that get abandoned, neglected or ill-treated. Other breeds and ponies are also mistreated. Come for a drive through the Transkei with me and I'll show you some ponies that never got fed in their lives, never saw a vet, never got horse-sickness vaccinations, and look like worn-out old tatty blankets draped over a fence, especially towards the end of winter. When they are ridden it is with a home-made bridle with a piece of wire for a bit, and there is no restriction on what sort of whip/sjambok may be used. But then they are "only ponies" and don't make good film footage.

But thoroughbreds ("The Sport of Kings") are expensive and high-profile, and the image of a young glossy super-fit athlete reduced to a thin shambling wreck arouses shock in people. I agree that some elements of the SPCA probably are anti-racing. This is not logical, but then this is all about emotion, not logic. Logic would be to put down any horse that you could not find a good home for. But emotion, feeling, make this very very difficult for us all !

That's where the law has to take over and compel people to do what is necessary. Unfortunately the laws re animal cruelty are almost completely toothless, and the penalties a joke. I can't remember when last I heard of anyone being jailed for even the most horrible acts of animal cruelty.

Titch Wrote:

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> soodum Wrote:
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>

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> > Why donate horses to the horse care unit who
> keep
> > begging for money?rather put them down
> >
> > respect to you frodo nothing personal
>
>
> Why put down a perfectly healthy animal...:S

cows and sheep are perfectly health animals and are put down every day for human consumption - Let's be honest the racehorse is bred for betting not for any other reason as sad as that seems - If you cannot breed with them or use them for riding why sell them on to someone that might ill treat them - A well timed bullet might spare the poor horse years of agony(considering that they are pampered as racehorses)

mr hawaii Wrote:

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> Titch Wrote:
>

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>

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> > soodum Wrote:
> >
>

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>
> >

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> > > Why donate horses to the horse care unit who
> > keep
> > > begging for money?rather put them down
> > >
> > > respect to you frodo nothing personal
> >
> >
> > Why put down a perfectly healthy animal...:S
>
> cows and sheep are perfectly health animals and
> are put down every day for human consumption -
> Let's be honest the racehorse is bred for betting
> not for any other reason as sad as that seems - If
> you cannot breed with them or use them for riding
> why sell them on to someone that might ill treat
> them - A well timed bullet might spare the poor
> horse years of agony(considering that they are
> pampered as racehorses)

On the button....

offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2013/09/20/big...he-way-to-slaughter/

Pirhobeta Wrote:

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> On the button....


Kill them incase they get mistreated and you say thats on the button??? what are we coming to that must be the most barbaric statement i have read on the forum :X

Titch Wrote:

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> Pirhobeta Wrote:
>

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>

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>
> > On the button....
>
>
> Kill them incase they get mistreated and you say
> thats on the button??? what are we coming to that
> must be the most barbaric statement i have read on
> the forum :X


Titch racing is Barbaric - If Horse Racing was first thought of in 2013 it would be banned - Please Titch tell me how many people have horses for pets? You cannot try to disguise the truth - Race horses are not pets and there are not enough people out there to take care of them after they leave the track - Hell man enough people abuse dogs and cats so what do you think happens to the geldings etc that cannot find a home as a jumper etc - I think far too much is made of the "Majesty" of the horse which leads to a sentimental approach to culling - Also unlike dogs horses can live to thirty years so how do you keep track of that?

Titch Wrote:

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> Pirhobeta Wrote:
>

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>

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>
> > On the button....
>
>
> Kill them incase they get mistreated and you say
> thats on the button??? what are we coming to that
> must be the most barbaric statement i have read on
> the forum :X

I would support euthanasia before ill-treatment...everyday...

I support Mr H's viewpoint...that is all...I'm not intending to offend anyone...