05-04-2008, 03:08 AM
Whether racing is cruelty to animals is certainly something to be considered. Very few of these animals would be bred and born were it not for the industry so there is some tradeoff between no life at all and a life of racing. Winnners do have a good life after racing;
Don't assume that the winners have a good life. At least one horse who won the Derby ended up as horse meat in Japan.
I love horses, and used to love racing, but the more I know about it, the the more it offends me. I don't think it would continue to exist as a "sport" without the gambling side of it, and killing a bunch of horses just so that people can gamble turns my stomach. I don't mean just the animals who are killed on the track, as this poor filly was today; I mean all the horses who don't pan out as breeders or racers who end up being slaughtered. It's disgusting.
If humans want to compete, they should have the decency to do it directly, not vicariously through animals who have no choice in the matter.
Don't assume that the winners have a good life. At least one horse who won the Derby ended up as horse meat in Japan.
I love horses, and used to love racing, but the more I know about it, the the more it offends me. I don't think it would continue to exist as a "sport" without the gambling side of it, and killing a bunch of horses just so that people can gamble turns my stomach. I don't mean just the animals who are killed on the track, as this poor filly was today; I mean all the horses who don't pan out as breeders or racers who end up being slaughtered. It's disgusting.
If humans want to compete, they should have the decency to do it directly, not vicariously through animals who have no choice in the matter.