I love horses and stories that go along with them, but the racing, not so much. I cannot watch, I'm so afraid a horse will fall and know the image would haunt me.

I am totally against horse racing, really any kind of animal racing. My DDIL rescued a race horse that was starving, because she was not good enough they just quit taking care of her;( Her name is Rain and she is a beautiful sweet horse. Makes me sick how she looked when DDIL got her.

It is hard in our family, my DS and his wife are so against horse racing and older DD and her DH are at Chruchhill Downs this weekend watching the Belmont from there so they can add to their turf account (or some such weirdness) to earn better seating for the Derby;( Makes it not nice at times at family outings if the subject comes up;(

A very dark side indeed (see, we can agree). There's even more to the ugly story, insofar as rule cheating, rampant doping and impermissible drug use is concerned to feed widespread "do anything to win" attitudes. Horse racing has always been at least as dirty a game as bicycle racing.

Horses are really not built well to take the physical pounding of racing. As I understand it, they have light bones that won't heal with a break because they shatter.

I've never much cared for horses but I know some people are really passionate about them. Seemingly more women than men, not sure what that would be.

I noticed that 10 of the deaths were "non racing". The ages of the horses were not posted so I we don't know the ages of the non-racing events. However, I presume that that the ages of the horses in trainning or racing were young and in their prime.

That does seem to be a large number of deaths in that population. When I was a kid, my dad farmed with horses and our neighbor used mules. We retired our first team after they were about 12 years old and our neighbor worked his mules until those were 20 years old.

It's really sad. I don't like the exploitation of animals, and I don't see horses getting anything out of these situations except an early death in many cases.

This post was edited by chi83 on Sun, Jun 8, 14 at 1:19

They always pull the old, "They love to run" BS. Yeah, by choice in a grassy area, maybe. I'm glad CC lost-maybe he can retire and be treated well.

There is an element of uncertainty and competition that makes racing appealing. My small city has a fun annual turtle race that benefits the local school system and that many participate in. You buy a plastic turtle for $5, (with a number) and they are all released in a stream and the owner of the winning turtle gets a prize.
From what I hear, real animal racing is not something that is good for the critters that race, there are stories of rampant drug use to enhance performance and injury.

The 'gaming industry' is a dirty game. Horseracing is dressed up to look 'cultural', but it's all about the wagering.

Local heiress Helen Brach was almost certainly killed by Chicago area horse dealers. (Case never solved.) Ironically, she was a great animal lover, and her vast fortune (as widow of the candy magnate) has gone largely to animal welfare organizations.

One of our few non-human-needs charities is the Hooved Animal Humane Society group in Woodstock, Illinois. The society rescues hooved animals and fights for laws to protect them.

I always feel guilty for wanting to watch the Triple Crown races because I know about the dark side.

I also have issues with rodeos and circuses.

So sad what humans do for greed, prestige, etc.

Read 'Seabiscuit' - You'll learn more than you want to know!

My DDIL and DS have 2 other rescue horses besides the race one~~their male horse was in the worst shape of the all and he is the sweetest of them, he is the one kids can ride or she just puts a lead on him and the kids walk around with him. She also has a big ole female 'Journey' that is in the draft horse family~~this is the second time she has rescued her, the lady they gave her to just stopped feeding her. DIL had to pay this gal $600 to get the horse back;( People are so nasty~~

Read 'Seabiscuit' - You'll learn more than you want to know!

I've heard it's an excellent book. But you're right--there are some things I don't want to know because there isn't a thing I can do about it.

YogaLady, I you have my sympathy with two members of your family at polar opposites on this issue. So good of your DS and DIL to rescue those horses--and how frustrating to have to pay to get one back!

Yes, people can be so nasty, and this is certainly true of some horse people. I've had personal experience with this because we used to have horses--12 of them, including several rescues.

It just occurred to me as I read the title of this thread that when we talk about a 'dark side', it's almost always the core reality, not just a 'side'.

the 'bright side' is a facade, plastered on to fool the public & to keep people from investigating what the circus owners/dog racers/horse racers/movie studios/orphanages/etc really are doing.

Well said, Sylvia.

Amen, Sylvia!

My mother was taught to ride by her first beau. He was the son of the Kaiser's head groom. Mom saw to it that I had riding lessons, too. My first best friend spent summers on a ranch in Wyoming (where I visited and learned to ride 'Western'). The horses *I* knew were well cared for.

When I became an adult I learned about the shady dealings in racing and trading. HAHS' newsletter profiles the abandoned animals they've rescued and placed and the fight to end the tortures inflicted just to 'improve' the gaits of some horses.

Wow, those statistics are shocking to me! 39 horses in one state in six months. I had no idea. I love horses and just like with all animals, there are more horses than there are competent and caring owners.

When the economy was so bad a few years ago, people were taking their horses to the state parks and releasing them, dumping them. The horse rescue organizations had more than they could handle. Really sad that people would treat animals that way.

I don't understand people that indiscriminately breed horses. There isn't much of a market for them these days. There are lots and lots of them for sale and lots for free from the humane societies.

It is expensive to keep a horse properly. They really live a hard life, in my opinion. Very few live their entire lives with one owner. Sad.

I've never been to a horse or dog race... don't think I could sit through it knowing what happens to most of the animals. In the effort to find a winner, ones who aren't become disposable. I've read stories of race dogs being taken out and shot when they don't win or they quit winning.

I just don't 'get' gambling. Yesterday we were on the tollway. There are signs for exits to various towns, to colleges, and to off track betting! Ye gods!

I see TV ads for casinos that show attractive young people in evening clothes, gambling and laughing. When I see real life TV coverage inside these places, most of the gamblers are inert old people who are slumped in a daze in front of slot machines.

alisande, I inadvertently posted this in the thread about California Chrome, when I meant to post here. I'm kind of in an awkward place as I personally don't believe in horse racing and am horrified by the number of horses who die each year in training or in races. But I admittedly do watch the big races, as my cousin (who owns a number of racehorses) often has a horse running.

His horse (I'll Have Another) won the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby last year, so he was going for the Triple Crown. But he pulled his horse off the roster for the Belmont, on advise of the trainer who spotted some swelling on the horse's leg during a training run. I watch the big races on t.v. if my cousin has a horse running, but I'm highly stressed and praying the whole time, that no accidents or injuries will occur.

In all probability the overall death rate is probably higher than the statistics enumerated in Susan's link. If I understand the chart correctly those are the deaths that occurred at racetracks. Racehorses are frequently moved from track to track, both in and out of state. The chart doesn't include horses that died or had to be euthanized at their owner's stable or taken out of state.

My neighbor was a pharmaceutical rep for veterinary drugs and he often told me tales from the tracks. He could tell what some track vets were doing by the drugs and amounts that they ordered. He called it a 'down and dirty' business with lots of cash changing hands.

So many thoughtful and informative posts on this thread. Thank you!