I've so enjoyed horse racing over the years and when we lived in san diego during the season we'd see the horses being ridden in the surf...something therapeutic about the salt water, in del mar...your cousin must be one of the best...here's to another win for him!

I don't blame you for being ambivalent about this, Pickyshopper.

From the NY Times: Mangled Horses, Maimed Jockeys

While I'm a lifelong devoted capitalist, I have to say that my own peek inside (through a few family members who were active as owners for a dozen years or so) suggests that too many of the people directly involved (owners, trainers, jockeys, vets) are ruthless and much more concerned with their own (financial) welfare than the health and welfare of the horses.

Below the level of the well-treated horses who run in the Triple Crown and breeders who are worth millions, there are tens of thousands of nags scattered around the country, owned and trained by those trying to simply eek out a living and trying to do so partially by minimizing how much gets spent for the care and welfare of their horses.

Horse racing is a dirty business, it always has been. Drug abuse and the use of banned substances has long been a problem. There's nothing glamorous or beautiful about it.

My aunt and uncle owned, raced and bred thoroughbreds for many decades. He was against using drugs, and he had a number of winning horses. Pacin' Jason comes to mind. He's also in the Standardbred Hall of Fame (who knew there was such a thing?)

Chuckwagon races are cruel, every year at the Calgary Stampede there is an accident and the horse often gets killed.

I actually did use to watch horse racing as a child. My father was an avid fan, as was his father, who was among the crowd to see one of the greatest race horses ever, "Man o' War" run his final race, in my old home town of Windsor Ontario. I used be told stories of how that horse was constantly false starting, he was so eager to go. Back then, they didn't have starting gates, but apparently just some kind of string mesh net that the horses would break through, when the start was signalled.

My cousin, whose horse will run in the Derby, became interested in horses when we were in high school. His best friend was a groom at a race track, and so began his love and interest in race horses. Another cousin of mine raised horses, and ran an equestrian school, for many years.

I can certainly appreciate that some horses are just born to run. But while I think there is nothing more beautiful than watching a horse galloping freely, it is not the same (to me) as seeing a horse racing around an oval track at top speed, amidst other horses, trying not to get tangled up in each other, as they round the turns.

I know my cousin, and his trainer apparently has an excellent reputation for his care and treatment of horses. But while I'll be very happy to learn if 'Nyquist' should win the Derby on Saturday, it still doesn't negate the fact that too many fatal accidents still happen in organized horse racing.

I don't like horse racing. It wasn't until fairly recently that I became aware of the awful statistics. I think anything involving animals for money or entertainment is wrong. Yes some horses really love to run/race but these horses are being bred specifically for horse racing. If horse racing didn't exist, these horses would not exist therefore they would not lose out on the enjoyment of racing.

I just heard on the radio today that breeding is massive money with Derby wins. If Nyquist wins, his sire "Uncle Mo" will make $100 million. Wow.

How in the world does anyone know that "horses that are bred to race love what they do "or some horses really love to run/race?" My guess is horses would like to be left alone to do normal and natural horse/animal things like grazing in a pasture and not spend hours/days/years being trained to perform for humans.

People who are around horses know Joaniepoanie. Horses have their personalities. Horse bred to run generally want to run. At the track paddock it is often obvious to even the untrained eye which horses enjoy their job and want to be there.

Horse racing is a business. Period. It's all about money, which leaves me so conflicted. I also don't like the dichotomy of the very rich, and the very much not rich who break their backs working for the fat cats.

Many years ago, I watched the Breeders cup, and saw 2 horses get put down on the track. It just made me sick and I've never looked at it the same since.

horse racing, dog tracks, cock fights & dog rings., all the same. $$$$$$

even though horse racing is a "rich man's" sport and they dress it up with the mint juleps and fancy hats, and national TV., its ALL about $$$$. about animals, not so much.

like others have said, animals should not be our entertainment, money source (gambling) or fun time. we have enough other outlets for that.

I cannot watch horseracing. It's too disturbing to see horses fall.

OMG Nyquist WON!! Congratulations to your family.

Congrats to your cousin! Was a great race!

And meanwhile hundreds of horses have died during race-related events this year in the US alone. Absolutely barbaric. I can't believe anyone supports this "sport." I really don't understand humanity.

I am not a fan of horse racing at all. But how wonderful for your cousin for his horse to win.

socks, like you, I find it too disturbing to watch horse racing, because of the possibility of injury or even death, of horses and jockeys, during a race. In fact, I heard a horse fell in a race this afternoon, prior to the Derby run, but thankfully neither horse nor jockey were injured.

That said, my large family (grandparents had 11 children) came from quite modest beginnings, so we are of course happy that one of our cousins has had such good fortune in adulthood. His character has never changed with his success in the field of horse racing, and I am very happy for him, for his win at the Derby today, with Nyquist. Likewise, this doesn't affect my personal feelings about horse racing, either.

It is a real pleasure to watch horses running through the pasture - such a beautiful sight and they do look like they're enjoying themselves immensely. I love watching them prancing and tearing around the meadow - but I can't watch track racing, that's a different story.

Pickyshopper - I can easily see why you have mixed feelings about horse racing.

I'm another one who finds professional horse racing to be a seriously disturbing business. I can't bring myself to call it a sport. My next door neighbor was a pharmaceutical salesman for veterinarian drugs and he often called on the local racetracks to met with the track vets. He had an extremely low opinion of them and would sometimes tell us of the drugs that they purchased and the large quantities - drugs that were not used to the benefit of the horse, but to enable the horse to run, and the owners were complicit in this treatment.

Snidely's comments unfortunately all too true. Just this afternoon The New York Times reported that Nyqvist's trainer has a record of using banned substances.

"....An affable man, O’Neill took a beating throughout I’ll Have Another’s Triple Crown run when it came to light that over 14 years and in four different states, he had received more than a dozen violations for giving his horses improper drugs, and that his horses also had a tendency to break down or show signs of injury at more than twice the rate of the national average......."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/sports/horse-racing/nyquist-wins-the-kentucky-derby.html?_r=0

Hey, Nyquist won!!!! Congrats!!!

Congratulations to you cousin on the win! How exciting!

Nyquist won! Congratualtion to your cousin and the horse.

We will usually watch the race, but it took place just at the end of our drive to Portland for Mothers Day weekend with my mom and we didn't see it this year. I did check the results when at her apartment and was pleased for your cousin!

Many ex race horses end up being sold for slaughter. There is a competition that is for retired race horses where they can compete in many varied events to showcase the versatility of the Thoroughbred. It will be held in Lexington, Ky in October. Several of the TBs who will compete were rescued from kill buyers, including one owned by a friend of mine. He ran his last race, winning only $21,000 in his racing career and three weeks later ended up in a kill pen, still wearing his racing plates. She chose a rescue horse to compete with to bring attention to the fact that many good horses are shipped to Mexico and Canada to be slaughtered.

I have mixed feelings about the Derby. I never knew or cared about it until 12 years ago.

It wasn't even a blip on my radar when a friend of mine invited me to a Derby Days event held by a local non-profit. She actually had to explain what the Derby was to me.

Since then we have attended the fundraiser almost every year and I eagerly cheer on the horses.

I remember being excited to see Eight Belle's, a filly, run and then being heartbroken when she had to be immediately euthanized post race.

I know horse owners and I've seen them agonize about putting a horse down.

Still, when I hear Derby, I think of the nonprofit and all the benefits they have given the community and my own daughter.

I didn't get to watch the race this year but I'm glad to hear Nyquist won and I look forward to watching the video of his big win when I get the chance.

Congrats to your cousin and his horse. My grandmother was from eastern KY and loved watching races and shows, so we always knew when the races of the triple crown were being run. I remember thinking that the ladies' Derby hats were always interesting.

When I was young, 40-50 years ago, we often visited her younger brother, whose family owned and showed Tennessee Walkers. It was common knowledge that soring was taking place, even among the owners whose horses were loved and well cared for. I recall hearing the uncle talking about it, so he must have found a way to reconcile the issue--I hope standards are stricter these days.

Pickyshopper, you know how sometimes you hear someone say "it's a small world"... I have agree. The silks and helmet covers your cousin and a couple of other jockeys were wearing at the Derby were made in our town (well, we don't really live IN town). Wonder what the odds are of this happening.

How horrible! 2 horses who ran in today's Preakness died!

Homeboykris, a 9-year-old horse that ran in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, collapsed and died after winning the first race in wet conditions on the Pimlico card, according to a race course official.

In the final turn of Race 4, 4-year-old filly Pramedya collapsed on the turf and suffered a left-front mid-cannon-bone fracture and was euthanized on the track.

Today's Preakness race

I just read about this, Jasdip, and could just cry for their loss. Those poor horses give their all and end up dead way too soon. So sad.

Just so there's no confusion.....the Preakness stakes hasn't been raced yet. I think gate time is around 5:30 CT. There is a whole day of other races on Preakness Day, all at Pimlico.

Tragic events after those earlier races.

Post time for the Preakness is 3:45 Pacific, 6:45 Eastern, I've been coming in and out of the room and it almost sounds like that start time could be slightly delayed. DH has the preliminary events on but didn't watch any of the earlier races if those were televised. The rain seems to be directing the timing of mowing the lawn here so he will watch the Preakness run.

Pickyshopper, I hope your cousin wasn't too disappointed today. They did say Exaggerator likes to run in mud, and that seemed to prove to be true.

I heard two horses died yesterday. :(

Gives me chills to read my now prescient earlier post. Sad.

All the more reason this "sport" should come to an end. Anyone who thinks the horses like to race or like to run in mud or like competing are just trying to justify their involvement. The horse does not "know" it's a race or a competition.....they are only doing what the are being forced to do. As I stated above, if a horse could talk he'd probably say "take me to the pasture and leave me alone" not "please make me spend years training and being pumped with drugs so I can perform for you." Same applies to circus animals.

Absolutely HATE horse racing!!! One of my first memories as a little child is going to a race with parents and aunt and uncle. They shot a horse in front of me which had fallen and broken a leg, and my mother tried to cover my eyes.

morz8, while I'm sure my cousin was disappointed that Nyquist placed third in the Preakness, he's not a 'count your chickens before they hatch' kind of guy. As each individual race is completely different with changing variables, (track condition, posting position etc.) Exaggerator was clearly a better runner in thick mud and deserved the win.

While it wasn't in the same race at the Preakness that my cousin's horse ran, I was so upset to learn about the horses that died in earlier races that day and the jockey who was injured. Sadly, my worse fears did occur, which is exactly why I feel how I feel about horse racing.