*sniffle* ...

[ZombieBunny]

This is why I don't like animal racing...

We push them way to hard and past their limits

http://sports.yahoo.com/rah/news?slug=r ... &type=lgns

(sorry but Im a huge animal lover... gomen )

[Caroline]

i agree

***OT***and just to bring some awareness to this cause, please visit:

http://www.orcanetwork.org/captivity/captivity.html
http://www.slavetoentertainment.com/index2.htm

i have worked with this orca personally and spent my college years rehabilitating dolphins back into the wild. it can be done. ive seen it. educate yourselves.

[Carla]

This is so sad!!!

I HATE any kind of animal cruelty!!!

[Xelloss]

I'm suprised they didn't use a fake leg or something. Also, is there some special reason why horses can't survive on 3 legs? I've seen 3 legged dogs, cats, etc get around just fine. Heck, I've seen a 2-legged dog that was missing both front legs and got around by walking upright. Sure, the horse wouldn't have raced again, but did they really have to put him down?

- Karen

[blueheaven]

The reason they are euthanized so often is that their sheer weight they put on the limb inhibits the healing process. The other side of that is that most trainers decide early if the cost of treating the injury is worth it (it depends on what kind of break and the overall temperment of the horse). Most racehorses do not have the right temperment to allow their leg to heal. (I'm not a know-it-all, I just watched ESPN this morning).

Personally, I don't see the appeal of horseracing. To me, it's something that has outlived it's interest in the sporting world, like bullfighting or dog racing. What baffles me is that the horses are treated better than the jockeys! I'm no tree hugging PETA person, but this sport just seems absurd to me.

[Cloud]

I am not saying you are.

[ZombieBunny]

I'm no tree hugging PETA person, but this sport just seems absurd to me.

lol Im sorry but that made me laugh XD ...

I agree about the absurdity of it.

[RoboFlonne]

When Animals fight back!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21545181/

No animals were hurt in this story!!

[Cloud]

The past and future are one.

[Okuni]

When Animals fight back!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21545181/

No animals were hurt in this story!!

I'm not sure how true that really is. Because it has been known to be an urban myth in the past.

As for racehorses (any horse, for that matter), blueheaven [okay ESPN guys] is right. The simple fact is that even when horses sleep, they remain standing. Even though a horse will sometimes lay down, the majority of it's life is on the hoof. This is because of their wild past, as a prey species and their only defense is run or kick. (Why do cows lay down more? I dunno.)

In fact, even if an attempt was made to save this latest tragedy, G.W. horse would have been eventually euthanized, just like Barbaro was.
The trainer did have the horse's best interest in mind. It would have suffered too much had any recovery be attempted.
Unfortunately, there are MANY more little or no-name racehorses that break-down on the track every year and are immediately euthanized. We don't hear about them because the races aren't 'that important' to the public. However, the televised races(The Derby, Preak, Breeder's Cup)- those horses- are like the horse equivalent of the human celebrity. It's a big deal when one of them breaks down.
In fact, there was a tragic race in last year's Breeder's Cup roster. One horse was euthanized and another had to end it's racing career-- in the same race. (Breeder's Cup has a card of seven races, not one.) I guess not many people remember that because of Barbaro.

Irony dep't.: George Washington (racehorse) came from the same breeders as Barbaro had.