Let's play kill another horse!

I have nothing whatsoever against horse racing; in fact, when I was a kid, I wanted to grow up to be a jockey.  (I grew up to be 5'9", so that obviously didn't work out too well for me.)  The comments made in this thread regarding the physical maturity of horses are quite accurate.  Age four is an appropriate age.  When horses are raced hard at ages two and three, their risk for catastrophic injury increases greatly. 

I find the power and grace of race horses to be magnificent; I simply wish that these beautiful animals were allowed another 1-2 years to mature prior to being run at the level of intensity required in competitive racing.   There is risk in every sport, but I think this is a very common-sense way to reduce the risk associated with horse racing.

--Cat

jrsoxfaan18.....I also agree re your comments.....and in answer to your question: probably some of the reasons horse racing in general and the Derby specifically is considered such a great event instead of the reality of what it actually is - a form of animal abuse (yes, I know the horses are well cared for but there is in all probability the other side of the coin involving the use of chemicals, forcing them to race in a manner not natural, etc.) are the following:

The Derby has been hyped for many many years as an event for the income of the area. Monies being derived from being televised.....it has been hyped to have the aura of wealth (owners) - (thus the name of the sport of kings) and heros (jockeys) and the betting factor - the excitement of winning money and the spectacle of watching the horses being forced to run the way nature did not intend  and some of the spectators in the stands all bedecked in a fashion they would not normally dress and drinking until they probably do not even know whether they are watching grasshoppers or just blurs of colors race by.....and their warped sense of excitement of impending accidents such as jockeys or horses being injured.  It is a tauted spectacle not unlike the events of the
Romans with their chariots except no human has to take a chance of their legs being broken or their having to be killed.

Many common factors for dogfighting......except it does not involve fancy clothes, does involve a higher degree of bloodthirst as it is not in the realm of might happen but guaranteed it will happen, does involve betting and usually a much lower class of human participants....is not area specific and is not televised (if our society continues to become more third world this might change).  Dogfighters are cowards who know they could never fight a dog and win unless they had a weapon.  Cowards who need to think there is a group of living beings of lesser value than themselves.....cowards who are sadistic and ego maniacs.  cowards who are usually drunk and high on drugs. Dogfighting is hidden, in back woods - usually off the beaten path unless it is the vile violent vicious vicks who have estates where the acreage hides the horrors. Dogfighters derive sexual satisfaction from their control over the dogs and the torturing, mutilation, drowning and killing of innocent life.

Bottom line horse racing is associated with wealth and dogfighting is associated with lower class ignorant people even though some doctors, lawyers, etc are involved.....after all they are but mere humans aside from their high level incomes - they might be well educated but that education cannot provide a quality caring character.

That gorgeous horse died because of greed and mankind's evil......... period.