I plan to do some letter writing tomorrow afternoon to the head of the NTRA and anybody else relevant that I can think of--I think it's important for them to know that the eyes of the public are on the industry, and they've got to make it safer if they don't want to lose fans. Some of the problem is breeding, but some of it is track conditions and other factors that can be changed.
... and some of it is just bad luck, and it's not always easy to tell. I'm always struck reading Equus at the number of bizarre things that can go wrong with horses. We humans suffer similar injuries in our pursuits; they're just not fatal. But we're also less well designed by evolution to be a cougar's or a coyote's lunch. Even the best possible advances in safety won't prevent breakdowns, and I'm not aware of any ongoing issues at Churchill Downs. I really think this one was a tragic accident.
It was terribly tragic. I kept thinking, wow of that elite runner was human many of the events surrounding would be different. WHy do we treat these animals so poorly in relation to sport.
Imagin if the man who ran and won the Boston marathon ran with light unsupportive shoes because it shaved off 4 seconds on his time, but in the long run it weakened his ankles to where his feet had to be amputated - we wouldn't even think of that scenario we'd vote for the heavy supportive shoes in the first place and what is 4 seconds when judging against a life time of injury...
Unfortunately it's not the same with these elite runners of the 4 legged variety
My words on this aren't quite thought out because I am so sad and angry
Well, Big Brown was actually wearing special shoes that weigh a bit more than normal ones, because of his foot problems, so I think that in the upper levels of horse racing, concern for the animal does outweigh getting them to the finish line at any cost. You could argue that the concern is really for their value as studs/broodmares, but they have to have good track records to be worth much money in the breeding barn, and a horse who breaks down early in its career will be a bit suspect as breeding stock.
When you get away from the top level of racing, though, I agree it can be pretty bad. The good news is that in the aftermath of Barbaro, the racing industry got a good solid wakeup call to improve conditions at all levels, and a lot of work has been done. The growing popularity of synthetic tracks (more spongey and rubbery and hence more giving underfoot) is one product of that work.
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winterfish
no subject
Date: 2008-05-03 11:41 pm (UTC)Makes me really question my love of horse racing, actually.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-04 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-04 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-04 12:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-04 12:12 am (UTC)joining in the tears
Date: 2008-05-04 12:47 am (UTC)shudder
Date: 2008-05-04 11:59 am (UTC)Imagin if the man who ran and won the Boston marathon ran with light unsupportive shoes because it shaved off 4 seconds on his time, but in the long run it weakened his ankles to where his feet had to be amputated - we wouldn't even think of that scenario we'd vote for the heavy supportive shoes in the first place and what is 4 seconds when judging against a life time of injury...
Unfortunately it's not the same with these elite runners of the 4 legged variety
My words on this aren't quite thought out because I am so sad and angry
Re: shudder
Date: 2008-05-04 06:30 pm (UTC)When you get away from the top level of racing, though, I agree it can be pretty bad. The good news is that in the aftermath of Barbaro, the racing industry got a good solid wakeup call to improve conditions at all levels, and a lot of work has been done. The growing popularity of synthetic tracks (more spongey and rubbery and hence more giving underfoot) is one product of that work.