Horse Racing

[ValuJet]

Just watched Belmont, and I've long been confused about this. How does NBC, the most politically correct of the PC mob, justify broadcasting an event where animals are beaten with whips for a mile and a half? On the replay, I counted 23 sharp whips the jockey gave California Chrome after the home stretch, and the poor bastage still lost.

Where's PETA and all the other aggrieved groups?

Costas is calling for a re-naming of a football team, in which no one really cares save for elitist, white liberals, yet proudly announces an event where horses have the hell beaten out of them?

Need some enlightenment, please.

 

[Bodhisattva]

There was a horse race today?

 

[ValuJet]

I've heard California Chrome until I'm nauseous, and I know nothing about horse racing. Like soccer and hockey, if it all ended I'd never notice.

 

[Bodhisattva]

The other thing about race horses - besides suffering the whip routinely - is that after their racing days are over they tend to die en masse in a convenient stable fire. Maybe it's the midgets in brightly colored costumes that more than make up for the animal abuse.

 

[ValuJet]

Is that why horse meat is rumored to be so tough? Because they get the hell beaten out of them routinely?

 

[ValuJet]

The other thing about race horses - besides suffering the whip routinely - is that after their racing days are over they tend to die en masse in a convenient stable fire. Maybe it's the midgets in brightly colored costumes that more than make up for the animal abuse.

Is there a known midget tranny jockey community we don't know about?

 

[PacadermaTideUs]

Horses are innately evil and are only kept in line by liberal use of the whip.

Truth is, IMO, the difference in how horse racing and football are treated by many is all about image. Football is only enjoyed by brutish sweaty blue-collar beer-guzzling dolts. Horse-racing is a civilized and refined white-collar sport enjoyed by champagne and mint julep sipping aristocrats. The beer-guzzling dolts are a menace to politically-correct society. The aristocrats finance it.

Also, most people involved in racing will tell you that thoroughbreds actually love to race despite the whipping and that the whipping is not particularly painful to the horse. I tend to believe that. If you really want to find mistreatment in equestrian sports, look no further than some of the practices for training gaited horses (Tennessee Walkers, etc).

 

[Crimson1967]

Hard for me to call something a sport when half of those participating in a race have no choice in the matter. It also would not exist without gambling.

 

[ValuJet]

When I lived in Florida, a buddy of mine used to take me to Jai Alai. His girlfriend's brother was one of the stars and best players. Craig (my friend) said the guy wouldn't directly tell him who to bet on, but his code phrase was "I'll be using a new cesta this afternoon." That meant he would lose, by throwing the game. Craig would win big when he went, but couldn't go often or they would be on to him.

 

[jps1983]

I also don't get how horse racing is as popular as it is. They run the horses ragged and train them in a certain way that their legs/ankles wear down or break at an early age. The only "sport" that's more barbaric or cruel is bull "fighting".

 

[ValuJet]

I also don't get how horse racing is as popular as it is. They run the horses ragged and train them in a certain way that their legs/ankles wear down or break at an early age. The only "sport" that's more barbaric or cruel is bull "fighting".

Well, cockfighting is pretty bad. And the stuff Michael Vick was doing.

 

[jps1983]

Well, cockfighting is pretty bad. And the stuff Michael Vick was doing.

I forgot about those, but those are already illegal. Dogfighting is definitely tops on the list. At least with cockfighting, there's a chance (albeit small) those idiots get bird flu.

 

[Crimson1967]

When I lived in Florida, a buddy of mine used to take me to Jai Alai. His girlfriend's brother was one of the stars and best players. Craig (my friend) said the guy wouldn't directly tell him who to bet on, but his code phrase was "I'll be using a new cesta this afternoon." That meant he would lose, by throwing the game. Craig would win big when he went, but couldn't go often or they would be on to him.

I wonder if Craig kept the girlfriend around just to make money off her brother tanking jai alai games.

I also don't get how horse racing is as popular as it is. They run the horses ragged and train them in a certain way that their legs/ankles wear down or break at an early age. The only "sport" that's more barbaric or cruel is bull "fighting".

Horse racing is a vestige of a bygone era. At one time, there wasn't a lot of legal gambling outside Las Vegas. Now we have it in many places, along with the internet, and that is a lot faster and more exciting than going to the track where you might have a dozen races to bet on spread out over several hours.

As for legalized animal cruelty, ever read up on dog racing?

 

[Jessica4Bama]

I don't understand horse racing. I think it's a cruel "sport". I watched the race today just to see if Chrome would win, however.

 

[Crimson1967]

I don't understand horse racing. I think it's a cruel "sport". I watched the race today just to see if Chrome would win, however.

I watched it just because it was history in the making. If a Triple Crown weren't up for grabs, I wouldn't have cared.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Just watched Belmont, and I've long been confused about this. How does NBC, the most politically correct of the PC mob, justify broadcasting an event where animals are beaten with whips for a mile and a half? On the replay, I counted 23 sharp whips the jockey gave California Chrome after the home stretch, and the poor bastage still lost.

Because NBC (presumably) makes a truckload of cash airing those three races, particularly this year when we can expect to have higher ratings than if there was no potential TC winner.

Where's PETA and all the other aggrieved groups?

Don't get me started on that. Ever notice that only CERTAIN ANIMALS have rights? The flea that lives on the dog sure doesn't.

Costas is calling for a re-naming of a football team, in which no one really cares save for elitist, white liberals,

I fail to see how he stops short of calling for the abolition of the American flag. After all, we're supposed to get rid of the Rebel flag because it's a symbol of oppression. Well then to a NATIVE AMERICAN, wouldn't the flag be a sign of oppression? We freed the black men, we rounded up the red ones and put them on reservations.

And why do you continue to expect consistency from a public liberal? Shame on you.

yet proudly announces an event where horses have the hell beaten out of them?

In his contract?

Need some enlightenment, please.

Don't expect a liberal to live by the rules he passes for others.

Rosie O'Donnell can have a gun, you cannot.

Besides - is Costas a vegetarian?

 

[ValuJet]

^^ All good points. I just enjoy pointing out hypocrisy and double standards.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Funny, aside from the internet chatter, I've never heard of 'California Chrome'. And I'm fine with that - I literally have zero understanding as to why people care about animal racing. It completely baffles me.

 

[mikes12]

I also don't get how horse racing is as popular as it is. They run the horses ragged and train them in a certain way that their legs/ankles wear down or break at an early age. The only "sport" that's more barbaric or cruel is bull "fighting".

I saw a clip of a bullfight, in which the matador started to get beaten by the bull and about a dozen guys run in to rescue him. In a philosophic sense, I don't object to bullfighting (different cultures and all that), but unless the bull can get a dozen bulls to run in to his rescue, then the matador should be left to die if the bull gets the upper hand. Just my opinion.

 

[PacadermaTideUs]

I saw a clip of a bullfight, in which the matador started to get beaten by the bull and about a dozen guys run in to rescue him. In a philosophic sense, I don't object to bullfighting (different cultures and all that), but unless the bull can get a dozen bulls to run in to his rescue, then the matador should be left to die if the bull gets the upper hand. Just my opinion.

Ernest Hemingway was a big proponent of bullfighting. I think he loved the intensity of the moment, the intrinsic risk involved in the life-or-death event, the pomp and formality with which it was conducted. I have a sense that if presented with your proposal, a true fight to the death between men and beasts, he would have enjoyed it even more.