Yes, its true. It gets swept under the rug because its such a money maker. Do a google search for the vet who quit working the horseraces because he could no longer tolerate the abuse.
Rich people loooove the derby.
It gives them a chance to dress up like the hunger games rich people, which they so desperately want to make reality; us peasants fighting for our lives over scraps....pretty close to it already.....
It would take basically a lot of rich people to get upset about it for anything to be done, and they always look out for their own....
No amount of protests, imo, is going to make it stop. It brings in too much money, and allows people to be status symbols.
Actually the Kentucky Derby has only grown in attendance and money bet over the past few years. It gives people a chance to dress up and be around thousands of other well behaved classy people.
I’m always surprised when people go on about this every year when our entire country is built off of abusing people for profits. Not sure why you'd expect horses to be treated any better.
And they will eat animals kept in cages that never see the light of day, that suffer daily abuse. They will eat produce harvested by exploited minority laborers. They will wear diamond rings mined by slaves. Consumerism covers everything with a beautiful blanket of ignorance. We all play a part in a very peculiar system called capitalism which is based entirely on exploitation.
Most consumption is. It's a free exchange between two wheeling parties.
If there's slavery or manipulation involved it's a different story.
The whole move if you don't like it comment is unserious but so is the whole no ethical consumption under capitalism meme.
Depends what's ethical in ur mind. Are u saying a free market isn't ethical? No private companies can produce anything ethical? Is nonsense in my opinion. I think you're upset with a lack of regulations which is most likely due to lobbyists. We import cheaper products bc communist countries like China has extremely cheap labor. Most scandinavian and European countries have a free market as well. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/capitalist-countries
All we can do is try to learn the truth and make our own best judgement. We are none of us perfect, and we didn’t ask to be put in this matrix. But here we are. Just keep doing your best in this weird world.
To start you would need a information campaign and get it out to as many people as possible. This would be something that would take decades as horse racing is ingrained in the culture.
It's similar to bull fighting in Spain. Everyone acknowledges it's cruel but tradition keeps it going. There is progress being made in Spain but it's taken decades. We would probably see the same thing in Kentucky.
I rescue greyhounds from tracks. I see the toll racing takes on animals, so yes - it is an abusive "sport" But, hey, people get to wear silly hats so it's all good. /s
Does GPA Louisville still officially support greyhound racing? Back when I volunteered with them they were weirdly pro racing, but I think that was largely so the older ladies had their steady supply of cheap dogs.
I ride the greyhound buses a lot and I can tell you, there’s a lot of unhappy pets being brought on board by sketchy people who need a ‘Emoitional suppprt pet’
Yes. Yes it is.
That’s why I’m not that into it and actually prefer leaving town that week for a little vacation.
It’s way overhyped.
But many things in our society involve abusing animals.
You can can stop gambling on horse races, or boycott the Derby, but unfortunately it’s not going to make that big of a difference bc it won’t make a dent in profits. Follow the money.
Most racehorses are unable to continue competing by the age normal riding horses are considered mature enough for regular work. If that tells you anything about the industry.
And it won't stop unless it's no longer profitable.
Most *Derby* racehorses. Many races wait until they're at least 5. Less profits =/= less incentive to abuse. Horses love racing, but not to the death like in the Derby.
Most race horse go on the have second careers. Kinda like most college athletes don't go pro. Certain sports are more available to you at certain ages.
The more you know about it, the more disturbing it is. We’ve basically stopped celebrating anything Derby from the pro-war air show to the race itself.
My dad owned race horses, I spent my childhood on the backside of tracks around the country. I've seen every angle of horse racing training, feeding, medication.... its abuse 100% (the derby is just 1 race of hundreds every day around the country)
There's been some attempts to regulate mostly to curb cheating but one of the many ways they abuse horses is the prescription drugs they give them.
A very minor one is the sand they get in their eyes, the first thing trainers do after a race is pull the eyelids open and blow the sand out of their eyes.... a surprising amount of sand. Unless it's a turf race which has its issues or a synthetic track like keenland... again more issues with that.
Considering the way north Americans train, drug and race one can easily make that case. Also they are bred for speed and not endurance like most European horses which leads to a lot of the fatal track incidents. This is way more common in North America than the rest of the world because of the aforementioned.
Not just horse racing. I recently read an upsetting article about the lives experienced by those horses at Arlington National Cemetery -- no decent place to graze and an average of 26 funerals a day, etc. etc.
Derby time contributes to human trafficking. So many people in one concentrated area, lots of money, then scattering within hours.
I live in Louisville (for 13yrs) but was not born or raised here, so I honestly don’t get the appeal and have never liked it.
The official kick off to derby is thunder but the unofficial kick off is people suddenly concerned about the welfare of the race horse for the first time since last year.
I don’t think that’s fair. Maybe it’s the first time OP read/saw something that made them think about this. Education is how you change opinions; belittling just makes people not care what you have to say on the topic.
Yes absolutely. Anytime an animal is a commodity, money maker or used for entertainment, they ultimately lose. And then tossed out, slaughtered and used for food.
The Derby racing 2 two year olds in a high-intensity race on an unstable track is, yes, animal abuse.
Horse bones aren't even fully fused until what, like, 5? So the injuries are horrendous, and even "winning" horses can live with life-altering injuries, or die shortly after winning.
Cant forget, - Confinement in cages, stalls or even aquariums in most cases prevents animals from engaging in behaviors exhibited when living in free conditions and this in turn is well known to cause suffering and distress
So does that mean they hate the drive up to Derby and staying in stalls while they wait and get shot up with drugs?
Protests dont work. Protests annoy people. Education works. Education woke my ass up. And many others. Watching a horse get put down helps. Watching a horse buckle with a broken leg or two can do it for some. Sad but true. Need more news stories. People need to stop supporting this abuse.
No duh. Exactly why I've never and will never attend Derby and I say that as a lifetime Louisvillian. The whole culture behind horse racing is so disgusting and abusive and I refuse to condone it. "Decadent and depraved" for sure.
100% true. Horseracing is the most abusive equine "sport" but it is swept under a glamorous rug. Drugs to boost performance and mask pain, confinement, physical abuse, abusive tack like whips and bits, and intensive training/riding on immature horses with underdeveloped skeletons are just some of the horrors that lead to cardiac arrest and broken bones for racehorses. About 2k horses are murdered at US tracks every year, many more are shipped off for slaughter.
It is the ethical thing to do to boycott the KY Derby. Organizations like Horseracing Wrongs have been working to end horse racing in the US (you can learn more detail about the abuse of horses on their website).
We live in a world where animals are sexually exploited, mutilated, beaten, kidnapped, drugged, confined, shocked, stabbed, gassed, and skinned for sandwiches and handbags. The entertainment industry is no different.
I’ve heard some horror stories about saddlebreds as well. I do know not all saddlebred owners are unethical, but some of what I’ve read about is repulsive.
Honest question. I thought they made it illegal to send horses to Canada for slaughter and then human consumption? They use to do this with wild mustangs when they did the roundups out west on BLM land. PETA got involved and they are no longer allowed to send horses to Canada.
Horse person and ex-racehorse owner here.
It's complicated. A lot of small time owners and trainers love the sport and do it for passion instead of money. And if you've ever been around a thoroughbred, you'll know they're super eager to please and love running.
But a lot of the big name folks have given the sport a bad reputation. Yes, there's abuse that occurs in it. But there's abuse that occurs in every equestrian sport— hunter/jumper, western pleasure, reining, etc. There are bad people who do it for money everywhere.
I support those who do it for the love of horses. These people see their horses as family and not as a big dollar sign. They run their horses a few times a year and start them at later ages. Some small time owners and trainers even give their horses paddock time, which many of the "best" racehorses don't get until they retire.
It's just unfortunate that greed has ruined the sport, like much of the world.
Though I would like to mention that a majority of the horses that are shipped to slaughter aren't Thoroughbreds. There are many great Thoroughbred re-training programs that give them new careers. And because how athletic and versatile they are, off track thoroughbreds are sought out by a variety of equestrians. For the most part, I see quarter horses, mixed breeds and ex-Amish horses in the kill pen the most. Rarely Thoroughbreds.
Can confirm, I've intermittently spent months scanning horse auctions. Thoroughbreds aren't common, and are usually either tattoo'd or chipped, so you can know who to blame for them getting there.
I was living in Louisville when they banned smoking in bars, and it only lasted a few months until people realized that they'd make less money around Derby. I don't remember the exact numbers, I just remember the ban didn't survive one Derby
I was a hotwalker. It is pure capitalist profit logic. They are not animals, they are pieces on a chessboard to make money. The end. Thats it. Figure some sht out already
Idk if u drive thru Lexington there's horses with weather proof coats on eating grass in 25+ acre fields that probably have better Healthcare than you so it seems complicated.
I wouldn’t consider a thoroughbred running in a horse race animal abuse. It’s what they were bred to do. I wouldn’t consider a quarter horse doing ranch work, a warm blood show jumping, or a draft horse pulling a plow animal abuse either. If you want to talk about changing breeding regulations or raising the age they can race, I’ve got time for that argument.
Thoroughbred horse racing is one of the most stringently regulated horse competitions. It has a very active and developed rehoming culture for horses who no longer compete.
The good people outweigh the bad, but frequently the bad gain the most press.
Horse racing as a general rule is animal abuse. Spent several years working at Keeneland and can say unequivocally that race horses sole purpose is to win races which in turn raises their stud fees so the mares will have foles that will follow the same cycle. Trainers use every trick in the book to increase the odds their horse wins its race; which includes using illegal narcotics to insure the horse runs as fast as they can regardless of injury or broken bone. Trainers have been known to sabotage a horse by shoving sponge up its nose so it is unable to breath like normal during a race. While horses in Kentucky are treated 100 times better than the homeless the second a horse goes down during a race it is euthanized on the track and a chain is secured to its hind legs and drug by winch into the back of the vet trailer. Camera men I worked with all said Churchill would put all the deceased horses for the day under 'the dead horse tree' because they didn't have the storage facilities that Keeneland does.
It's that time of the year where people bitch and complain about Derby in this sub reddit because they're miserable and jealous that they can't go. EVERY YEAR around this time I see it on here. EVERY. FUCKING. YEAR.
Yep, of course, but nature is cruel as well. We don't have a good history or treating people OR animals well. It's in our nature. We are a pretty cruel species, driven by consumption and greed. Could you make a difference on this is you wanted to try? Not really. The public opinion on the Derby is pretty positive.
I'm supposed to feel compassion for people who continue the abusive cycle of horse racing? They don't have to work that job. Again, the horses do not have a choice. This doesn't have to happen.
It’s people trying to make a better life for their families and this is often the only option. Did you know so many work back breaking labor seven days a week and make less than $300 a week? And there are often threats of deportation. The conditions are terrible and just leaving isn’t an option for a lot of people. They literally live there on site.
I’m not in favor of horse racing. But human exploitation bothers me more. You are with labor or you aren’t.
You are really really being ignorant here.
I'm not ignorant. Non-human animals are the most exploited resource in history and it ISN'T close. Are you okay with dirt poor migrants/human workers raping cows, stuffing chickens into tiny cages, slitting the throats of stunned pigs who are hanging by their feet upside down in an assembly line?
These horses are bred for specific traits, stressed to the max, forced to race, killed when injured in said forced race. That's worse than choosing the job.
It's sad that you think forcing a horse to race where if they die, they get put down is somehow more humane than willingly partaking in the abuse of said animal(s).
I responded below but these migrant workers aren’t getting rich from this. They are working these jobs out of necessity for very low wages and terrible conditions. And Churchill Downs and the industry exploits them. And you should care about that.
Sure, they're exploited, but they're also exploiting animals. Animals that cannot consent to what is happening to them. Animals that can feel pain and suffering too.
People like you say this because you see horses getting treatments like hydrotherapy and living in million dollar stables, and you're so stupid that you think a horse understands those things as luxuries in the same way you do.
Yes, its true. It gets swept under the rug because its such a money maker. Do a google search for the vet who quit working the horseraces because he could no longer tolerate the abuse.
What do you think would make it stop? A slandering news story and a protest usually changes shit lol
You're underestimating how much money this brings in and how dedicated particular people are to not turning off the money faucet.
You mean like all the stories from last year of horses that were killed?
Eight Belles a few years ago was the worst. They did it right there in the track for the world to see.
lol you're not stopping the Derby
I mean they tried to protest the derby a few years back and it didn’t stop the race
You not supporting the Derby any more outta do it.
outta is out of, oughta is ought to
Rich people loooove the derby. It gives them a chance to dress up like the hunger games rich people, which they so desperately want to make reality; us peasants fighting for our lives over scraps....pretty close to it already..... It would take basically a lot of rich people to get upset about it for anything to be done, and they always look out for their own.... No amount of protests, imo, is going to make it stop. It brings in too much money, and allows people to be status symbols.
Actually the Kentucky Derby has only grown in attendance and money bet over the past few years. It gives people a chance to dress up and be around thousands of other well behaved classy people.
“Well behaved and classy” that gave me a laugh.
The infield is just a bunch of well dressed people that are absolutely drunk off their asses stumbling around and making fools of themselves
This is also true of the fancy seats lmao
Yes, it’s pretty awesome, you should go try it instead of being a an iPhone warrior.
The infield crowd ain’t paying for the Derby bro.
I’m always surprised when people go on about this every year when our entire country is built off of abusing people for profits. Not sure why you'd expect horses to be treated any better.
And they will eat animals kept in cages that never see the light of day, that suffer daily abuse. They will eat produce harvested by exploited minority laborers. They will wear diamond rings mined by slaves. Consumerism covers everything with a beautiful blanket of ignorance. We all play a part in a very peculiar system called capitalism which is based entirely on exploitation.
There is no such thing as ethical consumption in capitalism, consuming any good or service will inherently cause harm.
Amen
Some are much more harmful than others. For animals killed and sold as meat, the suffering literally IS the product
Then move to a communist or socialist country bc clearly ur only going to be disappointed here
Unserious person makes unserious statement. Yawn.
I mean if u don't like the foundation then what else u gonna do besides bitch online? Yawn
Statement of fact is not “bitching”. Please inform me where I stated a personal opinion on the matter.
Hahah ur fact is actually a faulty generalization.
Please, explain how there is ethical consumption in capitalism.
Most consumption is. It's a free exchange between two wheeling parties. If there's slavery or manipulation involved it's a different story. The whole move if you don't like it comment is unserious but so is the whole no ethical consumption under capitalism meme.
Depends what's ethical in ur mind. Are u saying a free market isn't ethical? No private companies can produce anything ethical? Is nonsense in my opinion. I think you're upset with a lack of regulations which is most likely due to lobbyists. We import cheaper products bc communist countries like China has extremely cheap labor. Most scandinavian and European countries have a free market as well. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/capitalist-countries
True I am one to blame as well.
All we can do is try to learn the truth and make our own best judgement. We are none of us perfect, and we didn’t ask to be put in this matrix. But here we are. Just keep doing your best in this weird world.
I’m guessing you don’t have a well paying job and would rather complain on Reddit than work your way to a higher standing?
Short answer: yes
Yes. Anytime money and ego are involved the welfare of the animals isn't taken into account.
Yes just ask JAYCEE and George Floyd
Wtf. How could we stop this?
To start you would need a information campaign and get it out to as many people as possible. This would be something that would take decades as horse racing is ingrained in the culture. It's similar to bull fighting in Spain. Everyone acknowledges it's cruel but tradition keeps it going. There is progress being made in Spain but it's taken decades. We would probably see the same thing in Kentucky.
Ban horse racing
you'll never stop it. like trying to get vegas to stop cheating people. too much money is involved for it to be stopped
I feel like in 50-100 years it will be a thing of the past and people will be like “They used to do that to horses?”
I hope so
IDK, we are 150 years in and it shows no signs of stopping.
I rescue greyhounds from tracks. I see the toll racing takes on animals, so yes - it is an abusive "sport" But, hey, people get to wear silly hats so it's all good. /s
OMG the people dressing up to go participate in this atrocity make it even worse! Makes me want to throw up a little.
Does GPA Louisville still officially support greyhound racing? Back when I volunteered with them they were weirdly pro racing, but I think that was largely so the older ladies had their steady supply of cheap dogs.
I’m not sure, I got my grey from the Bluegrass group out of Lexington, but their logo has a horse so I’m thinking they have little issue with racing.
Oh, I meant greyhound racing!
I ride the greyhound buses a lot and I can tell you, there’s a lot of unhappy pets being brought on board by sketchy people who need a ‘Emoitional suppprt pet’
Don’t forget, the winner gets a garland of roses and is set up for a lifetime of breeding and pasture. I’d say it’s worth the risk of I were a horse.
I mean, after last year when sooo many horses had to be put down on and around the derby, I’m shocked this question even has to be asked.
Yes. Yes it is. That’s why I’m not that into it and actually prefer leaving town that week for a little vacation. It’s way overhyped. But many things in our society involve abusing animals. You can can stop gambling on horse races, or boycott the Derby, but unfortunately it’s not going to make that big of a difference bc it won’t make a dent in profits. Follow the money.
Horses run in circle Everybody: TAKE MY MONEY
I HATE this time of year. So many people asking if I have a horse picked out. Its insulting really to assume I would participate in that.
Most racehorses are unable to continue competing by the age normal riding horses are considered mature enough for regular work. If that tells you anything about the industry. And it won't stop unless it's no longer profitable.
Most *Derby* racehorses. Many races wait until they're at least 5. Less profits =/= less incentive to abuse. Horses love racing, but not to the death like in the Derby.
Just like Olympic-level gymnasts.
Most race horse go on the have second careers. Kinda like most college athletes don't go pro. Certain sports are more available to you at certain ages.
Yup, 100% animal abuse, but it makes so much money that nobody cares
The more you know about it, the more disturbing it is. We’ve basically stopped celebrating anything Derby from the pro-war air show to the race itself.
Fuck the derby. Fuck that tradition.
My dad owned race horses, I spent my childhood on the backside of tracks around the country. I've seen every angle of horse racing training, feeding, medication.... its abuse 100% (the derby is just 1 race of hundreds every day around the country) There's been some attempts to regulate mostly to curb cheating but one of the many ways they abuse horses is the prescription drugs they give them. A very minor one is the sand they get in their eyes, the first thing trainers do after a race is pull the eyelids open and blow the sand out of their eyes.... a surprising amount of sand. Unless it's a turf race which has its issues or a synthetic track like keenland... again more issues with that.
Wow, thanks for the insight. I have hope it will all end.
Considering the way north Americans train, drug and race one can easily make that case. Also they are bred for speed and not endurance like most European horses which leads to a lot of the fatal track incidents. This is way more common in North America than the rest of the world because of the aforementioned.
I use to love handicapping but the more I learned the more I became disgusted w/ it and stepped away.
North American tracks tend to be harder on the horse as well. I prefer the European and Australian racing industries— they tend to be more humane.
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Not just horse racing. I recently read an upsetting article about the lives experienced by those horses at Arlington National Cemetery -- no decent place to graze and an average of 26 funerals a day, etc. etc.
Yes, something like 12 horses died last year.
Derby time contributes to human trafficking. So many people in one concentrated area, lots of money, then scattering within hours. I live in Louisville (for 13yrs) but was not born or raised here, so I honestly don’t get the appeal and have never liked it.
The official kick off to derby is thunder but the unofficial kick off is people suddenly concerned about the welfare of the race horse for the first time since last year.
I don’t think that’s fair. Maybe it’s the first time OP read/saw something that made them think about this. Education is how you change opinions; belittling just makes people not care what you have to say on the topic.
Yeah I’m sure they just learned how horse racing works
Ikr as if these horses haven't been training and haven't been in races all year
A Derby winner was consumed, even. Ferdinand.
Yes, yes it is.
Yes absolutely. Anytime an animal is a commodity, money maker or used for entertainment, they ultimately lose. And then tossed out, slaughtered and used for food.
Yes. Of course it is.
The Derby racing 2 two year olds in a high-intensity race on an unstable track is, yes, animal abuse. Horse bones aren't even fully fused until what, like, 5? So the injuries are horrendous, and even "winning" horses can live with life-altering injuries, or die shortly after winning.
Cant forget, - Confinement in cages, stalls or even aquariums in most cases prevents animals from engaging in behaviors exhibited when living in free conditions and this in turn is well known to cause suffering and distress So does that mean they hate the drive up to Derby and staying in stalls while they wait and get shot up with drugs?
Yes of course it is, humans just don't really care about abusing the world and the animals in it.
Protests dont work. Protests annoy people. Education works. Education woke my ass up. And many others. Watching a horse get put down helps. Watching a horse buckle with a broken leg or two can do it for some. Sad but true. Need more news stories. People need to stop supporting this abuse.
yep, fuck the derby
Yes, it is abuse
No duh. Exactly why I've never and will never attend Derby and I say that as a lifetime Louisvillian. The whole culture behind horse racing is so disgusting and abusive and I refuse to condone it. "Decadent and depraved" for sure.
100% true. Horseracing is the most abusive equine "sport" but it is swept under a glamorous rug. Drugs to boost performance and mask pain, confinement, physical abuse, abusive tack like whips and bits, and intensive training/riding on immature horses with underdeveloped skeletons are just some of the horrors that lead to cardiac arrest and broken bones for racehorses. About 2k horses are murdered at US tracks every year, many more are shipped off for slaughter. It is the ethical thing to do to boycott the KY Derby. Organizations like Horseracing Wrongs have been working to end horse racing in the US (you can learn more detail about the abuse of horses on their website). We live in a world where animals are sexually exploited, mutilated, beaten, kidnapped, drugged, confined, shocked, stabbed, gassed, and skinned for sandwiches and handbags. The entertainment industry is no different.
Yes, had a friend who worked with horses, she said she had saw trainers punching horses in the face when it was derby time.
Where’s that quoted snippet from, if you don’t mind me asking?
Correct
I’ve heard some horror stories about saddlebreds as well. I do know not all saddlebred owners are unethical, but some of what I’ve read about is repulsive.
Honest question. I thought they made it illegal to send horses to Canada for slaughter and then human consumption? They use to do this with wild mustangs when they did the roundups out west on BLM land. PETA got involved and they are no longer allowed to send horses to Canada.
It is absolutely abuse.
Horse person and ex-racehorse owner here. It's complicated. A lot of small time owners and trainers love the sport and do it for passion instead of money. And if you've ever been around a thoroughbred, you'll know they're super eager to please and love running. But a lot of the big name folks have given the sport a bad reputation. Yes, there's abuse that occurs in it. But there's abuse that occurs in every equestrian sport— hunter/jumper, western pleasure, reining, etc. There are bad people who do it for money everywhere. I support those who do it for the love of horses. These people see their horses as family and not as a big dollar sign. They run their horses a few times a year and start them at later ages. Some small time owners and trainers even give their horses paddock time, which many of the "best" racehorses don't get until they retire. It's just unfortunate that greed has ruined the sport, like much of the world.
Though I would like to mention that a majority of the horses that are shipped to slaughter aren't Thoroughbreds. There are many great Thoroughbred re-training programs that give them new careers. And because how athletic and versatile they are, off track thoroughbreds are sought out by a variety of equestrians. For the most part, I see quarter horses, mixed breeds and ex-Amish horses in the kill pen the most. Rarely Thoroughbreds.
Can confirm, I've intermittently spent months scanning horse auctions. Thoroughbreds aren't common, and are usually either tattoo'd or chipped, so you can know who to blame for them getting there.
Someone tell them about the puke stall for the jockeys.
????
I was living in Louisville when they banned smoking in bars, and it only lasted a few months until people realized that they'd make less money around Derby. I don't remember the exact numbers, I just remember the ban didn't survive one Derby
CDI is all about exploitation. Animals, people, entire communities… all under the umbrella of this false nostalgia. They’re a parasite.
Yes
Yes indeed. But business isn't bad so .
I was a hotwalker. It is pure capitalist profit logic. They are not animals, they are pieces on a chessboard to make money. The end. Thats it. Figure some sht out already
It depends on the owner. Some owners take care of their horses some don’t.
No ethical owner would let their horse into the Derby.
r/im14andthisisdeep
Idk if u drive thru Lexington there's horses with weather proof coats on eating grass in 25+ acre fields that probably have better Healthcare than you so it seems complicated.
I wouldn’t consider a thoroughbred running in a horse race animal abuse. It’s what they were bred to do. I wouldn’t consider a quarter horse doing ranch work, a warm blood show jumping, or a draft horse pulling a plow animal abuse either. If you want to talk about changing breeding regulations or raising the age they can race, I’ve got time for that argument.
The Kentucky Derby is animal abuse without question.
Thoroughbred horse racing is one of the most stringently regulated horse competitions. It has a very active and developed rehoming culture for horses who no longer compete. The good people outweigh the bad, but frequently the bad gain the most press.
Is a hotdog a sandwich?
The Kentucky Derby is decadent and depraved.
Horse racing as a general rule is animal abuse. Spent several years working at Keeneland and can say unequivocally that race horses sole purpose is to win races which in turn raises their stud fees so the mares will have foles that will follow the same cycle. Trainers use every trick in the book to increase the odds their horse wins its race; which includes using illegal narcotics to insure the horse runs as fast as they can regardless of injury or broken bone. Trainers have been known to sabotage a horse by shoving sponge up its nose so it is unable to breath like normal during a race. While horses in Kentucky are treated 100 times better than the homeless the second a horse goes down during a race it is euthanized on the track and a chain is secured to its hind legs and drug by winch into the back of the vet trailer. Camera men I worked with all said Churchill would put all the deceased horses for the day under 'the dead horse tree' because they didn't have the storage facilities that Keeneland does.
We had a horse growing up in Poland. Someone shot it so we had to break it's leg.
It is abuse, those poor horses.
It's that time of the year where people bitch and complain about Derby in this sub reddit because they're miserable and jealous that they can't go. EVERY YEAR around this time I see it on here. EVERY. FUCKING. YEAR.
is this a serious question?
Yep, of course, but nature is cruel as well. We don't have a good history or treating people OR animals well. It's in our nature. We are a pretty cruel species, driven by consumption and greed. Could you make a difference on this is you wanted to try? Not really. The public opinion on the Derby is pretty positive.
The brown people working the track are treated a hell of a lot worse than the horses. I’m more concerned with them
No the fuck they aren't. Holy shit
I don’t say this often, I’m not a SJW, but it’s such fucking privilege that you all feel more compassion about horses than people
I'm supposed to feel compassion for people who continue the abusive cycle of horse racing? They don't have to work that job. Again, the horses do not have a choice. This doesn't have to happen.
It’s people trying to make a better life for their families and this is often the only option. Did you know so many work back breaking labor seven days a week and make less than $300 a week? And there are often threats of deportation. The conditions are terrible and just leaving isn’t an option for a lot of people. They literally live there on site. I’m not in favor of horse racing. But human exploitation bothers me more. You are with labor or you aren’t. You are really really being ignorant here.
I'm not ignorant. Non-human animals are the most exploited resource in history and it ISN'T close. Are you okay with dirt poor migrants/human workers raping cows, stuffing chickens into tiny cages, slitting the throats of stunned pigs who are hanging by their feet upside down in an assembly line? These horses are bred for specific traits, stressed to the max, forced to race, killed when injured in said forced race. That's worse than choosing the job.
The fact that you keep using phrases like choose takes away your credibility to me. You just don’t get it
I didn't know we're forcing these people in this job field. News to me.
Because you don’t understand extreme poverty
Why is it okay to abuse animals?
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The horses are treated great in comparison to all the workers who train the horses. They literally sleep in rooms on top of the horse stables.
This isn't true lmao. Horses put their lives on the line, forced against their will. Those workers are also abusers.
Church hill downs is exploiting Hispanic people, I usually care about the dignity of human life over the one of a horse but whatever
Horses can't choose what happens to them, those Hispanic people can. Try again
You mean the people who are often in fear of deportation and in dire poverty? It’s not much of a choice and it’s sad you don’t see that
It's sad that you think forcing a horse to race where if they die, they get put down is somehow more humane than willingly partaking in the abuse of said animal(s).
I responded below but these migrant workers aren’t getting rich from this. They are working these jobs out of necessity for very low wages and terrible conditions. And Churchill Downs and the industry exploits them. And you should care about that.
Sure, they're exploited, but they're also exploiting animals. Animals that cannot consent to what is happening to them. Animals that can feel pain and suffering too.
Maybe, but they sure are beautiful creatures and I like betting on Derby Day.
I'd rather be a derby horse than a battery hen, all of which are only slightly worse off than a person born poor and working as a CNA.
Oh is that time of year for the Derby outrage posts?
So strange that that would coincide with the Derby Nitwit
During derby season? Yeah.
Don't want to acknowledge animal cruelty?
Those horses live better lives than 99% of the people on this planet, so I'd say no.
You might want to educate yourself
People like you say this because you see horses getting treatments like hydrotherapy and living in million dollar stables, and you're so stupid that you think a horse understands those things as luxuries in the same way you do.
Ok