The Virginian-Pilot
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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is calling for sweeping reforms and an end to cruelty to race horses after the filly Eight Belles was euthanized at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
The horse was euthanized on the track after breaking both front ankles and finishing second in the race, according to the Associated Press.
The news service had reported yesterday that PETA was calling for the suspension of the horse’s jockey, Gabriel Saez.
The animal rights group faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky’s racing authority claiming the horse was “doubtlessly injured before the finish” and asked that Saez be suspended while the death is investigated, the AP reported.
The horse’s trainer told the news agency the horse had her ears up while galloping out from the finish indicating that she was happy.
“I don’t know how in the heck they can even come close to saying that,” trainer Larry Jones told the news agency Sunday.
This morning on PETA’s Web site, the group calls for an end to dirt track racing and several other reforms by the Kentucky Racing Authority and asks visitors to the site to send a letter asking for the following:
• A delay of training and racing until after a horse’s third birthday • Elimination of dirt track races • A limit on the number of races per season • A ban on whipping
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Soooooo.........
Peta thinks it is wrong to euthanize an injured horse, but it is ok for them to kill dogs in the back of a van in North Carolina and dump the carcasses in a dumpster?
What a bunch of hypocritical jacka$$e$.
Ugh,
I can't believe that I'm about to type and I know that I will probably feel physical pain for this but here it goes...
I have to agree with peta on this one (oops, there goes my spleen). Rules, Regulations, and Policies need to change to ensure that this event NEVER happens again.
What's PETA so upset about?
So a horse got euthanized-what's PeTA so upset about? Are they angry becasue THEY didn't get to do the deed?
They offed 2981 animal in 2006 and many of those didn't have any injuries and were perfectly healthy.
Maybe PeTA would be happier if they were the designated death squad of horse racing? They could, for a fee, euthanize every losing horse and give their speaches to an emptying grandstand.....
PETC
Horses are often treated badly in racing, and it is wrong. I am not against horse racing, but it should be held to higher standards. Drugs, young horses being raced to soon, and abuse to horses who don't meet performance expectations are all wrong.
As for my new group PETC, I would like to share a system of abuse that is not reported on. Everyday poor carrots are decapitated, skinned alive, and cooked alive. Rampant industry incidents of abuse have gone up dramatically since the onslaught of vegan diets. Please consider eating more proteins and less carrots. Are not all organic based life forms entitled to some sort of protection? Unlike PETA, we will dump no carrot carcasses in NC dumpsters.
Oh, get over it! It's just humor, because I actually just put six carrots in the juicer to wash down the bacon and eggs I ate. I don't like PETA so much, but they are right in expecting to hold people to higher standards; maybe not their standards but higher then they are now. Animal abusers are usually people abusers.
The Pilot needs to set an example!
PETA is a terrorist organization because they aid ALF! The Pilot should not carry any stories about this bunch except when they screw up! Stop spreading thier twisted views!
Larry King and Bo Derek
Larry King did a great segment last year with Bo Derek representing the racing industry and basically agreeing with everything PeTA presented. Here we are a year later and back in the same place with no changes made.
Its all a matter of overbreeding animals to be fast and not durable. Its irresponsible.
Is peta subject to property taxes?
For grins, I looked up the real estate assessment for peta's headquarters at 501 Front Street. Guess what - it rose a total of 20% for the four year period between 2003 to 2007. No, not 20% per year, 20% in total. If they're paying, it's certainly not tracking with residential values.
Agreed!
As a former thoroughbred owner, I have learned many things about horses. I am always interested in learning more about them and today I was informed that horses under 5, especially fillies are slow to complete the growth in their leg tendons and bones. There definatly needs to be reform in thoroughbred racing. I will be the first to say I enjoy watching races and participating in impromptu ones myself but I can not condone racing underdeveloped animals. It's cruel and is nothing but a lose-lose situation. How beautiful of a horse to waste for the sake of a dollar!
PETA is on target with their message on this and I fully support their efforts to reform a sometimes disgusting way to win. Her story is tragic but I am glad that they decided to euthanize her instead of trying to prolong her suffering like how Barbaro's case was handled. Here's to you, Eight Belles!
racing
Horse racing is a stupid past time anyways. I do not really see the difference between that and dog fighting. In the end, both animals end up either hurt or dead.
Perhaps...
...Peta would like putting the horse through more pain and suffering that it can stand, by moving the horse off the track before it is euthanized.
Or would they rather hear the horse in total agony over the pain it is experiencing as they move it somewhere else? They probably would, they have no respect for someone's dog (pitching it in a dumpster in NC)