Horse racing, which I grew up with and have enjoyed, should be banned. I simply cannot reconcile the sport of it for humans with the damage, pain and death suffered by the wonderful creatures. We must begin to look at horse racing as we do dog fighting–cruel and unacceptable. This sort of news simply confirms how those we think have the animal’s best interests in mind, simply do not.
Dutrow faces ban for horse’s positive test
The outspoken trainer of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown is facing a 15-day suspension by Kentucky racing officials after another horse he trains exceeded the allowable limit for a drug that enables horses to breathe easier during a race.
Two separate drug tests on 8-year-old gelding Salute the Count revealed the horse had twice the allowable limit of Clenbuterol in his system after finishing second in the Aegon Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on May 2…“It’s a respiratory enhancer,†Veitch said. “It’s become quite popular in racing medication because it’s used to train on.†[…]
The penalty is the first for Dutrow in Kentucky, though hardly the first time he’s run into trouble. He spoke openly about his checkered past during Big Brown’s run at the Triple Crown. He’s been cited dozens of times over the years for everything from repeated medication violations to his own drug use…
Dutrow is currently competing at Aqueduct while keeping an eye on Big Brown, who has been resting since a shocking last-place finish in the Belmont Stakes on June 7.
Several pictures have surfaced in recent days indicating Big Brown ran almost the entire 1 1/2 -mile race with the shoe on his right rear foot dislodged after he collided with Guadacanal shortly after leaving the starting gate…
Big Brown also ran with an acrylic patch on his left front hoof to protect a quarter crack, an injury that kept him off the track for several days leading up to the race.
“I don’t know, it’s kind of a puzzle to me,†Dutrow said. “I just don’t get the whole thing. It looks like when you look at the pictures, it could have bothered him, but I should have seen it and the rider (Kent Desormeaux) didn’t feel it.â€
Arrogant, dangerous a**hole.
Tammy, I have to disagree with you, here. The activity of dog fighting is inherently damaging to the dogs but that is not the case with horse racing. Running does not in itself damage the horses, the damage comes from the abusive behavior of the owners trying to squeeze the last bit of advantage out of the them without regard to their health. Banning dog fighting (and fox hunting, for that matter) is thus the minimally restrictive response to ensure the safety of the animals, but there are other options for horse racing that would produce acceptable results.
There is an argument to be made that horse racing is insufficiently regulated and that the penalties are not stiff enough. Also, since Dutrow clearly has a history of abuse and is nevertheless accepted within the horse racing community, there is definitely room for improving the culture by calling attention to these abuses and demanding that people behave more responsably. Probably other things could be done as well that I can’t think of (being somewhat ignorant of the whole horse racing scene). But in order to make a case for banning the sport outright, you would have to show that there is no other way of ensuring the safety of the animals and I don’t think this case proves that.
Racing reform was the topic of a recent Congressional Subcommittee hearing.
I’m with Jack of Clubs here. Moreover, what would one DO with thoroughbreds if not race them? It’s what they’ve been bred to do since the beginning of the 18th century. Turn them all loose in the wild? Even if the US banned horseracing, you’re never going to get a worldwide ban and, in fact, the sport will continue to grow. Better to regulate it more closely. And, of course, animal cruelty is already a crime and should be pursued and prosecuted.
To think there would never be another Triple Crown Winner would be tragic.
I think the punishment is not severe enough to prevent the practice. How about testing all horses after the race, and any horse above the established limit is banned from competition for life, any trainer involved in doping gets banned fom the sport for life and any drug use by trainers, or jockeys get them thrown out as well. No owner would make such an investment to see it flushed by a doping incident.
I think dog and cock fighting is far different. The idea there is to have two animals try to kill each other to support a gambling enterprise. It’s truling disgusting.