In response to the death of Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby, I've heard from some readers who believe horse racing should be banned, and others who believe there's nothing cruel about the sport at all. I find neither side convincing.
But I do think some middle ground can be found in a suggestion that was made on ESPN First Take this morning by ESPN's lead horse racing analyst, Randy Moss: Ban the whip.
"I think that's a great idea," Moss said of taking the whip out of jockeys' hands. "It is a longstanding tradition in thoroughbred racing and it's a tradition that is unnecessary."
Moss (who is not related to the New England Patriots' wide receiver) said the whip "gives the wrong picture to the people watching horse racing" -- it makes the sport look cruel, and it gives the impression that it's necessary to whip a horse to get it to run.
I think Moss is exactly right. Horse racing isn't going to be banned, and I don't think it should be. But I do think the people who run the sport should take steps to address the legitimate concerns from those who say it's cruel. Banning the whip would be a simple and important step.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Whips are made from the "thick" end of fishing poles. Twenty-four to thirty inches in length. The so-called "popper', insinuating folded over leather piece, is indeed folded, and the those two folds are stitched together. This leather peace, stitched together, is twice as thick as a man's belt, and numerous times draws blood! There is no such thing as a good whip!
Posted at 12:59PM on May 5th 2008 by qpole
2. It has nothing to due with the whipping, someone should go after the trainers, owners and vets. The jockey is like "shooting the messenger", they depend upon the trainer and vet to ensure the horse is healthy and sound. I am glad they are doing an autopsy and hope it doesn't reveal performance enhancing drugs in her system, which would have caused her to run beyond her physical ability. Second, fillies should not run agains the colts, look at Ruffian, Rags to Riches who never ran again and now Eight Belles. They give their all and it is not worth the life of the horse. So look to the owner, trainer and vet before you blame the jockey. SP
Posted at 1:14PM on May 5th 2008 by S Palo
3. That's a great start, however, we need to look at the ages that we are running these horses. A three year old horse has not fully matured and their bones just can't handle the stress that racing at this level requires. The death of Eight BElles should serve as a wake up call that there are horses that never even make it to the "Big Race" because of such injuries.
I don't think we should abolish the sport, but take a look at age and developmenmental stages of the horse.
Posted at 1:17PM on May 5th 2008 by Faye Giles
4. I have watched the Derby every year since I was twelve which has been 37 years now. I have never cried so hard as when I saw Barbaro in the Prekness and now Eight Belles break thier legs. I have grown up with horses all my life and I have never seen so much tragedy as these last two years at the horse tracks. It is safe to say, I will never watch another horse race again. Horses deserve better than this.
Posted at 1:18PM on May 5th 2008 by pattie
5. If the whip were banished, the horses would be running because they LOVED it--now that they were forced to. Being FORCED and doing something for PLEASURE is the issue here. I'm all for it. Until that day---I've leaned to spare myself the heartache and not watch horse racing again. As majestic and beautiful as these horses are to watch...its not worth witnessing what can and does happen. IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED: BANISH THE SHIP!
Jeannie in Utah the "land of HORSE-LOVERS"
Posted at 1:26PM on May 5th 2008 by Jeannie
6. Steps to making horse racing more humane:
1-Separate colts and fillies. The two do not "play well" together. The boys tend to be bigger, stronger,nastier, and more agressive, and three-year-old colts like to play a little rough.
2-Don't start breaking them until they are at least three, and start racing them until they are physically and mentally mature, say about four or five. A year or two doesn't seem like much, but the difference in a three-year-old colt and a five-year-old horse is the difference between a twelve-year-old child and a twenty-year-old adult. He's got his growth, his growth plates are closed, and he's more ready for hard work.
3-Whips seem to be an unfortunate necessity when it comes to working with horses. I don't like to use them, and when I do, it's usually because said animal is behaving in a dangerous way. For example, my stallion tries to bite at me, he gets a slap. They can also be used to get the horse moving, and usually you don't have to tap them very hard to get them to move forward at the speed you would like. If these horses were beaten as brutally as people seem to think (no doubt some are, but most are not), you would see welts all over their butts and shoulders, because horses, particularly thoroughbreds, have very thin, sensitive skin. I've looked at the pictures, and I don't see the welts. Sorry. A lot of sweat, yes, blood vessels visible beneath the skin (which you see in very fit humans), yes, big lumps or nasty welts, no. If you beat a horse to get him to do something, he's going to end up resenting it, and you'll end up with a fight on your hands, one you're likely to lose. (1200 lbs horse vs. 150 lb. human...my money is on the horse).
Racing itself isn't inhumane. Asking too much of an immature animal and/or pushing him/her beyond his/her physical limits is. They'd get more out of these horses if they gave them time to grow up. You'd see a lot fewer injuries, too.
Posted at 1:30PM on May 5th 2008 by Hanne
7. Just tell me what to do to try and get this horrible 'game' abolished. How can anyone look at two year old horses being stretched beyond their beyond and think this is not abuse..
tell me what to do.
Posted at 1:54PM on May 5th 2008 by rosemary gargano
8. Why do people, who don't know a damn thing about a subject always have an opinion. Ban the whip, then you would really see chaos. If you knew anything about horse racing you would know that the whip is not just for urging the horse to go faster, it's also for getting it to stop bearing in or out on another horse, which could cause a fall with a human death, it also lets the horse know to change leads if he didn't do it from the jockey using the reins.
Posted at 1:54PM on May 5th 2008 by Leo Bazile
9. I watched an even younger filly go down at Keeneland 10 years ago...what gives?? how is this different than pit bull fighting?
Posted at 1:55PM on May 5th 2008 by rosemary gargano
10. Also, the fact that you had to identify Randy Moss as no relation to the NE Patriots receiver shows that you definitely not aiming at anyone who knows racing with your suggestion. To a horse racing fan, we kinda know which Randy Moss is which.
Posted at 2:01PM on May 5th 2008 by Leo Bazile
11. I am a fan of horse racing of over 60 years standing. I agree with the comments about racing them before they are physically mature. I can't tell you how many 2 and 3 year olds I've seen break down. I also agree that no whips should be used. One of the biggest problems is the use of pain relieving drugs - all drugs should be outlawed. If a horse is not racing sound it should not be allowed to compete. I have seen many, many older horses die on the track simply because the drugs masked the physical problems they have. The way the game is run now it is cruel in many respects.
Posted at 2:06PM on May 5th 2008 by RS
12. I just don't understand how the horse's front ankles broke because it was getting whipped on the rear. I was at the race. It's always horrible when a horse has to get put down. I just think as long as their is horse racing, horses are going to break their legs/ankles and our veterinary practices just don't have ways to save some of them. I think this is just a case of people taking advantage (as horrible as that is to say) of a sad situation and using it to build a case for an unrelated personal agenda (in this instance, banning whips). I'm all for ending cruelty to animals, but let's not use this horrible situation as a facade for banning the whip.
On a side note, I DO think the whip should be banned, but I'm not going to use cheap smoke and mirrors to make that point.
Posted at 4:10PM on May 5th 2008 by Graig
13. I'm no expert, but I have taken riding lessons on a thouroughbred for the better part of a year. I can't even let my lesson horse SEE a whip or he gets terrified because of some too-harsh treatment he was subjected to as a colt by a former owner. That being said, this dear boy understands "go" by a very slight change in pressure from the calves. In my opinion, the true horseman should have earned a dialog with his best friend about what both are capable of mentally and physically at the moment of the ride. Unfortunately, such common sense ideals are apparently lost when money and competition are at stake.
Posted at 4:58PM on May 5th 2008 by Lauren
14. Writing back and forth in a blog won't do any of these animals any good. For those of you want to make a difference, send your emails to Eight Belles' owners farm, The Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, share your comments with them...They are the people running this event. I just sent them an email about this very grave concern...
Posted at 10:44AM on May 6th 2008 by Jessica
15. I think the main focus of horse racing needs to be saftey. This includes the addition of polytrack to EVERY racetrack in the US. Also the horses should not be raced so young, because they are not as developed yet. It is proven anyways that a horse is a better racehorse at 4 or 5! why cant we just change the tradition to racing age min. of 4 or 5. i think a horse can still be broke at 2 because that is common in a lot of breeds(like my QH) but can't start training for racing untill at leat three. the ban of the whip though will not help anything. maybe a jockey should not continute to whip a horse when it is clearly done(like tired, out of gas). but the whip is used to help difect the horse. you cannot control a horse solely by the reigns and a jockey i doubt can use leg pressure with the stirrups up so high. racing shouldnt be banned but improved.
also the breeding needs to change. we need more breeding stock, how is it genetically good or right that almost every racehorse today goes back to Man O'War? We need to import non-racing TBS from other parts of the world and breed them to our racers to produce a stronger more durable racehorse.
Posted at 5:21AM on May 7th 2008 by TeenyCowgirl5
16. I got attached to the horse races when I saw beautiful Barbaro. I got sickened when I saw the tragedy to B's body. Now I see another tragedy, at the Kentucky Derby. How anyone can celebrate in the midst of such sorrow on that day is beyond me. I sincerely hope that the countries involved in the races get inundated with criticism and demands for more humane treatment of God's creatures. May God have mercy on the souls of the ignorant and may he judge those who are guilty of intentional suffering to the horses for worldly human gain. Shame on you who know you are doing wrong.
Posted at 7:44AM on May 7th 2008 by Bobbie
17. The whip should not be banned. Racing a 2 or 3 yr old should be banned. Horses do not fully develop until at least 3 some not till 4, and thoroughbreds are fine boned and their b-days are Jan.1 no matter when the were born. You NEVER push any horse to the limit until they are fully developed. The sad thing is...they all know better!!
Posted at 12:08AM on May 8th 2008 by Barbara
18. i am an animal lover...we have two dogs at the moment and had horses and rode for years...i have never understood how they could whip a horse and say it didn't hurt the horse...they are normally fast runners...i believe they should stop whipping these magnifacint animals...it is cruel and inhumane...i also wish they would stop having these races where too many of these wonderful animals suffer such horrible injuries and have to die so young...all in the name of making money...horses have a lot of heart...take their feelings into consideration...i still cry over barbaro and it was painful to see eight belles go down on sat...i hope they do something about this...NOW...
Posted at 8:32AM on May 8th 2008 by arlenesk
19. To all of those people out there that only know the triple crown, you have no idea what horse racing really is. I have been in the business for my entire life I can tell you first hand those whips should NEVER be outlawed as they are the only leverage these jockeys have on top of these hudge and strong animals. What happened to Eight Belles was tragic, but it was an accident,I know they did the right thing in putting her down right there she would have suffered like Barbaro did. Also, these horses at this level , are vetted everyday to some extent and blood is taken for illegal use of drugs. The money these owners put in, the time these trainers put in are far measurable than the normal 9 to 5 job. These people work HARD everyday and they truely love their animals. These horses are x-rayed if they trip on a stone, so I am confidant that Eight Belles was treated like a princess, her heart wouldn't let her stop until she broke down. I had my money on that filly as she was very closely related to my horse who was by Unbridled and she was a grandaughter to him. Are these horses beaten? noway! are they handled to respect their human counterparts ? Absolutely! My heart goes out to the team that got her to where she is and are mourning a loss very hard to swallow. No one gets to the Kentucky Derby by cutting corners, everyone deserves to be there so before you judge, think about how hard it is to get a horse that has the talent to run like that and respect the sport for what goes on behind the scenes trainers, exercise riders, grooms, owners and jockeys should be respected for the time and effort they put into getting where they are.
Posted at 7:37PM on May 8th 2008 by Laura
20. Thank you for the excellent discussion.
As a horseplayer, I would have no problem
with a ban on the use of whips in horse racing.
However... I believe this is a small issue
compared to the many problems facing the sport.
Dell Yount
UpInClass Racing Forum (USA)
www.upinclass.com
Posted at 9:06PM on May 9th 2008 by Dell Yount