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Published: May 08, 2008 12:03 am    print this story   email this story     

Death is ugly reality of sport

By Jeff Mullin, Commentary

In the moments after Big Brown’s decisive victory in last Saturday’s 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, the crowd’s exhilaration turned to sorrow in an instant.

Eight Belles, the only filly in the 20-horse field, broke down shortly after the finish and had to be euthanized after shattering bones in both her front ankles.

Now animal rights activists, especially the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, are calling for big changes in the horse racing industry.

PETA wants to ban horse racing, calling it “a dirty business” and labeling it “no better than dog fighting.” Barring that, the group wants the horse racing industry to adopt four immediate changes — ban whipping of horses, prohibit horses from racing before their third birthday, replacing dirt tracks with artificial racing surfaces and limiting the number of times horses can run each year.

Race horses are magnificent animals, bred for speed and endurance. From the time they are born they are treated better than many people, given the best medical care, food and shelter.

Sadly, these noble creatures with their sleek, muscular bodies, also are bred to have long, slender legs, which sometimes succumb to the rigors of carrying those large bodies over the track.

For its part, PETA is making the most of yet another prominent horse racing death. In 2006, after Kentucky Derby champ Barbaro broke his leg in the early stages of the Preakness Stakes, reported it raised a record $29.36 million, 15 percent more than the previous year. PETA denies the current anti-racing campaign is about money.

Eight Belles’ untimely death was a tragedy felt most deeply by those who knew her best, her owner, trainer and jockey.

Her death will undoubtedly overshadow the final two legs of racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness May 17 and the Belmont Stakes June 7, then the activists likely will fade away and horse racing people will be left to deal with the unfortunate reality of the sport — accidents happen, and when they happen, glorious animals die.

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