maro

Are horse races good or bad? Not random competitions, but the races that are done all the time. Sometimes I think they run the horses too quick but you know many are bred for this exact reason. I am kind of on the limb here not sure which way to swing, thoughts please?

highstepper

I'm not a real fan of them as they can be dangerous. Just look at Eight Belles. What happens is that they are so overbred for slight frame and weight that their bones aren't strong enough to handle the force of their legs beating against the ground.

I like the backwoods farm races, but not the "professional" ones.

maro

I am just trying to find the difference between the harsh ones it seems you look at and go "oh man how can that horse run" like 8Belles and Big Brown with their issues going on, and then the friendly type races that you have with a friend on your land. I don't really mind either but it seems professional ones are run harder than maybe they should be?

FluffNStuff

I have no issues with making a horse run fast but the big races as already stated are far too dangerous. I'm not sure what it is that causes the accidents-fences too high perhaps, but I in no way support those.

kerrits

The professional ones are run harder based on the vast amounts of money involved. Even if you own a horse that eventually wins the triple crown, your investment until they can race is huge. Stud fees, broodmare feed, vet, etc until they are old enough to train and race. And for every winner there are dozens of losers who never make it to training, let alone win races.

While I am not enamored with the racing industry, and never have been even before the recent tragedies, I don't think they are any worse off than other horse industries. The problem is with people who see horses like they would a car and don't consider that they are a living being in their pursuit to make a dollar.

Shush

What do you mean before the recent tragedies? I realise that there have been some recently but this has been happening as long as there have been this kind of race-certainly as long as I have known what racing was!

I do not like racing at all.

bitsandbridles

Whatever your opinions are on racing the sport has been around for years and it's not going anywhere anytime soon.
I can think of a couple other things worse than racing that people make horses do - i.e. horse and buggy tours.