Sign PETA's petition against racing Horses under 3 y/o

[Eurobabe]

I don't usually agree with some of the stuff PETA does, but in this instance I think they have a good cause. I signed their petition, gladly.

Following Eight Belles' breakdown and euthanasia at the Kentucky Derby on May 3, I urge you to immediately take the following steps to prevent such tragedies in the future:

1) Delay training and racing until after a horse's third birthday. Before reaching this age, the animals' legs are not fully developed, which increases the chances for injury.

2) Eliminate racing on dirt surfaces. Synthetic track surfaces - such as the surfaces used at Keeneland and all California race courses - are safer for horses and have led to dramatic decreases in breakdowns.

3) Limit the number of races per season. Even Triple Crown racers who have light schedules leading up the Derby break down under the strain. Horses who race on the smaller tracks are often run so frequently that strains and breaks are inevitable.

4) Ban whipping. Injured horses who are mercilessly whipped by jockeys will keep going until their legs shatter completely.

These changes won't stop all the cruelty of horseracing - only an end to the "sport of kings" will do that - but they will stop a great deal of suffering. Please take action today.

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/eight_belles

[Kitty Herder]

1. I signed, but don't usually make common cause with PETA.

What happened to this beautiful horse saddened me and I hope we can make the sport of horse-racing more humane. But as for PETA, I gotta say, although I'm a vegetarian, PETA frequently pisses me off and I can't even verbalize why. It's just a gut reaction.

[Eurobabe]

3. I totally agree with you

PETA is a very reactionary strange group. I usually think they are a little off the wall. :shrug:

[iamjoy]

2. It Sounds Reasonable

I mean, if they were petitioning to ban horse racing outright, they would be dreaming, but looking at the worst of the "sport" and trying to address those ills...

Before signing, I want to do more research on whether synthetic tracks really are safer. I guess I think of it like astroturf, which is not better for human athletes.

I also don't know about banning whipping. I don't think the crops they use are really like whips meant to draw blood or hurt, it's meant to be used as communication. You can't compare it to humans or other animals since a horse's skin is much thicker. Sitting so high on the horse, can the jockey get his foot back to kick behind the girth? Shouts would get lost in the noise of the track. And I think whipping is already monitored to make sure it is not excessive.

Still, I think this is more good than bad.

[Eurobabe]

4. As do I , originally when I heard about this petition

I thought it would be typical PETA whackiness, but outside of the cropping, nothing seems unreasonable.

Here's something from Wiki about synthetic track surfaces: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytrack

[bdamomma]

5. signed

[Eurobabe]

6. kick in memory of Eight Belles...