Oh come on PETA -- don't you know they LOVE those HORSES? They get treated better than HUMANS?

Next time some racing shill says that, I'm going to just freakin' burst out laughing.

Posted by: Alice | June 27, 2008 05:39 PM

Even though what Rose did was wrong and unfortunate, you cannot say that ALL jockeys do this. At the center of horse racing is the welfare of the horses, any experienced horseman or woman would know this. Rose even said that it was an accident; that he intended to hit her shoulder, but accidently hit her face. Now, I don't know if this is completely true, but that is just a factor PETA should look at before blabbing about how whipping tortures horses to death or whatever. First and foremost, the whip is used to direct the horse in a straight line. At the end of a race, the whip may be used to motivate the horse; keep the horse from thinking the race is over and slowing down. But there is a rare number of occurences showing a whip actually physically causing the horse harm. The whip, in truth, used properly, will leave no mark, physical or otherwise. Jockeys are highly experienced athletes, and it takes an extreme amount of skill to ride a racehorse. More jockeys have been injured than racehorses. And they are arguably less looked after. Horse racicng isn't out to hurt horses. They have done nothing to cause some boycott or ban or whatever. What PETA is doing is essentially comparable to banning cars just because of the number of car accidents. There are risks in whatever we do. Horse racing is a wonderful sport because even though there is a HUGE number of risks involved, the sport has managed to remain pure, legal, caring, and much loved. I can tell you now PETA, more people love horse loving than they love you.

Posted by: Maria | June 27, 2008 06:10 PM

Oh my gosh, PETA, you are so stupid! The horse is CLEARLY boring into the rail and Rose in is danger of being dumped and killed. He reacted in self-defeness and his whip slipped. He is sorely sorry for what happened to the filly, he is paying the vet bills, even though the actions commited were not done on purpose, he stills feels responsible! Saying that Rose beating the filly to hurt her is absurd. Just look back at the Triple Crown of 2005. Rose knows what happens when a horse bulges out. Jeremy is a sensative, caring jockey who is sick over what happened. He has publicly said he sorry. Give the guy (and horseracing) a break!

Posted by: Paint-Mare | June 27, 2008 07:10 PM

The racing industry is about money,not horses. The horses are kept in stables, without an opportunity to run free in large paddocks. They are educated with violence,not patience and kindness. Don't tell me they race becuase they love it. If that is the case, jockeys don't need whips. Horses will walk happily into floats and starting barriers and they wouldn't need to be drugged to perform or to deal with stress related to being on tracks. The racing industry also has horses insured for large amounts, that conveniently get injured or die when they have poor ability or lose form. No one will put and end to all of this, to many fat cats make to much money from the industry.

Posted by: sharon miles | June 27, 2008 09:20 PM

Perhaps this jockey should get whipped in the eye and see what it feels like. Ban him from this cruel sport. The racing industry sickens me. It is a profligate business with greedy self serving individuals who, for the most part, care little for the welfare of these magnificent creatures. Shady trainers, owners, jockeys, and yes, what about the "watchdog" vets at the track who will not scratch a horse if they are not 100% due to pressure from owners and trainers. Get rid of the steroids once and for all. Get rid of the whips!! Once again, Rick Dutrow has been suspended after flagrantly giving steroids AGAIN!!!! "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi

Posted by: Pamela | June 27, 2008 09:25 PM

really? then start laughing alice. theres probebly more of a story. but i agree they probebly dont need to use whips

Posted by: Danica | June 27, 2008 10:23 PM

I cant believe they consider this a sport. Its time for people to call it out for what it really is " Cruelty To Animals".

Posted by: Alysia | June 27, 2008 10:31 PM

Peta, someone should start a Racehorse Daily Death Watch web site similar to one that I found for Great Britain's Racehorses. Not a day goes by without the site listing new racehorse deaths from breakdowns on the track who were euthanized. America really needs an on going daily list of all racehorse breakdowns, shattered & broken bones leading to death by euthanasia or other methods for every state's racetracks. It should be updated on a daily basis at one convenient web site, with a memorial wall naming all deceased thoroughbreds,age, racing statistics. Then a page with more details of how they were injured & died. Also who owned the horse, any documented abuses, suspensions for administering illegal drugs, etc.

If I knew how to gather the information I'd start one myself until a professional one turned up. It would definitely keep the pressure on the American horse racing industry to be held accountable for their actions.

Posted by: Gina | June 28, 2008 12:10 AM

Yes, the term "extreme misuse of the whip" should only be used by two humans in consenting activities while wearing tight black nighties.

PETA did a great job getting the word out on this!

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | June 28, 2008 01:06 PM

"When economic incentives enter the scene, an entertaining sport for horses turns into a cruel activity in which the human turns the horse into a systematically maltreated commodity."

Jennifer Hack- Director of Investigations for U.S.
Equine Rescue
______________________________

This is exactly what's happened, the horses are an investment to the owners, which involves big corporations, or several business partners having ownership of one promising thoroughbred. But when the investment doesn't make a profit, they discard & dump the 'athletes' like garbage.

The slaughter of young, healthy racehorses that's only crime was to lose a race sickens me more than anything.
Why do jockey's whip them if it isn't to inflict stinging pain to make them run faster? If the whip is just to 'guide the horse around the track' as racing fans claim, the jockey can do that with the reins. Whipping is pushing to the brink, threaten & intimidate the horses to exceed their limits.
Funny how jockey's are hardly ever injured. They wear super safety equipment & take measures to assure they remain in one piece. Yet, three American racehorses are put to death every day on the racetrack due to breakdowns with shattered, broken legs & various other injuries. What's wrong with this picture?

The racehorse is the TRUE 'athlete' who does ALL the hard work & makes ALL the money for the greedy, profit driven industry. Yet thoroughbreds the owners, breeders & jockeys claim to 'love watching run' are whipped into oblivion, in this case causing the poor animal's eyes to hemorrhage.
The racehorse injured by the bastard** Rose was lucky it was just her eyes. Eight Belles' jockey Gabriel Saez went into a whipping frenzy toward the end of her last race. Her death is in part caused by Saez's excessive hitting around her face.

I wish someone would beat them in the face & call it a way to 'guide them' around the track. See how much they like it, then still have the balls to say it doesn't hurt. The more I hear about this animal exploitation called a 'sport' I know it's time has come to end. By all rights the so called 'sport' of Horse Racing should be banned, period.

Posted by: Jenna | June 28, 2008 03:15 PM

If horses "loved to run" they wouldn't need to be whipped AT ALL. Ever.

They all use whips however and worse.

Posted by: kelly | June 28, 2008 03:56 PM

THIS CRIME NEEDS TO COMO TO THE END TOO. THEY DON'T LOVE THE HORSES, THEY LOVE THE MONEY, ALL IS FOR MONEY

Posted by: liliana | June 29, 2008 09:46 AM

I was recently at a rodeo in Ponoka Alberta. My wife, children and I were so upset. A horse was in the chute and was trying desperately to get out. This horse was so worked up about being in the chute he flipped its self on its back. I was yelling '' Open the chute '' more then five times. I was told to shut up and sit down.

The event was wild horse riding. As the event proceeded the horse was in pain we could see it limping. These so called cowboys had a halter on the buck skin horse with a rope secured to it. three men were holding this rope, the horse was falling and in pain from the fliping it self over in the chutes. After these three cowboys had there way with the horse, he was really in pain now I mean you could see it limping worst the befor. The horse was in so much pain he fell over on its self several times. I had to leave.

Would you do that to another human or even a dog. Why is this allowed to happen to horses. I approached the president of the rodeo told him how disgusted I was and that I would like to see something done to prevent this from happening again.

Posted by: James Reid | June 29, 2008 04:00 PM

Get Them PETA!
Any abuse to any living creature is just plan wrong! Shame on that Jockey and anyone else who would commit such an awful act against a living feeling creature...
It is shameful behavior.
Get Them PETA!

Go Vegan, save up to 100 farm animals a year, and save your health and our earth...

Posted by: Holly | June 29, 2008 05:48 PM

they don't take care of there horse!!! why will the hurt that horse if they love them?!

GO PETA!!

Posted by: katy | June 29, 2008 08:03 PM

That jockey is stupid to inpair his horses vision. they should allow the whippin on the leg. The horses have tough backs. and the guy above is right the jockeys love their horses and so do the owners they spend alot and i mean alot of money on them. I think that they should regulate the drugs. But who cares

Posted by: Kyle Hoff | June 29, 2008 08:42 PM

Funny you guys call it an industry, as such a term were negative.

Posted by: Dr. Breen | June 29, 2008 10:53 PM

How much money a person spends on an animal is not an indication of how much they care about them. In horse racing that would be called investing... you have to take care of your investment. A whip should never ever be brought near a horse's face, that is dispicable.

Posted by: Leigh | June 30, 2008 06:44 AM

The underbelly of horse racing is finally being exposed. What will it take to shut down an industry that exploits these beautiful animals? Let's get to work on sponsors! They will pull out if mainstream America holds their feet to the fire. Let's start with Visa, who sponsors the Triple Crown. If, with PETA's lead, we all threaten to cancel our Visa cards until they pull out as sponsors of the Triple Crown, then we will be taken seriously.

Posted by: Valerie | June 30, 2008 08:46 AM

Go Valerie Go!!!

Posted by: Holly | June 30, 2008 11:06 AM

BRACH'S CANDY QUEEN, WOULD HAVE JOCKEYS RUN HORSES INTO A CRACKED RAIL TO CAUSE SUCH AN INJURY TO PUT THEM DOWN, OR SHE WOULD HIRE SCUM TO BREAK THEIR LEGS. "WHY" FOR THE INSURANCE MONEY, WHEN IT COMES TO GREED AND THE LOVE OF A DOLLAR NO ANIMAL IS SAFE, THAT'S HOW MUCH OF A HORSE LOVER SHE IS, AND WHAT ABOUT THE SCUM THAT DOES THESE HORRIFIC THINGS TO THESE HORSES. AND THIS STORY AIRED ON TV. I CAN ONLY HOPE THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR ANYONE THAT ABUSES ANY ANIMAL.

Posted by: SHARIE | June 30, 2008 11:32 AM

Training a horse or racing a horse using a whip is not necessary. It's a pholisophy, are you going to work with the animal or against it? Just like the elephant trainers that abuse or use kindness. If the trainer thinks they have to dominate to control then they will eventually use any and all devices to get the message of fear and intimidation to the animal. On the other hand if the trainer explores to the fullest the human/animal bond and communication through non verbal methods they will get more than they ever imagined. I have trained horses since a child and learned to guide them, talk to them, and listen to them. I know first hand about whipping, chains, shocks, gag bits, spurs and any number of torture divices used to 'train' horses. If the trainer is trying to dominate, then cruelty is used, if the trainer is working cooperatively, then kindness ALWAYS prevails. This is the same in our human/human relations and is the difference between war and peace for humanity. Peace begins with children learnnig to 'talk' to animals and knowing the pain and love that is possible for ALL living things. Horse racing as it is organized and controled today is a cruel money making game. The lives of the horses are last with all the interests of thehumans first. Kissing the horse for luck in the paddock prior to a race does not mean the horse is treated kindly. Just means they 'REALLY' want the horse to run fast today.

Posted by: joanna | June 30, 2008 01:01 PM

Excuse me Valerie,

Nice try, but you obviously know nothing about horse racing. VISA does not sponser the Triple Crown anymore, Yum Brands does. More evidence that PETA people know nothing about what they're talking about.

Posted by: Maria | June 30, 2008 01:15 PM

Maria, and Paint Mare,

I cannot believe the pathetic
"drivel" you offered about racing being a pure and much-loved sport. Pure in what sense--pure greed? Much-loved by whom--owners, trainers, jockeys and oh, yes, bettors, because they have a chance to win big money?

Of course you probably work in some sector of racing--how else could you write such bald-faced lies. People don't care about the horses--its all about the money.

Have you ever had something hit you directly in the eye?
It hurts like hell!! To have a jockey deliberately smack a horse across the face and eye because he lacks the ability to "communicate" and guide the horse properly is a disgrace. Rose may have had his moment in the spotlight with Afleet Alex but he's demonstrated clearly that he doesn't give a damn about horses.

All these poor animals are made do is run. No one takes the time to teach them to respond to rein and leg pressure. And the trainers are referred to as "horsemen."
What a tremendous joke!

A true horseman knows how to ride and how to communicate with a horse without smacking him in the eye with an unforgiving crop.

Just another nail in the coffin of racing death as far as I'm concerned.

Posted by: Susan T | June 30, 2008 02:30 PM

Maria, people who support PETA know more about horse-racing than you think and who cares if they get the sponsor wrong. YUM! Brands is the parent company of KFC--the fast food chicken torturer that frequently "scalds" chickens to death and refuses to implement basic, state-of-the-art improvements in the way chickens are slaughtered and processed. People who eat KFC products are direct recipients of creatures who frequently were tortured before they died. KFC is a disgrace to humane animal welfare and their sponsorship of horse-racing just makes this sport that more dispicable.

If you're not currently involved in racing in some aspect, you should apply to be a "mouth-piece" for the industry.

Posted by: Susan T | June 30, 2008 02:50 PM

Gambling on racing horses is mostly done at satillite betting. Most bettors for a race are not at the actually race site. Why not just pull the plug and make racing a virtual event. Bettors just want to gamble...let them gamble away on vitual horses running on a vitual track.

Posted by: joanna | June 30, 2008 02:54 PM

Maria and Valerie, It looks like currently Yum! brands sponsers the Kentucky Derby and VISA sponsered the Triple Crown until 2005, before that Crysler sponsered the Triple Crown. As it stands now nobody sponsers the Triple Crown...maybe we can keep it that way.

Posted by: joanna | June 30, 2008 04:06 PM

Why are you ignorant people writing on here if you don't care about animals? Stay off this website if you have negative things to say about the welfare of animals. Do you people think you are so high and mighty and above all living beings? Have you forgotten that animals were here on this earth way before you were? I'd spit on you morons if I could. You're a disgrace to humankind. Maya used the word "consenting" exactly right. The majority of things that humans go through in life have to have papers signed and consent forms. Do animals??? So what gives you stupid individuals the right to use God's beautiful creations?!

Posted by: Anna | July 1, 2008 01:33 PM

Anna, I agree.

Posted by: Ana | July 1, 2008 05:06 PM

Anna

Thats your [hateful] opinion, and I doubt you are above others.

Posted by: Dr. Breen | July 1, 2008 05:14 PM

I don't believe the garbage about the horse being whipped to avoid running into the rail. Every one of the sixteen horses at the barn that I work at knows how to leg-yield. (By squeezing your leg against the horse's side, they know to move in the opposite direction.) Even the pony owned by the eight year old little girl knows how to do it. If they truely cared about these horses, they'd try to train them to listen to the rider, rather than react to the sound or pain of the crop.

Posted by: Iris | July 1, 2008 06:14 PM

Well Anna, if PETA has the right to say what they want about horse racing or meat eating or whatever, other people certainly have the right to express their own views. It's called freedom of speech. Also, just because a person participates in horse racing, does not meant that they are for animal cruelty. Just as a person who consumes meat probably does not abuse animals or wants animal abuse to occur, a jockey or trainer would not want a horse to be injured. Money is money. A horse is life, and they damn well know it. They will do anything they can to protect it. I'm guessing you've never met a trainer or horse owner.

Oh, and a horseman would not spit on you for your values. But you feel compelled to spit on them. Learn some integrity.

Posted by: S.Q. | July 1, 2008 09:16 PM

S.Q

Yes, I've noticed they try ANYTHING to make that connection (Does me liking video games make me a mass murderer as Jack Thompson ((attorney)) would put it?)

Posted by: Dr. Breen | July 2, 2008 10:17 PM

Race Horses are bred and trained to run, they think of nothing else when you get them going and the only way to get them to do something else is to inflict pain to get them to focus. I am totally against horse racing. But as a horse owner i have to say that some horses need the crop, you have to let the horse know he can't do whatever he likes, or he or someone else will get hurt. some horses behave well and will do whatever you ask, but some horses like mine need to be whipped to get them to focus, I've cropped myself and it doesn't sting that bad and leaves no permanent marks and he has a lot thicker skin than me. it's not abuse to discipline your horse it also helps to get them used to pain so if they do get hurt they don't flip out, cause there is nothing more dangerous than a scared horse.
it is not abuse in the least, after we ride i'll take his bridle off and he will rub on me and give me kisses than i'll make him a treat. there is no problem with whipping your horse if he needs it, the problem is whipping a horse for no reason then it becomes abuse.

Posted by: Chris | July 3, 2008 02:29 PM

Thank you Dr. Breen,

I'm glad you look at the issue from all sides; I can see you are intelligent and well-read.

Iris,

Please let me clarify the use of the crop in horse racing. If you examine the position of a jockey on a horse, you can tell that is emphasises aerodynamics rather than control. A jockey is a very experienced athlete, granted, and they know their aids. However, for the safety of the riders and the horses in a race, a crop is used to direct the horse in a variety of circumstances. For instance, a horse that is drifting toward the rail or another horse will be given a hit with the crop to direct it away, otherwise the jockey risks injuring themselves and the horse. This is especially true if the horse is wearing blinkers and does not have a full range of vision. The crop will feel like a sharp snap, but it is not inherently painful. If the crop is eliminated from racing, you are putting the jockeys in a dangerous position. Please understand this before making ridiculous claims, although I understand how you would be concerned. The horses are well cared for; and the crop leaves no lasting mark.

Posted by: S.Q. | July 3, 2008 09:33 PM

I agree with you Chris. You put it very well.
Dr. Breen, I can leg yield my horses over to but have you ever ran full out at a dead gallop where you are there to be aerodynamic rather than a rider, have your feet up like a jockey, and pardon the pun, jockeying for position. if you have then i will congratulate you on being able to move a racehorse off the rail, and probably through and over top of another horse. they don't excatly have a football field to run in. Or take a horse out and just breeze it around on a cool fall day when its feeling frisky and let it go into a fast canter and then try and do a leg yield and see what you can get accomplished. Until yoiu have been in that situation don't comment so harshly.

Posted by: Mikayla | July 5, 2008 09:02 PM

Serious horse racing cruelty? More like minor horse racing accident! Rose was aiming for her shoulder, but he accidently hit her face. When charged, he offered to pay the vet bills before they ordered him to. Well, that doesn't sound like the mark of someone who's in it "just for the money." He also only hit her ONCE; you make it seem like he hit her in the eye repeatedly through the race. Yes, the filly had some bleeding around the eye, but it was not so serious that her vision would be impaired. I've seen many accidents where a horse will lose an eye not from a whip, but from running into a tree or getting into a fight with another horse. Rose ws quoted as saying that he will always use his skills and has the responsibility to take care of the horse's welfare while riding. You didn't mention that in your article. You also didn't mention that these kinds of things are not common place; they are merely freak accidents that can happen in any sport. You take a case just because it has a famous jockey or horse; and exploit it for your own benefits. I bet Eight Belles would be very upset up there in horse heaven that you're attacking her jockey and trainer. Have you seen Larry Jones graze her, care for her, or talk to her softly before a race? The bond between trainer and horse it one of the strongest and pure I have ever seen! If you want to suspend Jones from racing just because of a accident...well...if Eight Belles were here, she'll show you a piece of what she's got.

Posted by: belle | July 6, 2008 11:15 AM

Dr. Breen,

Um, I can't say that I think all bloggers are 'homo' or emo, but I think a lot of them should take some time to do more research before writing whatever they want. A lot of people are impressionable and will believe whatever they read from one source, which shouldn't happen.

Posted by: S.Q. | July 7, 2008 03:33 PM

Dr. (you say, and of what?) Breen,

Teenagers? Homos? Wow! You're worldly and reknown. I don't see one person mentioning their age on here, so I don't know how you come up with an age.

Posted by: Anna | July 8, 2008 05:56 PM

S.Q.

You're still not getting it. If you choose to eat meat then you are aiding in the killing of animals. And no, a trainer and jockey, when it comes down to it, do not care about the horse's life. They are there for the money. That is the whole motivation for horse racing. YOU learn some integrity!

Posted by: Anna | July 9, 2008 09:49 AM

Do not care about the horse's life? Wow, Anna, in my opinion, you do not know trainers and jockeys at all. You have obviously not seen a trainer feed his horse, care for them, talk to them, stroke them. Through your blinders you see only green; and that is just so unfair. A jockey will not continue to race a horse if he senses they are injured. Kent Desormeux pulled Big Brown up in the Belmont because Big Brown was not going to finish in the top three and he wanted to finish him lightly. A jockey truly motivated by money would have tried to force the horse into top three. The horse is always first on the trainer's mind. A 50 grande investment is not something to hurt. A cheap horse will even be given the best of care. John Henry was bought for only a couple thousand; yet he was not sent to the slaughter house. He became a champion because of people dedicated to his care. You obviously do NOT see the whole picture. Oh yeah, and not once did I say I wanted to spit on anyone during this post. Who needs the integrity here?

Posted by: S.Q. | July 9, 2008 01:47 PM

Dosen't this prove that abuse is not tolerated in horseracing?

Posted by: Susan | July 9, 2008 05:53 PM

Wow, You people are stupid. do you even know the difference between an accident and abuse? he didn't whip her in the eye on purpose, he wasn't thinking "hey how do i make this horse go faster? I know, i'll whip her in the eye". If i kick my cat in the dark in the middle of the night is that abuse too? Get a life people, you won't get people on your side by making ridiculous claims like this.

Posted by: Chris | July 10, 2008 03:32 PM

Amen, Chris. See the light, people.

Posted by: S.Q. | July 10, 2008 06:20 PM

Whatever. I care about animals and advocate for them because they don't have a voice to do so for themselves.

Posted by: Anna | July 15, 2008 10:03 AM

Anna,

That's nice, dear.

Posted by: S.Q. | July 15, 2008 02:02 PM

stupid overeaction!!! peta shame on you!!! i have worked with horses all my life, i love the animals in my care with all my heart, clearly this situation is being overexxagerated, i do not neccessarily advocate racing, but not everyone involved is in it for the money...ask the groom eho takes careof said racehorse that he/she spends many hours taking care of how much they make!!!

Posted by: birdee30 | July 16, 2008 10:28 AM