It's not even a heartwarming story, if you think about it. Someone took a horse, trained it to run fast, and during the course of exploiting its ability to run fast for the purpose of gambling, fatally crippled it. Yay, America!That's it. There really isn't anything else that can be said.
See also: This TJ Simers column.
How many think Barbaro was heroic, or just doing what his human handlers wanted him to do? Or, had no choice what he was doing after being anesthetized? If we're going to start looking upon horses as if they have human qualities, then shouldn't we stop sticking a bit in their mouths, tying their tongues in place before races, gelding or loading them with steroids?
2 comments:
Uh, can I register a big "so what" about the gambling part? Stop right there about the horse being trained to run fast. It's sad that the horse died. That somebody cared enough to try and keep it alive long after most people would have just euthanized the animal makes it that much sadder.
And, yeah, giggles for the "Little Green Fascists" crack in this BTF thread.
I think it's sad for the owners/trainers/other people in the business that the horse died. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they loved the animal.
But the fact of the matter is that the ONLY reason the animal was kept alive was so that it could screw other horses to make a lot of money. I don't think that really makes it any sadder. Any other horse suffering the same injury is ticketed for the Alpo factory right there on the track.
I think August's point was that the injury and death of the animal was the direct result of asking animals to do something they weren't really designed to do, which is run really really fast on tiny little hooves, all so that we can wager money on the outcome.
Now, I'm not a really a "horse racing is cruel" sort of person, but when all is said and done, it really kinda is, just a little.
So from my perspective, I think the gambling aspect is part and parcel of the criticism. It's death was the predictable result of our own quest for enjoyment, and unlike other tragic deaths, the horse didn't have much of a say in the matter.
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