Posted on 06/08/2008 4:44:40 AM PDT by markomalley
For the second time in this year's Triple Crown series, animal rights activists faced racing fans to draw attention to what they believe is the cruel side of a sport many consider glamorous.
About 100 men and women, many of them holding photos of the fallen filly Eight Belles, responded with waves to car horns and the occasional jeer along a sweltering stretch of Hempstead Turnpike outside Belmont Park in Elmont. Last month, a smaller group of demonstrators was outside Maryland's Pimlico Race Course before the running of the Preakness Stakes.
Amanda McCall, 27, of Manhattan, said she was drawn to protest the race Saturday after seeing Eight Belles' injury following the Kentucky Derby. She likened the sport to battles between Roman gladiators.
"People would see that as barbaric now. In a hundred years, people will see this the same way," McCall said.
The protest, organized by the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, focused largely on the use of painkillers and other drugs used in the racing industry.
"It's interesting that Casino Drive was scratched with a minor injury, but the horse with the cracked hoof is going to run," protest organizer Kathy Guillermo said hours before the race, referring to a horse who was believed to be Big Brown's best competition.
"That says to me that there is a slightly different standard with Mr. Dutrow and the owners of Big Brown," she said, referring to the favored horse's trainer.
Many protesters who gathered during the last leg of the Triple Crown, horse racing's marquee event, said the use of drugs to ready horses for the track was evidence that they are being pushed too hard or that they run with injuries.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
PETA=PEDOPHILES ENDORSING TERRORIST ACTIONS.
THEY ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED. EVERY SINGLE ONE HOPED BIG BROWN WOULD DIE BECAUSE IT WOULD FURTHER THEIR CAUSE.
I agree that horse racing is cruel exploitation of these beautiful animals, mainly for the entertainment of drunken gamblers, and for the egos of the wealthy owners. But shutting down PETA should be a higher priority for anyone who cares about animals. Those people are insane — if they applied their sick notions to people, they’d be hard at work exterminating 99% of the human race.
i’ve had the pleasure of working with many “off the track” thoroughbreds and they are some of the most well-mannered, willing, inquisitive, and happy horses i’ve ever known. they’re usually sound, fat, and friendly. they’re hardly abused.
i’m not claiming that race horses are never abused because it does happen, but the vast majority of them live better than most people.
if PETA wants to take up a cause that will make a difference in the horse industry, they should help save horses at auction from going to slaughter houses in mexico and canada.
just a thought.
I’ve often wondered if a member of PETA is forced to resign from the group if he/she comes to support medical research on animals once he/she is diagnosed as having AIDS.
The Vice president of PETA is a diabetic. Guess how insulin was discovered? You guessed it...ANIMAL TESTING!
don't forget the fries coooked in beef fat.
I hear animal rights activist taste like chicken
PETA is a bunch of nuts, but horse racing is stupid and cruel. Really, really stupid. Now little monkeys on greyhounds - That would be worth watching.
PETA stands for People Eating Tasty Animals.
People
Eating
Tastey
Animals
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