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Almost forgot: greyhound racing, another game of betting for humans.

Another despicable treatment and death of another living creature all in the name of a "fun day at the track."

Add the "Running of the Bulls," rodeos, the Iditarod, bullfighting, circuses that include animals--which are all "acceptable" forms of human entertainment. Oh, and how about those zoos where the black bear has a 12x12 cage to live out the rest of his days--again, simply for human enjoyment.

It's because very few people have EMPATHY. What is displayed is sympathy upon an injury or death. Really, if most people could put themselves in the "shoes" of animals would there be so many dogs tied up on chains 24/7 in all weather? Would we all continue to gobble down beef after seeing the HSUS video? Our sadness tends to be momentary...a fleeting moment of "Oh, that's so sad." And then we move on.

Marcello,

I have to agree with Beaglepawz and BeagleMutz in their comments. It is hard for folks to say "this is horrible" and then want to fix it. It is far easier to say "this is horrible", but look the other way.

And like Beagle Mutz said, racing has been around for years. So change is hard for folks when over 100 years there has been horse racing of some kind.

However, since I do believe in humane treatment of all animals, I don't go to horse or dog races. I do not even go to the local fair during horse racing days. I will go during tractor pulls as no tractor usually gets broken down to the point of putting it down.

I also remind folks who talk about these races be they dog or horse and remind them that those animals are not pets. They are equipment/property to make their owners money.

Some day it will stop. Just like Beaglemutz said, "no more blinders."

I have thought all day about what my thoughts are on your post. I thought hard about why folks seem so enthralled about the race yet are so outraged by this incident.

Couple thoughts...

First, we tend to be lemmings. No offense to lemmings but we seem to just follow others. This sport has history and traditions. We just blindly continue to follow them without having a single unique thought, could we be and have been wrong?

Secondly, we put on our personal blinders. I haven't found the person who would think whipping a horse, the treatment of racing greyhounds or the abuse and neglect of many creatures, like the killing of defenseless baby seals in Canada is a good thing. Most are absolutely appauled. And rightly so. We should be. Yet to justify our lack of action to make a difference in this world we put on our blinders and move on...we can't act on what we won't acknowledge.

When folks are finally confronted with the truth (reading now about the use of whips in races) in such a way that they can't be blind (seeing her body lying on the race track) they will relent. The strong ones will take action and lead the others to end such cruelty.

We should always encourage those who question this world and challenge others to engage in thought...just because it has always been done does not make it right!

A few lemmings will peel off from the pack and hopefully lead others away from that cliff.

Marcello,

You are so right. Horse racing, like dog racing, is entertainment from a past era and it is too bad that it still exists. That being said I will tell you that in other equine events such as dressage a long whip is used, but tapped much like someone would tap you on the shoulder as the horse will move away from that or any slight pressure. It is not the crop over the back you see in racing.

In some respects racing is like other areas concerning animals. As we become more aware and evolved as individuals and as a society we look at things differently. And once you see it differently you can't put blinders on and go back.

As horrible as it was to see a horse "break down" (a horrible term as if they were cars or other pieces of machinery) we all have to hope and push for something good to come of this.