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The Kentucky Derby is arguably the most high-profile horse race in the world. On Saturday, the world saw firsthand just how cruel a sport it can be when second-place finisher Eight Belles was euthanized on the track after breaking both her front ankles "pulling up" across the finish line.
If Churchill Downs, site of the Kentucky Derby, and other race tracks adopted a few simple practices currently used in European racing, many serious injuries and deaths could be prevented.
These practices include:
a.. Racing only mature horses. Horses in high-profile U.S. events begin racing at age two, when their skeletal systems are still forming and hardly strong enough to bear the rigors of high-speed racing.
b.. Replacing dirt tracks with more forgiving surfaces. Data show that horses who race on grass or synthetic surfaces are less likely to be injured than those who run on dirt tracks.
Horse racing is a multi-million dollar business and an American tradition. Its stakeholders are unlikely to alter their ways unless spectators demand it.
Please write to Churchill Downs (or your local track if you live near one) and encourage them to adopt the more humane practices listed above. Then forward this message to your friends who care about animals and ask them to do the same!
Churchill Downs contact:
Steve Sexton
President
Churchill Downs
700 Central Avenue
Louisville, KY 40208
customerservice@kyderby.comPiet
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