Horse Racing

Like you said: Gambling.

I could put the same argument forth for NASCAR.

At least NASCAR has "boxing matches" after every race going for it.

That's about it, though it's not all compulsive gamblers. I know zip about horse racing but I have spent plenty of time in smoke-filled sports books and there is always a healthy amount of people playing the ponies. Some very casually and some borderline psychotic.

As far as TV coverage, the Kentucky Derby is only covered because of tradition and it's the biggest race of the year. The other two legs of the crown only matter coverage wise if a horse has a shot at winning all three.

What pisses me off most about horse racing is that 90% of the time when a horse is injured, it will be destroyed. Surely the poor beast is still of some use besides racing?

I've always said they should treat jockeys the same way as their mounts to make it fairer. "Oh dear, your horse has got to go. Now, where's the gun for you?"

Definitely increase the entertainment level!!

And stop Frankie fucking Dettori from getting more publicity for being a smarmy cunt.

In England, it's either for making money or wearing posh frocks. A night at the dogs is much better. Pints of bitter, pie and mash, and a chance of some good winnings, and the finest trim Stockport has to offer.

Charlie, you are 100% right there. I've had much better results at the dog track. Plus it's a much better night out. Mind you, I spent a lot of time at Blunsdon track when I was a kid so that could be why I like it more. My uncle was a bookie & my dad would go down there twice a week & help out, dragging me along too.

Ah, those were the days. A hot cup of soup, bag of crisps & trying to pick the winners. Mostly on cold nights so you could see the steam rising off the shit when the dogs decided to let go before a race! Such memories.

Actually, due to the forces involved, the sorts of catastrophic injuries that occur at the track normally preclude any significant amount of exercise, meaning that retirement or reproduction are the only possible uses, presuming that the horse hasn't such significant damage and discomfort that correction is impossible or pointless.

For example, a two year old race filly with a slab fracture of the carpus may be able to undergo lag-screw fixation and be sound enough to use as a broodmare and the procedure may only cost a few thousand dollars, which is readily recouped in selling her offspring (if she has good genetics). On the other hand, a gelding with a comminuted pastern fracture (such as what Barbaro sustained) has no potential for future use, and limited likelihood of even being made comfortable, and the possible treatment is very expensive, so he's likely to be put down.

Subtle structural damage that can occur in race horses (e.g. splints, tendon strains, OCDs) which may preclude sufficiently fast race times but not cause lameness in another sport may result in retirement to another career (e.g. jumper, dressage).

In Barbaro's case, he had dozens of bone chips from a shattered long pastern bone, as well as a broken metatarsus (cannon) bone, which requires fusing the fetlock and pastern joints (with a long titanium plate implanted along the front of the leg). In addition, they reduced some of the larger pieces with lag screw fixation. Several smaller pieces have been left alone to heal by second intention. There are numerous ways this type of injury can end the life of the horse. If the blood supply to the hoof is severed, if the nervous supply to the leg is severed above the fetlock, if the contralateral limb is overburdened (support limb laminitis or tendonitis), repeated fracture, infection of the implant, etc. So far, the excellent team at the New Bolton Center have done an amazing job dealing with a very risky injury, and the patient has been very fortunate to have everything going relatively well for this type of injury.

Thanks for that explanation, and no I'm not being sarcastic. That's a side of racing that somehow never seems to be told on the air. It's enough to put me off horse racing for good.

You obviously know your stuff, do you work with horses?

On a lighter note, I still think they should shoot the jockey too.

Give me Haydock Park racecourse over the local dog track - filled with some of the vilest “dog loving” scum imaginable - any day.

At least Neddy doesn't have to worry about people inserting razor blades between his toes, or being blinded by chewing tobacco spat in his eye before he enters the stalls.