Reader Responses

A line from "My Old Kentucky Home" comes to mind: "Weep no more my lady!"

What a metaphor for life, in the midst of joy, celebration and the happiness the dark winds of death cast an untimely shadow of grief over an undeserved death.

Big Brown broke from the gate in the 20 spot and fought his way on the diagonal across the track while racing forward around the track to get in the fifth or sixth position. That was a mighty athletic accomplishment, and a great display of heart, getting him into position to strike for the lead.

Soon he was in the three slot, then early in the back stretch his jockey dropped him back into the sixth slot. As they hit the midway point his jockey let him run, and the race was on.

As they came around the turn and hit the stretch, he passed through the leaders and pulled away to win by nearly five lengths. What a magnificent horse. What a great race.

Coming in No. 2 was a tough, valiant filly running with the colts and beating all of them but Big Brown. Sadly she went down in the gallop-out with two broken front legs - she was euthanized on the track.

Having followed Barbaro's brave, losing battle for life and having been at Golden Gate Fields near San Francisco a few years ago and seeing a horse go down in the far stretch, I've come to wonder and question: Is thoroughbred horse racing a cruelty?

Do we breed these incredible animals to the point such "accidents" are unavoidable? Does our desire for horses that can shave a split second or two off a track speed here and there create the breeding of animals prone to such injuries?

I've begun leaning to the yes side, and I've got to tell you we stopped going to the track or watching horse races after we saw the horse go down and have to be killed at Golden Gate. (Saturday) I made an exception and now wished I hadn't. The sadness offsets the joy.

Here in Texas for years and years we raced "quarter horses," not your Kentucky thoroughbreds mind you. These were tough, smaller, heavier-boned horses that don't break down from the rigors of a race.

They run with heart and "bang" away like NFL linemen; but they don't break down, their hearts don't explode with aneurisms and they are every bit as fun to watch race - just not as fast and don't run quiet as far.

I'm not suggesting owners, breeders or trainers wantonly risk a multi-million dollar investment or that their grief is not sincere - but I am asking if such injuries and deaths have become an "acceptable" risk of breeding for speed?

If so, acceptable to whom?

Shane Fox
Chandler