Dumb Derby

Can someone explain why horse racing is even a sport? Do we have a lot of other sports where a miniature human beats the real athlete with a whip for over 2 minutes non-stop? Do we have another sport where the athletes are pushed beyond their physical limits to the point of exploding hearts, massive brain aneurysms and compound bone fractures? Do we know of other events where the injured athlete is put to death immediately after suffering such injuries?

Sport of kings? I wholly disagree. I see little difference between horse racing, cock fighting, dog fights, bull fights and rodeos. It is a disgusting, inhumane and repulsive "sport". Horses are magnificent animals and this is how we treat them? Repulsive! We as humans should be ashamed. Without horses our evolutionary progress would have been hampered and we would probably still be sitting in mud huts and eating hand-picked berries. And this is how we repay them? We suck!

And you people, parading around in those ridiculous outfits, looking like idiots with your stupid hats and mint juleps can kiss my ass. All that silliness for a 2 minute race? Give me a break. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You know who you are and you know you are all staring silently into your soulless empty shells deep down inside. Oh and by the way, FUCK YOU!

What an industry we've created around this idiocy though. Legal gambling in any way shape and form. Sportsbooks everywhere. Call in a bet over the phone. Go to the corner OTB and place your bets. Do it on the Internet. Sure. Why not? Any way to make a buck, right? It's what we humans do the best.

So why am I so upset? Some of you might have not turned on a TV yesterday, but I was not one of the lucky ones. I was at a 1-year-old birthday party and ESPN was on. And the whole day was generally a lead-in to the 134th Kentucky Derby. Kentucky should change it's state motto to something like: "We breed 'em, race 'em and kill 'em". Anyway, a full day of programming leading to the final 2-minute race, won by the favorite "Big Brown" (who's jockey is surprisingly sponsored by UPS, the real Big Brown). Yadda yadda yadda, he's won 3 of 3 races in his career leading to yesterday's victory and now there's already talk of a triple crown and who really gives a rat's ass?

The real story is that of the only filly in the field, "Eight Belles". She just came off another win and was not really favored to win. But she ran her heart out and came in second out of 20. And as soon as the race was over she collapsed and never got back up. Why? Well originally the equine ambulances surrounding her thought it was an aneurysm or a heart condition. But then it turns out she broke her two front legs and was euthanized on the spot. I guess that's how it works in this sport. You kill the 2nd place finisher. Blood sport indeed.

Of course, this is a very serious injury and I understand that there was no way to spare her serious pain for the rest of her life if she was somehow to miraculously heal. I understand there was no other option. My gripe is that we even come to this point.

So here is the video of the lead vet being interviewed as the whole thing goes down:



And here he is in the press conference after the race with more details:



And for those who make it this far and actually want to see the footage of her collapsing at the end of the race, here it is (this may be disturbing to some readers):



Be ashamed, humans. Be very ashamed.