YANBU. If jockeys died in the same numbers as the horses this "sport" would have been banned long ago. If people want to take part in risky activities, fine, but don't involve animals who trust you to make good safe decisions for them. And let's not forget that it's only the "lucky" few horses that make the grade and get to races, and out of those only the successful are rewarded. What happens to the thousands that aren't? Abattoirs mainly that's what because few owners would collect a load of "useless" horses. Or maybe they sell them on so they are then caught in a potential downward spiral of being sold on every time they aren't fit for purpose before eventually going for meat. Then what about the ones that get injured in training or at the races; if they will never be successful (i.e. make money for their owners) afterwards they've outlived their usefulness and are discarded. So a nice day at the races comes at a cost and I hope those who like a little flutter understand this. It's no better in dog racing either. I hate sport involving animals, and I hate gambling, so horse racing is really not my thing at all. I live in hope that one day we will fall out of love of sports involving animals and they will eventually be consigned to history. Oh, and I've ridden since childhood, had a horse, worked at a BHS approved stable and I still hate horse racing.
^"YABU the raw ingredients of a Findus Lasagne don't supply themselves.
I think the horses are very lucky. I mean last time I wanted to be straddled by an Irish dwarf in silky clothing and whipped it cost me 500 quid in one of Soho's more niche clubs."^
LOL! Very funny :-P
"I worry just as much for the jockeys as the horses."
Personally I don't give a flying fuck about the jockeys; they know the risks, they have the choice. Unlike the horses.
"No one ever gets frothy about the amount of horses that die eventing etc"
I do. It's another equestrial "sport" I loath.
"...there are far crueler practices going on in the showing world, however, it's not publicised..."
Then it should be. Midori, if you know of cruelty you need to be shouting about it. Start a blog or something, but let as many people know as possible.
"Animal Aid are the nutjobs who i read a few years ago were bemoaning the fact that mules and horses were left behind at dunkirk and how tragic it was. never mind all the men left behind then eh?"
How silly. Their cause is animals not people, which is why they aren't bleating about the soldiers, not that they don't care. People tend to care about more than one issue I've found. For example, I care about factory farming and bad conditions in hospitals, plus many more issues. However, the topic of this thread is horse racing, so I will keep on topic. It doesn't mean it's the only thing I care about.