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Originally Posted by parsixfarms
People can debate whether the hearing is good or bad for racing. However, on the politics of it, does anyone give any of this stuff a realistic chance of actually becoming law so long as Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is the minority leader in the Senate?
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Yes. Absolutely.
First, general public opinion is definitely on the side of "save those poor innocent horses from the evil owners and trainers who drug them and run them to death" (just read the public blog comments - from horse people - after Eight Belles).
Secondly, the opinion of what appears to be an alarming portion of "interested horse racing fans" and members of the industry appears to support government intervention and control.
Third, but most importantly: the Humane Society of the United States has jumped on this. Indeed, they are front and center and leading the charge through Connie Whitfield. The HSUS is a very efficient and well-funded lobbying machine with excellent timing, and an increasing number of sympathetic lawmakers on board.
Proof - look at the head start the AR groups got on horse racing with Eight Belles - they controlled the media and public opinion. And still do.
The HSUS knows the historical timing is right to step into horse racing and impose their opinions and desires upon this tiny niche sport.
HSUS has unfortunately begun to be successful recently having legislation passed restricting ownership rights of pet dogs and cats. Legislation I could never imagine could be passed 5 or 10 years ago.
Do I think HSUS can get a law forbidding racing and training of 2-year-old TB horses passed within the next two or three years? Absolutely. The general public is entirely on their side.
Truth or reality does not matter in this fight. Only emotion and perception. This issue is cast as black and white, with only two views: either you want to save and protect abused, drugged horses with us, or you are evil.
We are no longer an agricultural society. We no longer have a broad societal experience or exposure to real animals - let alone horses or any horse sports. Many people - I believe the majority - see no reason for anybody to be allowed to "use" horses for "our own purposes".
Who would ever have believed that foxhunting and greyhound coursing would be outlawed in England, where both sports are far more ingrained into hundreds of years of societal history than in any other country on earth? And horseracing is targeted over in Europe, now, too.