Thoughts on this letter to the editor?

[Sightseek]

Letters like this really irritate me...

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/sto...sdate=8/8/2007

[paisjpq]

tough call....it's always hard when a person who is well spoken takes aspects of truth and twists them to suit an agenda....she's not totally wrong in what she says...and yet I would never say I agree with her either. The dark aspects of the horse racing industry exist and I guess the real message is that it in everyone's best interest to try to fix them....then letters like hers won't have a leg to stand on...until then....she ain't wrong no matter how she says it.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

tough call....it's always hard when a person who is well spoken takes aspects of truth and twists them to suit an agenda....she's not totally wrong in what she says...and yet I would never say I agree with her either. The dark aspects of the horse racing industry exist and I guess the real message is that it in everyone's best interest to try to fix them....then letters like hers won't have a leg to stand on...until then....she ain't wrong no matter how she says it.

I guess that is the part that irritated me most as she paints a picture that all of racing is evil and cruel and no one cares. All of life has a dark side - unfortunately.

[philcski]

phucking PETA. She has no idea what she's talking about- ESPECIALLY at Saratoga, which has a tremendously safe surface. She sounds like the woman who was on Larry King.

Alydar dying was NOT the result of an equine injury, but rather the actions of a sick and twisted HUMAN!!!

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I guess that is the part that irritated me most as she paints a picture that all of racing is evil and cruel and no one cares.

Yeah I know... that kind of thing bothers me too.

[MaTH716]

She is just an ignorant person, hoping to get horse racing caught up in some of the Michael Vick dog fighting wake. She tries to throw big numbers out there, but the percentages are small. It is unfortunate and tragic anytime a horse breaks down or gets pulled up. For that matter, football is a violent sport too. People have had thier lives ruined by career ending injuries. But the industry as a whole is trying to make improvements. Whether we like it or not as handicappers, they say that the synthetic surfaces are safer. Time will tell. I consider this article as trash written by a uneducated PETA drone tring to make a name for herself.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

tough call....it's always hard when a person who is well spoken takes aspects of truth and twists them to suit an agenda....she's not totally wrong in what she says...and yet I would never say I agree with her either. The dark aspects of the horse racing industry exist and I guess the real message is that it in everyone's best interest to try to fix them....then letters like hers won't have a leg to stand on...until then....she ain't wrong no matter how she says it.

She is not that well spoken, this is a form letter taken from PETA that pops up every year.

[Rudeboyelvis]

I can't imagine how any rational, thinking adult could possibly draw a coorilation between sending animals into a ring to fight for their lives and horse racing...I guess if you want to make a point, and have a forum to do so.....

The end result is that one of them comes out of it alive, albeit bruised, bloodied and tattered - and the other side of the equasion is that rarely, with respect to the amount or races run, misfortune...certainly not planned, expected, "or cheered for" results in a relative demise - keeping in mind that the later is tended to immediately by licensed, trained vetraniarians to insure the animal experiences as little suffering as possible....

Again, hard to fathom that anyone with enough brain cells to think for themselves could possibly look at this without wondering where the author got his/hers credentials

[Riot]

PETA ... the organization that uses Pamela Anderson's breasts to collect money that never helps one animal.

[Cannon Shell]

My letter to the editor.

I am writing about something that is literally killing innocent Americans in the streets on a daily basis. This action is glorified by huge corporations and media outlets on TV and radio every day. Not a minute goes by without some reference to this supposedly ordinary task which actually killed 42,642 people in our country last year, many of them innocent children. 116 people die a day from this cruel, heartless action. Thats almost 6 people per hour!! These deaths are not peaceful either. People wind up mangled worse then Micheal Vicks dogs or Alydar. Often they are decapitated and some just lie there bleeding to death before help can get to them. How can we let this happen!!! We must do something to stop this killer of our people!! Everybody is so focused on the deaths in Iraq when so many more of our people are dying right here in rural America and cities alike. I am asking you to strike out against this silent killer of so many. Stop driving your car. It's more inhumane than horse racing.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Riot

PETA ... the organization that uses Pamela Anderson's breasts to collect money that never helps one animal.

They could be better used for certain.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

My letter to the editor.

I am writing about something that is literally killing innocent Americans in the streets on a daily basis. This action is glorified by huge corporations and media outlets on TV and radio every day. Not a minute goes by without some reference to this supposedly ordinary task which actually killed 42,642 people in our country last year, many of them innocent children. 116 people die a day from this cruel, heartless action. Thats almost 6 people per hour!! These deaths are not peaceful either. People wind up mangled worse then Micheal Vicks dogs or Alydar. Often they are decapitated and some just lie there bleeding to death before help can get to them. How can we let this happen!!! We must do something to stop this killer of our people!! Everybody is so focused on the deaths in Iraq when so many more of our people are dying right here in rural America and cities alike. I am asking you to strike out against this silent killer of so many. Stop driving your car. It's more inhumane than horse racing.

You really should send that in...

[mclem10011]

But in my opinion, the letter comes off as a pissed off person, spewing some numbers from a book or website or two. Any of us can look up numbers, and like has been pointed out paint the whole industry as evil. If we didn't bother to really investigate the business, and tell the rest of the story. We all know the industry has issues, and certainly the equine athletes don't lives don't always end the way we all would want. However, from reading all the great peoples words on this board, hearing the wonderful interviews that Steve conducts, and from just watching and reading about the sport, this article is way to one sided. No matter how well intended the writer may or may not have been intending to sound. IMO

"Now I don't have to tell you good folks what's been happening in our beloved little town. Sheriff murdered, crops burned, stores looted, people stampeded, and cattle raped. The time has come to act, and act fast. I'm leaving."

[Suffolk Shippers]

It can't be denied that death on track is a very unfortunate aspect of racing, and I think if she wanted to make that point, she could have without comparing it to the Mike Vick case or saying just downright inaccurate stuff, like the lines about Barbaro.

I know most of us are die hard gamblers in the game, and I am, too...but deep down I think we all have an affection for the animal. Mike Vick had no affection for the dogs in his sick ring. I would never in my life remain to bet on a race where the horses were basically running to the death, which is basically what this woman is saying. She says that the horses are bred to die in a cruel fashion, which is not at all true.

She raises a valid point about racing's dark side, but her rationale to back it up is just conjecture and very flawed. Wrong, as well.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

They could be better used for certain.

Pam's breasts or the money?

There is a lawsuit trying to revoke PETA's 501c status, btw.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

My letter to the editor.

I am writing about something that is literally killing innocent Americans in the streets on a daily basis. This action is glorified by huge corporations and media outlets on TV and radio every day. Not a minute goes by without some reference to this supposedly ordinary task which actually killed 42,642 people in our country last year, many of them innocent children. 116 people die a day from this cruel, heartless action. Thats almost 6 people per hour!! These deaths are not peaceful either. People wind up mangled worse then Micheal Vicks dogs or Alydar. Often they are decapitated and some just lie there bleeding to death before help can get to them. How can we let this happen!!! We must do something to stop this killer of our people!! Everybody is so focused on the deaths in Iraq when so many more of our people are dying right here in rural America and cities alike. I am asking you to strike out against this silent killer of so many. Stop driving your car. It's more inhumane than horse racing.

Maybe we should ask Steve to invite her on the show and expose her for what she is. You wouldn't have to be rude or abusive, a civil debate would possibly educate the woman and then you distribute the tape and PODCAST to media outlets around the world. It is the only way to deal with someone like this by holding them responsible in the court of public opinion...

I wish I could tie that morons leg to a truck . i bet she dont give a shiit about what happened to that poor cow before it became a rib eye steak.

[Split Rock]

I also disagree with her in most of her claims.
1) Racehorses are bred to run and the fact that they run, racing or elsewhere, is quite the opposite of inhumane.
2) Racehorses are typically given the best feed and bedding, compared to others on pastures and fields.
3) Racehorses are looked after more medically. Of course owners and trainers want to identify any ailments in order to produce the best racing outcomes. But, regardless of the incentive, money is spent to keep racehorses healthy.

I do agree with her on some of the issues. The points she makes about drugs and inhumane treatment of retired horses is spot on. Drugging a horse, without the concern of their longterm well being is abhorent.

Discarding of retired horses, breaking their legs, etc? Come on...are you kidding me? That is serial killer type behavior. What kind of person can stand there and watch a horses leg get broken by dragging it with a truck? That is absolutely non human behavior. That person should be investigated for any unsolved murders.

[ALostTexan]

Well, according to this article, Pam Anderson and her large, fake breasts are a problem, as they have been linked to increased suicide risk. What is PETA going to do now? They are represented by a woman who has had an unethical (but nice) procedure that leads to increased suicide risk for humans to promote a more ethical treatment of animals. Interesting...