Another accident at Arlington

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by wac

I'll chime in here and probably get some heat but im sorry the track is really no place for small kids. Just to many bad things can happen like Sat. i was at CD on a Sat and something happen very similar and there was this family and the dad was holding the daughter who was crying her eyes out b/c she had "voted" on the horse that went down. It was truly heart wrenching and i left the track immediatley. I know that people think that to spur interest they need to bring kids to the track but im sorry i dont think there is any reason for a kid under 12 to be at the track. My future wife and i have discussed this and i told her no way would i take my kid till they are at least 12 and i can explain to them in a somewhat rational manner what has happened and that it is a tragic thing that happens but there is usually nothing that anyone can do. Just my .02

No heat from me, but you are wrong. My kids have been going to the track since they were still in the womb. They have seen horses break down, if you explain it to them properly before, during and after, you'll be surprised at how well they adjust.

You can't shield your kids from every bad thing in life. Horses breaking down are a horrible thing, but there are many many other horrors in life that you will end up explaining to your future kids. Tornados, hurricanes, fatal traffic accidents, someone choking or having a heart attack in a restaraunt, terrorist attacks, people going postal....**** happens in life. Hell, I can't even put the remote down when I am watching sports, I have to be prepared to change the channel at all times some of those movie trailers are over the top for a young child. The best thing to do with your kids is to talk to them, explain and teach.

I consider my kids much more well rounded and worldy than many of their peers because of their experiences at the track, around the horses, the good people that care for the horses, the employees of the tracks and the patrons that they have had conversations with. I can't imagine not taking them to the track and depriving them of a lifetime of memories on the off chance that they may see a horse go down.