I found an old Peanuts cartoon panel I'd saved the other day. Lucy is sitting on a rocking horse wearing a football helmet. Charlie Brown says, "Football is the number one spectator sport in the country, horse racing is number two." Lucy responds, "I can go either way."
There was a time when horse racing was number one. The old film clips show the grandstands jammed with thousands. They once huddled around their radios to listen to the big races. Telephones used to be banned from all racetracks. Things have changed.
As the sport struggles to right the sinking ship, there are a number of things that can be done and a number of things that already have been done.
The track surface seems to be the narrative of the recent deaths at Santa Anita. It's only one variable, and the abnormal amount of absorbed rain in Southern California last year is often cited. Possibly. But the strength and stamina of the breed factors in here. In this country, the emphasis is on speed. In Europe, it is on stamina. Given the anatomy and bone structure of a thoroughbred's legs, it makes sense to emphasize endurance over speed. Just imagine 12-1400 pounds being supported by a leg the size of your wrist.
In Europe and other areas like South Africa, and Asia, the emphasis is on turf racing. Grass. Green grass is kinder on the legs.
Because of opportunities that offer inflated purses, in America, we race 2-year-olds. That needs to change. Some say they are too young and it weakens the legs. Others say the older a horse, the less sound the horse. Let's eliminate 2-year-old racing and see what happens.
And then there is the whip. This reform is already being instituted. Jockeys use the whip in many ways. "As a reminder" some would say, but there are many horses who simply won't run on when being hit by a whip. A new design has emerged, sort of a "Nerf-whip" if you will, this allows for encouragement without the sting.
Stand by the rail on the turn for home at any racetrack and listen. Down the stretch is when jockeys produce and use the whip. Just listen to the sound from a distance of about 20 yards and then decide.
On November 1st, all eyes will be on the Breeder's Cup Championship races at Santa Anita. If any horse goes down on that two-day event, you'll hear the collective gasp in surround sound.
One horse racing fan I know has pointed out a very interesting little point of information. While politicians and animal rights activists are railing against deaths of 36 horses, the Bureau of Land Management has recently voted to destroy thousands of wild horses that still roam what's left of the western range. Where is the outrage there?
There was a time when horse racing was number one. The old film clips show the grandstands jammed with thousands. They once huddled around their radios to listen to the big races. Telephones used to be banned from all racetracks. Things have changed.
As the sport struggles to right the sinking ship, there are a number of things that can be done and a number of things that already have been done.
The track surface seems to be the narrative of the recent deaths at Santa Anita. It's only one variable, and the abnormal amount of absorbed rain in Southern California last year is often cited. Possibly. But the strength and stamina of the breed factors in here. In this country, the emphasis is on speed. In Europe, it is on stamina. Given the anatomy and bone structure of a thoroughbred's legs, it makes sense to emphasize endurance over speed. Just imagine 12-1400 pounds being supported by a leg the size of your wrist.
In Europe and other areas like South Africa, and Asia, the emphasis is on turf racing. Grass. Green grass is kinder on the legs.
Because of opportunities that offer inflated purses, in America, we race 2-year-olds. That needs to change. Some say they are too young and it weakens the legs. Others say the older a horse, the less sound the horse. Let's eliminate 2-year-old racing and see what happens.
And then there is the whip. This reform is already being instituted. Jockeys use the whip in many ways. "As a reminder" some would say, but there are many horses who simply won't run on when being hit by a whip. A new design has emerged, sort of a "Nerf-whip" if you will, this allows for encouragement without the sting.
Stand by the rail on the turn for home at any racetrack and listen. Down the stretch is when jockeys produce and use the whip. Just listen to the sound from a distance of about 20 yards and then decide.
On November 1st, all eyes will be on the Breeder's Cup Championship races at Santa Anita. If any horse goes down on that two-day event, you'll hear the collective gasp in surround sound.
One horse racing fan I know has pointed out a very interesting little point of information. While politicians and animal rights activists are railing against deaths of 36 horses, the Bureau of Land Management has recently voted to destroy thousands of wild horses that still roam what's left of the western range. Where is the outrage there?
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