Horse Racing and Gambling on it should be banned

[mindrust]

This is a very ancient sport/game. It is not going to get banned. Probably never. Lots of football players die of heart attack every year. They run like horses too. The are many similarities between a horse race and a soccer game. Just because footballers die sometimes, do we need to ban football/soccer? This logic don't make any sense to me.

I should note that after covid vaccination there is a significant increase in heart attacks among athletes, including football players. I won't develop any conspiracy theories around this, but it has attracted a lot of attention.
As for comparisons with human sports, I agree with you, but there is a nuance: everywhere there is some acceptable percentage of deaths after which sport becomes unacceptable. For example, it was great in boxing before, and after the legislators ordered the boxing federation to fix it or close it, doping requirements and some rules were changed in favor of athletes. This greatly reduced the number of deaths in the ring (and out of it).
Now the important question is what is the actual mortality rate among racehorses and whether we can consider it acceptable to require a change in the format of the competition or something else to reduce it.

We have to accept that some animals are being used to make money. Some of them function that way not just because its necessary but tradition. Horse raising will always be a traditional game and it will never be banned because there will be lots of gamblers that will disagree. There are really unacceptable animals being used in gambling but we have to deal with it.

Exactly. Animal abuse has been a part of the mankind history. Horses, chickens, elephants, lions… Without them we simply wouldn’t exist now. Billions of chickens are manufactured and killed every year. Yes manufactured. So you can have your KFC bucket. Nobody talks about that. That’s what humans are. We will consume this planet until nothing is left behind unless somebody stops us.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

What the creator of the thread explains reminded me of bullfighting, which many have idealized, when the truth is that when the bull goes to the bullring, it is in terrible conditions.

'The odds are already stacked against bulls many days before the fight begins. Selected for their “athletic” appearance, they endure physical and mental torment for at least two days before a fight.

Their nostrils and ears are blocked, petroleum jelly is rubbed into their eyes, needles are stuck into their genitals, and a strong caustic is rubbed on their legs in order to throw them off balance and prevent them from lying down. They’re drugged with sedatives and/or stimulants and then laxatives in order to weaken and incapacitate them.'

https://www.peta.org.au/issues/entertainment/bullfighting-torture-not-culture/

I believe that all this type of animal torture should be prohibited, no matter how much tradition supports it.

[michellee]

We may have often seen animals used as a bet and that's hard to stop because humans enjoy such entertainment. But there should be some kind of ban from the government that starts banning animals as bets because the times are different now than they were some time ago. Horses, dogs, chickens, and other animals are used only for the satisfaction of humans to gamble, which should be stopped. But we're still dealing with traditional bets that use animals, so I think it's still going to take some time to really stop and make people aware.

[blockman]

What the creator of the thread explains reminded me of bullfighting, which many have idealized, when the truth is that when the bull goes to the bullring, it is in terrible conditions.

When I was young, the boss of my father was into this. He's petting a lot of bull dogs and I've just heard it that he's into it.
It's like a game of the rich and I was too innocent on that when I've heard until I grew up and realized and understood the reality that this is a cruel way of gambling. It's better to just do the usual way of gambling like sports betting and other casino games.

[TheGreatPython]

I doubt it'll get banned since there's so much money being made from it I understand that it sucks but there's not much you can do when money is one of the main factors that keeps things going.

That's the sad truth. Money controls everything. Money is more important to those greedy people and not the lives of the poor animals. The government can't do anything because they are also being paid to continue this kind of business.

Forcing is not right if the horse are in a bad condition but it's fine to use them on races as long as they are healthy. That's not what you called "forcing" but it was their own job. The company bought them and feed them properly for that purpose but it would be better if they can take extra care of the horses like always checking their health before they race them and I believe they have other horses which that they can use as a replacement.

[Tumanggor]

in my country, horse racing is a recognized sport (animal sport) and starting from the age of 2, the horses can take part in a special race for young horses

As for the death rate of horses due to racing, the cases in my country are almost unheard of. This is the reason why I don't really care about horse racing, maybe it's just a sudden illness that can make the horse's death while racing

[keyscore44]

I was spending some time with my friends parents and there was not only a huge party but all of them placed p2p bets on the horse racing. They asked me to come over as well, the ending was deeply sad and essential to cover : The horse died after winning of a heart attack.

The horse was presenting signs of heart attack on the camera but no one was actually even giving it a second thought and at the end when it was the last lap, all the horses got whipped excessively hard as well. That gets me to my point "why do you support horse racing?" This is honestly far to cruel to continue.

According the this site: https://www.horsedeathwatch.com/background.php they have seen more than 2000 deaths in around 5500 days. Most of the horses die during the match as well, they also have instances where they are exploited using drugs (doping).

Are you aware that most of the horses go through slaughter as well? Some of them have very bad injuries making them not even the least bit useful for the business therefore they are killed without second thought. I do hope people would get more aware and try and steer away from *horse racing*.

Years ago, I used to bet on horse racing. I don't know anything about it the same way as about dog racing, so I wasn't interested in this type of betting. I also didn't think about the consequences for animals. I thought it might look like a human 60 or 100 meter sprint.
After what you described, I thought about it, and it seems to me that in the 21st century, animals could be replaced by artificial intelligence. I don't think we should use animals for that.

[KTChampions]

We may have often seen animals used as a bet and that's hard to stop because humans enjoy such entertainment. But there should be some kind of ban from the government that starts banning animals as bets because the times are different now than they were some time ago. Horses, dogs, chickens, and other animals are used only for the satisfaction of humans to gamble, which should be stopped. But we're still dealing with traditional bets that use animals, so I think it's still going to take some time to really stop and make people aware.

Could you be more specific as to why this should be stopped? Many animals exist literally because people need them for some reason, if you forbid this they will simply be killed and cease to exist (or will you feed them from your income?).
The second question is more general - why do you think that your ideas about how to properly use animals are more correct than, for example, mine? 

[Doell]

Horse racing gambling is the same as other gambling that prioritizes animals, it's just that the horse is constantly being raced so that it can run naturally because that's how it should be. Drugs are common and slaughter is also common, but it should also be noted that the animals that often win have good quality offspring. Usually they also breed these animals including horses or cockfighting for example or pigeon racing and others.

[Ararbermas]

That's the sad fact when it comes gambling, because there's always a cheating. Especially when it comes such games because they all forced the limits of the animals and they put drugs or whatsoever in order to win, wherein seems they don't even care what will gonna happen afterwards. So i agree that they need to ban such gambling because they're killing animals obviously.

[Mauser]

According the this site: https://www.horsedeathwatch.com/background.php they have seen more than 2000 deaths in around 5500 days. Most of the horses die during the match as well, they also have instances where they are exploited using drugs (doping).

Are you aware that most of the horses go through slaughter as well? Some of them have very bad injuries making them not even the least bit useful for the business therefore they are killed without second thought. I do hope people would get more aware and try and steer away from *horse racing*.

Oh wow that's insane, I had no idea that things were so bad in horse racing. To me it sounds like animal cruelty. That's really sad, how is the sport not banned yet? I never watched a horse race on TV or went to a live event. Near my home town there was such a place, but it closed down years ago. The sport doesn't seem very common anymore in my country. In England it still seems popular, but even among my English friends I never meet anybody who would go there or even bet money on it. It always seems ridiculous in movies to see all these rich people betting millions on horses. And then seeing horses die on the race track is really disturbing, how can people go back after seeing something like that. To me horses are beautiful animals, like dogs or cats, I could never eat horse meat. And if they make their owners rich in horse racing, they should atleast own the right to live their last years in peace.

[AicecreaME]

What the creator of the thread explains reminded me of bullfighting, which many have idealized, when the truth is that when the bull goes to the bullring, it is in terrible conditions.

When I was young, the boss of my father was into this. He's petting a lot of bull dogs and I've just heard it that he's into it.
It's like a game of the rich and I was too innocent on that when I've heard until I grew up and realized and understood the reality that this is a cruel way of gambling. It's better to just do the usual way of gambling like sports betting and other casino games.

Indeed. This kind of gambling which uses animals to be the center of entertainment and satisfaction is cruel and not at all cool. These horses have lives as well and they shouldn't be used for anyone's fulfillment. In most horse racing, horses experience animal cruelty before the race itself, during the race, and after the race. It's even a lucky chance if they would have no injury or survive after the race was held because during their run on the track field, they are exposed to all kinds of injury - minor and lethal.

It's just so saddening that government takes little to no action regarding this matter. For these kind of operations to be halted, the government must intervene and do their job to make it illegal and ban it so that no organizations or groups will make a gambling event out of it. Making the punishment and fine heavy will play a factor too to let people no longer engage with this kind of activity.

Hopefully, many animal organizations and activists push this in their specific countries. The mere fact that many horses are in pain whenever they take the course is awfully disturbing already. This should be stopped. The time back then is far different from now, hence, the traditional reason shouldn't be applicable.

[milewilda]

That's the sad fact when it comes gambling, because there's always a cheating. Especially when it comes such games because they all forced the limits of the animals and they put drugs or whatsoever in order to win, wherein seems they don't even care what will gonna happen afterwards. So i agree that they need to ban such gambling because they're killing animals obviously.

Its been rampant but could the government would really be having that kind of consideration specially if a certain gambling game does generate much revenue? Im much sure that they wouldnt
care that much if we do talk about animal rights or just being ethical since it wont really be that much of an issue.There are countries though that is really that serious
in terms of animal cruelty and giving on some protection which they might really be considering on implementing or banning it on overall.
We do hate animal cruelty of course but there are things which ends up on being a norm where they dont really care at all.

[romero121]

I don't how the horse racing got into gambling. In most of the races associated with animals, there is cultural and traditional connection. For example bullfighting practiced in Spain and different other countries. In philippines it is cockfight, so even when Animal welfare organization raise complaints such traditionally connected games won't be banned/restricted.

[Synchronice]

First of all, are you the vegetarian MR fiulpro? Do you know that a lot of animals are raised specifically to be slaughtered? If you are empathic towards horse racing, then what about that we eat chicken breast, cow meat, fish, etc? In this case, you do some kind of denial, especially when you are hungry.
If you go that deep into empathy, then ask yourself, what is better for the horse, to die in racing or die in wildlife? Wouldn't it suffer you that wolfs and other animals may kill horses in a very painful way?

Don't be very empathic! I'm serious, I don't enjoy horse racing but then I ask myself, would lions and tigers eat all of us if they had a chance? I believe and I'm sure, the answer is yes.

Also, I want to say that horses enjoy running & racing, they enjoy it very much and some horses are treated very well. Also, google runners high, it is something interesting

[Tumanggor]

Don't be very empathic! I'm serious, I don't enjoy horse racing but then I ask myself, would lions and tigers eat all of us if they had a chance? I believe and I'm sure, the answer is yes.

Also, I want to say that horses enjoy running & racing, they enjoy it very much and some horses are treated very well. Also, google runners high, it is something interesting

you also can't forbid the OP to not empathize with horse racing because everyone has the right to have empathy for the things they see

The OP just feels sad for the horses that died (imo that feeling is really amazing) because of the horse racing. btw, horse racing has bets with very large cash rounds, there's no way it's banned

[blockman]

When I was young, the boss of my father was into this. He's petting a lot of bull dogs and I've just heard it that he's into it.
It's like a game of the rich and I was too innocent on that when I've heard until I grew up and realized and understood the reality that this is a cruel way of gambling. It's better to just do the usual way of gambling like sports betting and other casino games.

Indeed. This kind of gambling which uses animals to be the center of entertainment and satisfaction is cruel and not at all cool. These horses have lives as well and they shouldn't be used for anyone's fulfillment. In most horse racing, horses experience animal cruelty before the race itself, during the race, and after the race. It's even a lucky chance if they would have no injury or survive after the race was held because during their run on the track field, they are exposed to all kinds of injury - minor and lethal.

It's just so saddening that government takes little to no action regarding this matter. For these kind of operations to be halted, the government must intervene and do their job to make it illegal and ban it so that no organizations or groups will make a gambling event out of it. Making the punishment and fine heavy will play a factor too to let people no longer engage with this kind of activity.

Hopefully, many animal organizations and activists push this in their specific countries. The mere fact that many horses are in pain whenever they take the course is awfully disturbing already. This should be stopped. The time back then is far different from now, hence, the traditional reason shouldn't be applicable.

Honestly, this isn't the only animal gambling that I've known. There are other types of it and for sure you're not going to like the other types of it.
So taking this as the most for the example, this should really be stopped and no longer promoted by those places that are into this. There are people that are coming and going by just to see these fights and it doesn't matter to them because they are just going to pay for how much it would cost just to them in live action. That's why there are these organizations like PETA but it's still up to the government if they'll hear them out and stop these operations.

[kamilah147]

I also understand pity for pets. The game is a sports game, and it is included in the category of world games. Horse racing is often played by many countries. And some people use the match as a place to bet. If we see horses running forcibly, even being whipped hard so that they run faster, of course we who see them become concerned and feel sorry for these animals. But speaking of a sport done by humans, soccer players have to risk dying to fight for victory. The only difference is that humans have a reason and know when they are dying to seek immediate medical care. Unlike the horses that are left to die and are no longer useful.

[harizen]

Don't be very empathic! I'm serious, I don't enjoy horse racing but then I ask myself, would lions and tigers eat all of us if they had a chance? I believe and I'm sure, the answer is yes.

Also, I want to say that horses enjoy running & racing, they enjoy it very much and some horses are treated very well. Also, google runners high, it is something interesting

I understand the picture you are referring to and pointing out to OP. This topic is really subjective as we have different views here. We will see various and endless responses here, especially if the goal of the topic is to promote the total ban on horse racing.

That's why to somehow end the debate, I mentioned that OP can simply don't support horse racing, simple as that. By doing that, it's already a big contribution on OP's part. Anyways, this topic should be ended now as nothing we can really do here to change the current status of the horse racing industry.

It's a big industry that both benefits all - not just pure negative things because of the alleged animal cruelty. It was legalized in some countries and more importantly, it was regulated by the law that's why somehow, we can assure that cruelty is more an isolated case to consider.

[michellee]

We may have often seen animals used as a bet and that's hard to stop because humans enjoy such entertainment. But there should be some kind of ban from the government that starts banning animals as bets because the times are different now than they were some time ago. Horses, dogs, chickens, and other animals are used only for the satisfaction of humans to gamble, which should be stopped. But we're still dealing with traditional bets that use animals, so I think it's still going to take some time to really stop and make people aware.

Could you be more specific as to why this should be stopped? Many animals exist literally because people need them for some reason, if you forbid this they will simply be killed and cease to exist (or will you feed them from your income?).
The second question is more general - why do you think that your ideas about how to properly use animals are more correct than, for example, mine? 

The animals help humans a lot on the farm and instead of being used as a bet, it's better not to torture them just as a means of human gratification. In many countries, horses and chickens are used for consumption rather than as bets. At the same time, some dogs use it for consumption. Although some people still use those animals to bet.

I do not say that my idea is the most correct because what I think is right may not necessarily be right according to other people.