I think he probably could have reached his potential as a horse had he not been raced. I am sure, however, that his owners felt his potential was something different. While it is unlikely that it could ever be proven or disproven, I have a feeling that his owners will yet realize some of the horse's "potential."
Posts: 17183 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
It is the sport itself which is to blame for these animals' suffering. It's fairly common for throroughbreds to fracture a leg in a race. It's also common for them to train in chronic pain, due to stress fractures in the long bones of the lower leg. The breed is the result of centuries of artificial selection to make the animals light yet strong. Bone mass is reduced, and in the limits, the animals are just not 'designed' for handling bearing their own body weight and enduring the constant pounding of daily training.
Horses are the subject of much abuse in the name of human amusement. Rodeo horses are another example.
I hate it when people express sentimental pity for a particular animal, yet support the industry that creates suffering for many, many animals. Phar Lap was another victim who was pitied. Yet the conditions continue in the name of 'sport' -- and profit.
Posts: 6331 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
I know, SR, but that doesn't mean it isn't done. That's why I spoke of "proven or disproven." Considering the amount of money involved, it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. The horse was kept alive for 8 months longer than horses with less crippling injuries. Does that mean that his owners loved him more or that the other owners loved their horses less, or could potential income played a part?
Posts: 17183 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Cheat? Of course we do! No trainer would stay in business if he or she did not try to get the horses the best weight in handicaps or keep its true abilities hidden before big races.So the animal will be entered in races when it is not fully fit or when the distance or going (ground) doesn't suit it, or (more likely) the jockey will have instructions to 'hook' the horse.That last means that he'll be told e.g to keep it hidden in the pack and then say, if asked, that he couldn't get a clear run or he'll be told to front run an animal which hates front running and so on. There are lots of ways of achieving the objective. A favourite method is more subtle. It is to run an animal in races which are below its own abilities. That way the horse can try just enough to win or finish second . Hopefully nobody will give it a chance when its entered in a much classier race. Than it can show its true abilities. If a jockey so instructed does win he'll be very careful to make the win as close as possible. Winning by twenty lengths tends to influence the handicappers
My late father was fond of telling how he entered a filly in her first race at a course in Yorkshire, many miles from her home course. He wanted to see her potential. It was meant to be a trial run.So he put a veteran local jockey on her ( one who could be trusted and would be trusted by the stewards who judge whether a race is properly run ) She won by many lengths and broke the track record! The jockey apologised for the result. My father was furious ! Outsiders find that story puzzling because they imagine that it would be good news to have a filly as good as that.Insiders know that he was furious because she might not grow up to be good enough to win big races at level weights. However , at a stroke, the jockey had ensured that she would always be top weight in any handicap she ever entered over the next three or four years.
That is typical of all racing. However it is very rare in Britain for a jockey to be paid by bookmakers or gamblers to get a bad result. It's easier to get the desired result by other means. In France there are no bookmakers. Every bet is on the parimutuel, a totalisator. So the odds are decided only in accordance with the amounts bet on each horse and the total pool is divided among the holders of the winning tickets. The French have other rules relating to that. If an owner has more than the one entry in a race the bets are deemed coupled , so whichever one wins the odds are the same. That's to stop the owners pulling off a coup e.g.by using one as an apparent pacemaker for the other when the intention is for the pacemaker to win
