O/T:- Cruelty to snooker balls...!

[Elite_Pie]

I agree with the issues of stop the oil and reducing horse racing deaths (although not stopping it, just have flat racing for me) To say that they had no effect isn't true as they're looking into reducing horse racing deaths as we speak.

You may be unaware, but reducing horse racing deaths isn't a new thing, it's been going on for a very long time. Every death has been the subject of statistical analysis for decades, and it's led to many changes and an overall reduction in numbers. But it will never be eliminated as long as horse racing exists. Having flat racing only will definitely reduce the number, but the only way to have no horse racing deaths is to have no horse racing. Saying flat racing deaths are acceptable but jump racing deaths aren't seems a conflicting argument to me.

Tbh it's nice to see protesters, whether for the environment or the animal kingdom. The planet and all its inhabitants need to be protected for future generations as best we can.

I agree with this, but I see another huge conflict. If you ban horse racing, you render the thoroughbred racehorse irrelevant, the clue is in the name. These animals are bred specifically to race, if you take that away they will become extinct at worst, and a zoo species at best. Seeing as zoos are the target of many animal rights protestors, it seems weird that we are passionately campaigning to save endangered species but could actually create one in this case!

[Magpies1959]

I wonder if these animal rights protesters have considered that if horse racing was banned then tens of thousands of thoroughbred race horses would be instantly euthanised. If we all became vegitarians as animal rights people also want, then there would be no pigs, sheep and cattle on the planet. And if we did Just Stop Oil, life would come to a grinding halt on the planet, as it stands. Happy days.

[countygump]

For all those who missed it:

[Magpies1959]

It would have been so funny if he had knelt on one of the balls with the inside of his knee.

[i961pie]

I wonder if these animal rights protesters have considered that if horse racing was banned then tens of thousands of thoroughbred race horses would be instantly euthanised. If we all became vegitarians as animal rights people also want, then there would be no pigs, sheep and cattle on the planet. And if we did Just Stop Oil, life would come to a grinding halt on the planet, as it stands. Happy days.

It would also mean thousands of people would be out of work.

[crazyfists]

You may be unaware, but reducing horse racing deaths isn't a new thing, it's been going on for a very long time. Every death has been the subject of statistical analysis for decades, and it's led to many changes and an overall reduction in numbers. But it will never be eliminated as long as horse racing exists. Having flat racing only will definitely reduce the number, but the only way to have no horse racing deaths is to have no horse racing. Saying flat racing deaths are acceptable but jump racing deaths aren't seems a conflicting argument to me.



I agree with this, but I see another huge conflict. If you ban horse racing, you render the thoroughbred racehorse irrelevant, the clue is in the name. These animals are bred specifically to race, if you take that away they will become extinct at worst, and a zoo species at best. Seeing as zoos are the target of many animal rights protestors, it seems weird that we are passionately campaigning to save endangered species but could actually create one in this case!

Hi Elite, I agree about horse racing, I said I support reducing the number of deaths by going to flat racing and that I oppose an altogether ban. I know it gets looked at continually as have been following the issue but I've not seen it get the media attention it has done since the grand national protests or at least not that I can remember.

With agreeing about reducing not banning it, I also agree that these horses are bred for this purpose and if not we wouldn't have them. It's the same with the meat industry, if everyone went vegan then farmers wouldn't bother to breed certain animals and they would also become endangered. It seems were in agreement all round.

As for zoo's then that's not something I'll leave for when I'm not on a rush hour bus into work ha ha. Have a good day.

[crazyfists]

Minus the not, you get the idea ha ha.

[crazyfists]

You may be unaware, but reducing horse racing deaths isn't a new thing, it's been going on for a very long time. Every death has been the subject of statistical analysis for decades, and it's led to many changes and an overall reduction in numbers. But it will never be eliminated as long as horse racing exists. Having flat racing only will definitely reduce the number, but the only way to have no horse racing deaths is to have no horse racing. Saying flat racing deaths are acceptable but jump racing deaths aren't seems a conflicting argument to me.



I agree with this, but I see another huge conflict. If you ban horse racing, you render the thoroughbred racehorse irrelevant, the clue is in the name. These animals are bred specifically to race, if you take that away they will become extinct at worst, and a zoo species at best. Seeing as zoos are the target of many animal rights protestors, it seems weird that we are passionately campaigning to save endangered species but could actually create one in this case!

Regarding the conflicting argument though about saying deaths from flat racing ok but deaths from jump racing no then it's societies issue to give and take. Some people want it banned all together which means no death but then no race horses bred and people out of work as a result. Some people want it all the other way, all racing allowed. I think the general consensus with most of the population would be all deaths from horse racing aren't good but they wouldn't want a ban altogether for reasons we've discussed. My own opinion is you can't ban or cancel everything all the time, things come with risks. If there is a middle ground that can be agreed upon then that would be my preference. Any sport can carry the risk of injury leading to death but so can crossing the road.

The issue of it being a human decision whereas we decide for the horses to me is a mute point. They're bred for racing, without the race they wouldn't exist and I'm sure they do enjoy running like most animals made that way do, my lurcher certainly does and has been bred for a specific purpose.

I do agree though strongly with the right to protest whether you agree with the issue or not. I especially support environmental protesters and those pushing sustainability. I'm not going to get into man made versus the earth's natural cycle but it's absolute madness to carry on activities which have been proven to make the planet less inhabitable for us or the animal kingdom, who alot have been here longer than us.

To say you love your children and grand children but say there's nothing to see here when it comes to looking after the planet for the future are two arguments that don't go together. If societies practises, job roles and structure needs to change then it needs to change.

Of course then there's the argument of over population and medical advancements meaning people living longer playing it's part but I'm in town now so can leave that one for another day ha ha.

[Elite_Pie]

Regarding the conflicting argument though about saying deaths from flat racing ok but deaths from jump racing no then it's societies issue to give and take. Some people want it banned all together which means no death but then no race horses bred and people out of work as a result. Some people want it all the other way, all racing allowed. I think the general consensus with most of the population would be all deaths from horse racing aren't good but they wouldn't want a ban altogether for reasons we've discussed. My own opinion is you can't ban or cancel everything all the time, things come with risks. If there is a middle ground that can be agreed upon then that would be my preference.

Agree with a lot of that, but there will never be a middle ground that can be agreed upon. Neither side would be happy with a middle ground, it has to be one or the other. If the middle ground is flat racing only, that will pretty much end my interest. I used to like flat racing decades ago, but the dominance of mega-rich mainly arab owners with questionable morals has killed that. Their horses are raced to breed rather than bred to race, because that's where the money is. If the concensus is that it should be banned then fair enough, at least I've got some fantastic memories to look back on which future generations will be denied.

No horse racing deaths means no horse racing, which means no racehorses.