I have got the chocolate in...............

Shame we do not see the Pardubice, now THERE is a race!

After I had replied.


The point being Pidge, if the argument is "horses die then it should include EVERYTHING we do with horses,,,

As horse fatalities are far higher throughout other aspects of equine sport, then racing.

I suppose it all depends on where you draw the line on what is acceptable. Personally I think that if there are reasonable measures put in place to prevent any suffering for the animals, then great, carry on. But as it is they expect an average of three horses to die each year, with five dying in 2009 and 4 dying in 2010. That says to me that the level of risk is unacceptably high, higher than other events. Of course, if (on average) six horses in every thousand were to die out hacking or whatever then I would be against that too, but the fact is that they don't because it is not as dangerous. There is a big difference between a freak accident that could happen to any horse, and an event dangerous enough that horses dying is relatively commonplace. The former can only be prevented by sheer luck or wrapping the animal in cotton wool for it's whole life; the latter can be prevented pretty easily, but people chose not to. I don't understand why anyone would support those odds against the horses, but I can respect your choice.

And I do eat meat, but not meat from an animal that is either killed by or euthanised after a major injury, sustained in an event purely for human entertainment- there's a big difference, in my mind.

Well I have put my bets on !