Breeders Cup...or "why I hate horse racing"

Imagine if they euthanized like in the old days when they'd actually euthanize the horse with a shotgun and the crowd would hear the blast? 

I am curious as to "Rich people and their animal games".  Do some here view Professional sports in the same fashion?  Instead of actual animals, the athletes themselves are the expendable commodity tossed to the curb when injured or no longer performing.  Just a thought...

Good point.  However I would argue that pro athletes are tossed to the curb with a substanital bank roll that they got when they were performing.  The champion horse still eats the same hay as every other horse.

Actually, Barbaro was saved from being euthanized, and they tried to reconstruct his foot.  After months of rehabilitation they had to eventually put him down.  During this time I know that the owners actually brought in feeding grass from the paddock where he was raised. They had a great love for the animal. Very sad.

I am not sure I would criticize horse racing so harshly.  They do take very good care of the animals.  However, I think that the problem arises with a highly bred horse, that due to it's musculature and fine bones, is susceptible to very debilitating injury. If a horse comes up lame, there is little that can be done to save it.

I would challenge that argument.  Only the very talented, or very lucky, few will ever retire after a long career with a substantial bank roll.

Those who do leave with a substantial bank roll are, often, those who choose to retire of their own accord versus those who retire because of injury.

Here's an interesting article from a year ago: 
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/super/2006-01-28-retirement-perils_x.htm

A couple of key statements:

I would challenge that argument. Only the very talented, or very lucky, few will ever retire after a long career with a substantial bank roll.

Those who do leave with a substantial bank roll are, often, those who choose to retire of their own accord versus those who retire because of injury.

Here's an interesting article from a year ago:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/super/2006-01-28-retirement-perils_x.htm

A couple of key statements:

Now I am glad I didn't watch the race. After Barbaro, I just don't think I can stomach it. Those horses are all so beautiful. It makes me so sad to think that they could get a life ending injury out there running, and not all of them get the love that Barbaro's owners clearly felt for him.

Horses are so beautiful and smart and can be so loving. That's all I wanted to say. I'm saddened that this happened this weekend.

Can you post links? I'd like to read it...

If that's accurate where were they shipping the 42 horses in the cattle trailer that crashed and killed or lead to the death of (I think) 16horses?  I could have sworn the news report I heard said they were being shipped to a slaughter house.

I'm sure there are better links than this out there but I'm pressed for time:  http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=7768

They were going to an auction in Minneapolis.  That's not to say they were going to a slaughterhouse in Minneapolis.  They may well have been bought there, shipped outside the US, and slaughtered.