PETA Writes to Clinton About Eight Belles

Kudos for Rose!!! Barbaro was treated with multiple VERY expensive surgeries before he died because he refused to stay still long enough for his injuries to heal. This proves the point that horses love to run and we cannot hold them still anymore than the wind. My friend's filly had to be put down after falling in a field. This is not cruelty, it is just an accident. PETA should shut up about the whole "forcing poor, young colts and fillies to run" argument. I do not see anyone whining about parents putting their 6 year olds in youth sports. These kids are far from fully developed either. I love horses (and most other animals) but this is nonsense. My thoroughbred is VERY competitive and obviously chooses to race my friends' horses when we ride together. He is almost dangerous because he decides that he HAS to be first. That is why I am missing a tooth. :-)

Somebody tell the well meaning (but very wrong) people at PETA to get a real job and do something useful with their lives!

It was sad that EIGHT BELLES had to be put down a freak acceident. peta could put their work towards better use. most Race horses have better care then alot of kids. Alot of wonderful organzationa out their find new jobs for race horses that cannot run any more. They are taken care of again by new owners. Just turn on the TV and see another child abused. I have never seen a new born horse thrown in the trash. Have you? These horses have a chance to live and grow up and are taken care of and loved. I love to watch race horses run and nothing better then the smell of a horse. For Hillary Clinton comments about EIGHT BELLES she was supporting women in all sports even fillies and mares. All babies want to be be born in a good loving homes' humans and animals and most are.

Thank goodness the PETA is not in the news anymore...their argument is (let me put it nicely)not very accurate.

PETA has no credibility when the topic is the ethical treatment of animals.

For example; who has killed more dogs Vick or PETA?

This all you need to know about PETA.

"Races like this are the equivalent of child sweatshops"

They equate and even elevate animals abouve human beings.

I completely support PETA's work. For those idiots who say the horses "love to run in the races" while being whipped mercilessly is the same as saying cows love to be slaughtered for meat. Its absolutely disguesting to how the minds of some people operates. Have those people ever thought that the horses DIDNT have a choice but to be exploited as soon as it was born into the racing industry? unlike the jockies or rich scum who line their pockets full of blood money.

Bottom Line: Hillary Clinton should be ashamed of herself and apoligize to the American public for her dispicable act. She is suppose to be a role model for peace and compassion towards all animal, human and non-human. Not lead the way to animal abuse and exploitation. I certainly won't be voting for her if she comes comes out into the primary.

PETA does need to take a stand on the Kentucky Derby - it's not much better than a dog fight. It's a shame that such beautiful animals give their lives for betting/drinking and rich folks that do not value life. The animal has no voice and give it's all. Yes, horses like to run - but running and racing are two different things. They are raced before they are matured physically. The breeding, feeding, and inhancers also need to be looked into. Keep doing what you do - the letter to H. Clinton - right on. Thanks for listening. jb

I am just saddened by the inhumane treatment these horses are given when prompted to run beyond their limits on such slender legs. Especially when they don't realize how much they are hurting because they are being encouraged by "whipping" to continue on to the finish line. On the other hand, common sense should tell the adults in the situation that this is cruel and insensitive and all done for the love of money. As far as the comment made that these horses are "better in these environments than being in the wild" is just ignorance beyond belief. They would have a choice to run or not and not being whipped to do so. I would propose that Hillary and all legislatures vote to band this barbaric act of violence once and for all.

Honestly, get it through your thick skulls. These horses run because they love it. Nothing can stop them. If you'd remember, Edgar Prado had a hard time pulling Barbaro up after he broke his leg in the Preakness because he wanted to keep on running. People are NOT forcing these animals to run, they run because they love it. The whips DO NOT hurt the horse. The horses are trained in a way that when they feel the whip, they increase their speed. Likewise, the whips are telling a horse when to run straight to prevent accidents from happening (in most horseback riding situations, the rider uses their legs to cue the horse where to go. A jockey's legs are far too high to do this, therefore the whip is used). To a horse, it is like a soft slap on the thigh. This is definitely NOT classified as abuse. If anyone disagrees with this, go check out the material the whips are made out of.
If anyone goes onto the backside of a racetrack or onto a thoroughbred racing farm in Kentucky, they would realize that these horses live better than most people in the U.S. They are treated like royalty, given the best of the best to help with the safety issues. Every athlete gets injured sometime during their career. It is no different for horses. If the PETA is going to start something like this, at least do some research first and understand what you are talking about.

You would think that PETA would be ecstatic with the death of Eight Belles. After all, they want to eradicate the world of all animals anyhow, just like H$U$.
What happened to Eight Belles was tragic, I give you that. I even cried, not because I had a bet on her, but simply because she was such a beautiful and talented horse (and I am scared to death of horses).
I have sled dogs, and they run for enjoyment, just like Eight Belles. The PETA crowd needs to find something better to do with their time. Maybe get a job for starters. They have way too much time on their hands, and have NO CLUE as to what they are talking about.

I am against horse racing. I have no interest in any event that uses/exploits animals for entertainment and/or sport. Horse racing should be abolished. It is dangerous for the animals (Barbaro, Eight Belles & plenty of other poor souls) *AND* the riders. If you want to place a bet, go play poker.

Horses run because they enjoy it. More horses break down on farms than in races.

P.S. George Washington ran in the Breeder Cup Classic, not the Preakness. Please keep the facts straight.

IN RESPONSE TO THE BELOW... YOU CAN'T BE KIDDING... THAT 'IS' WHAT THIS ORGANIZATION DOES... AND WHAT IN YOUR MIND MAKES A STRAY DOG OR CAT MORE WORTHY PROTECTION AND FREEDOM FROM HARM AND ABUSE THAN A HORSE?? GENIUS

This horse's death is very sad but I would suggest that PETA also protect every stray dog, cat, rabbit, rat, bird squirrel or mouse from any harm by humans.
This radical group is trying to get their 15 minutes of fame and exploit an sad accident.

PETA wrote a great letter irrespective of who the recipient it. Using animals for fun and profit is tragic and selfish on behalf of all humans that do so. The Holy Spirit is in all living things according to Jesus' teachings (when even on apsrrow falls to the ground my Father knows it).

Horse racing is not a sport. Forcing an animal to run beyond it's physical capabilities is not a sport and watching a horse break down on a race track is not entertainment. It's about money and fame for the owners/trainers/jockeys, the horses are not given a choice. PETA is extreme in their tactics, but I applaud their call to action.

How SAD! How IGNORANT!
PETA shame on you.....Shame on you and that ignorant representative you just had on FoxNews. To blame anyone on what happened to Eight Belles, without knowing the facts, is so saddening. For an organization with a good cause to flippantly blame a jockey or a trainer for what happened to Eight Belles with no evidence? These people spend every single day of their lives dedicated to these amazing animals. To even suggest "masking injuries with drugs" is sickening to listen to. This couldn't have happened to better and more honest people. If you heard Larry Jones and the vet himself, you heard that there was absolutely no sign of stress during the race. This was a freak accident and many believe that she took a misstep as she was slowing down, and accidentally crossed her two front legs. She was a strong filly and one that America should be so proud of. I love that Hillary endorsed her publically and love that Chelsea was there. They embraced American history on Saturday. Good luck changing it.

Leave this jockey, this trainer, and these fans alone! Our hearts should be with them for this tremendous loss.

Me again,

I was a little confusing i guess. i have 48 horses (i checked) currently. We have been in the buiness for 20 years.

I also wanted to comment that these horses want to run. hey were bred for that. More horses break there legs and suffer and then die out in the wild. When a horse breaks down they get put out of there missery, they dont suffer for as long.

Think about this controversial case.
In Oregon they kill sealions because they eat and harm the salmons.
The other part of this country as I watched on ABC people tried to resque some sealions.

Kathy,

I agree with you.
PETA need to take action long time ago.
There are so much more animal abuses in this country which are still underground.

The problem with Eight Belles is why the owner did not know that she was having problem before the accident.
She had to force herself to continue the race.
She was a true champion.
That is make me very sad.
RIP.

Yet another "LOOK AT ME" flag waved from PETA. Yeah. We know you're there. Now do me a favor, will you? Stop euthanizing THOUSANDS perfectly healthy animals yourself and get off the back of the ones that put down ONE in misery.