Cheltenham Racing, The Bad Side Of It

A Very Bad Day
Five horses died on a single day of the famous Cheltenham Racing Festival last week, making it the worst racing day for horses in a decade. Charity group Animal Aid claims Cheltenham is the most hazardous course in the world and that 375 horses are raced to death in the UK annually.(Dave Shopland, SIPA Press)

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Anyone ever having rode a horse at a gallop knows the strength of a powerhouse on 4 legs, nothing can achieve a high like riding a fast horse at a full out gallop. But, to ride a horse at full pace in a race with other horses within inches or less over jumps as high as 6 ft, and on unsturdy footing? Crazy and suicidal, for both horse and rider. Sure, in my younger years, L. and I raced all over the countryside on our much loved horses, over streams, fallen trees, ect.. Soaring over even a small obstacle on a horse can make a rider feel like they are flying, but it is not worth endangering your life and your horse's life to be first at the finish line. I understand these animals are trained athletes and strong competitors, but to lose 9 horses in 1 race week-something is DEAD wrong, in my opinion.

This year (2006) alone at Cheltenham 9 horses were killed. Fatalities are inevitable when the ground rides fast and half ton animals are hurling themselves over 5-6 foot jumps at a break-neck pace. Speed kills. Why were so many horses many killed? It demands an investigation.............

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As the wind swept over the saddle, it turned to a mixture of bright colors and painted the world.- Ronan Warriors