Even though it's from a Texas newspaper, the disturbing information can be
used for your protests and letters against racetracks.
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Racehorses risk fatal finish in a life-and-death gamble

Web Posted: 05/21/2006 12:00 AM CDT
John Tedesco
San Antonio Express-News

Miss Pretty Promises collapsed near the finish line and struggled to rise on
her shattered forelegs.

A pickup rushed to the crippled racehorse. Two men sprang out and shielded
the filly from the crowd with a crinkled tarp as the vet went to work.

It was April 28 — opening night for live racing at Retama Park. In the
stands, many people had gasped when horse No. 4 with the crisp yellow silks
tumbled in front of them on the dirt track.

A covered trailer soon whisked the concealed horse away and onlookers
clapped and cheered, as if they were rooting for a football player who was limping bravely off the field.

But Miss Pretty Promises never would run again.

Behind the tarp, Dr. Stewart Marsh had taken one look at the grotesquely
twisted legs and saw there was no hope of recovery.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA052106.1A.dying.racehorses.7e1a7e5.html

Barbaric.

I am supposed to go to the horseraces with my husband's out-of-town family this weekend. I have been before and witnessed and horse fall while racing and get shuttled off the track behind a screen. I never wanted to go back to the races again, but I feel like I have to go. I'm not sure what to do.

If you never wanted to go back after witnessing injury, then simple, don't go.
By going, you pay to get in, and support the industry financially, which keeps it going.

I'm not sure what to do.

If you don't want to go then........ don't go?

That's awful! I love horses so much, and it really hurts me when they get hurt like this.

You could relate what you saw, and sum it up with "After seeing that, horseraces just aren't fun for me anymore." And then politely but firmly decline to attend.
You might also want to toss in something about Barbaro's incident, as that is on everyone's mind right now.

Word is they are trying to save Barbaro for "stud" purposes. What will they do if Barbaro proves unsuccessful in that department. What will they do to him then.

Protesting this kind of abuse is a great idea, but in the meantime, there are organizations out there who are trying to find good homes for these dogs after they're "useless" because of an injury or low speed, etc. I can't remember one group I just heard about it (there was a huge special on it on TV a few months ago...) but I'll try to look it up if anyone's interested. A lot of those dogs suffer greatly while they're having to race, but it's even worse for the dogs who have to go through all that, only to be tossed out when they're no longer needed. They're really sweet animals and they're incredibly grateful to finally have caring guardians - if they're fortunate enough to find them after so many years of racing.

Okay, so I read this thread through and knew it was about horseracing, but for some reason I wrote back about dog racing... oops :) Sorry it's off-topic; my mistake! But if anyone still wants to check out the link to the organization that finds homes for the dogs who race, I can still look it up. Sorry again! :)

Things like this will always happen as long as they race throuroughbreds. Their legs are too fragile and slim, it's been passed down for generations and gets worse with each one.

As for Barbaro...if they can't stud him, they'll kill him. Can't have a horse eating food without earning it :(