Anyone Like Horse Racing? (Non-Gambler Here!)

[Horsefan]

Hi Everyone! 

This is my first post on your forum! I am a mature lady who loves horses and horse racing. I have never gambled, I just like picking the horses and seeing them run.  I grew up around horses, 4-H horse shows and working close to a racehorse training facility.

My first message board experience presented itself when 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized after a noble but failed attempt to rehabilitate and save him from complications that arose from an injury in The Preakness- The 2nd leg of racing's Triple Crown series.  There was a horse racing message board on a news website with a thread full of people pouring their hearts out for this horse. 

As a new person on that board, I enjoyed alot of the horsie conversations and tried to fit in and get myself up to date with what was going on in horse racing (I had been away from the scene for 10+ years)  But it did not take me long to learn that something was wrong.  The board was overwhemingly populated with older women who seemed to be more inclined to post every accident, bad racing decision, unfavorable trainer comment, ect. , ect.  It became clear that a strong animal rights activist agenda was slipped into the "Reform Horse Racing And Make It Better Agenda".  Eventually a poster who was a force in the horse racing industry revealed posts by "their" leader that  showed that she was a member of PETA and wanted to abolish horse racing all together.

I am still on this board and posting as much fun stuff about horse racing as I can to counter the constant Smear Campaign Against Horse Racing.  And I have countered them myself politely, which has lead to many personal attacks and put downs (no big deal, it's a message board, not real life!) Their goal is to paint all horsemen as criminals, all race horses as victims, and anyone who disagrees as chat room Troll.  They have to do this so that they can pound into the minds of the American public on this big forum that horses (indeed all animals) should have their own "rights" .  Not be the property of their owners.   Personally, I don't know anyone who is not for caring for animals properly.  But giving animals legal rights like that of a person is to me a scary and dangerous step.  I know it seems far away and not a threat.  After my suspicions were aroused about this group on our board I did some research.  Many of these animal rights groups have abandoned obvious publicity stunts and are now moving solely through passing legislation and buying up stock in food companies (meat) to gain control.  All together they have almost limitless funds to do these things.

Obviously I like animals.  I like humans much more though.  I base my relationship with animals on what I have read in the Bible.  I don't add anything in on my own, and from what I remember God gave us dominion over all animals.  I don't remember any specific scripture about how we should treat animals (other than resting them on the Sabbath)

Horse racing has more than it's share of accidents.  And reforms should be made to make it safer for horses and jockeys.  But those reforms should be made by horsemen and not animal rights activists.  Kentucky Fried Chicken's CEO testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that you should never give these groups a platform or take them seriously.  If you don't believe me please do a little research- the Center For Consumer Freedom is a good place to start.

AND NOW TO GET TO MY POINT!!! I love horse racing and am looking for others who like to talk about their favorite horses currently running and the big races each week.  I research the information and watch the races on ESPN or for free on several horse racing websites.  No knowledge is required! Just a passion for horse racing.  I am very upbeat and like to have fun!!! I still exist at the other message board but very few talk horse racing there.  I did manage to somewhat halt the activist agenda by standing up with another to say that we disagree.  Message boards are often such negative places, it never ceases to amaze me.  I see it as a place where people are not separated by wealth, race, social status, looks, ect. and should be able to really connect and enjoy each others company.  Not so!   I had put off seeking other message boards because I do not like giving info/email all over the Internet.  Today I finally said to myself, Christians surely won't treat each other like this? I read the Bible, I pray to the Lord, and I can't very well go out and fight with people because the Lord keeps me grounded.  My hope is that little by little maybe I can coax some Christian horse racing FANS over to that message board so it can be fun. I just feel that I can depend on Christians to treat myself and others well.  Just having people to talk about the positives alone would drown out all of the animal rights activists.  You would not believe though how many people fall for the "We Want To Help Animals" routine and never question the motives behind it.  I believe that if I could populate that board with a group of positive horse racing enthusiasts it would encourage people to join in who have been scared off in the past.

Please, if anyone likes horse racing or knows someone who does, please have them chat with me on here.  I am all about having fun with horse racing.  I don't ever want to meet someone off of this message board or ask for any personal information.  I like people and recognize Jesus as my Lord and Savior. 

I have already started tracking the up and coming two year olds who may run in next year's Triple Crown races.  Getting excited ahead of time and watching their prep races for the biggest day in racing- The Kentucky Derby.

If you don't like horse racing I respect that, but please only respond if you do.  I have been through enough "horse racing is cruel" lectures to last a life time.

                                                                                                         Horsefan

[Petals]

I love horses and all animals.  My uncle owned a race horse, and my best friend as a child had a father who was a harness racer. 

Try not to get upset, but I'm responding to the quote from KFC in your post just to clarify things a bit.  Kentucky Fried Chicken's CEO testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that you should never give these groups a platform or take them seriously... 

KFC does not want to acknowledge that their practices are inhumane and have no intention of changing them.  That's why they would respond in such a way.  I know that many people don't care about how animals are treated as long as they can bite into a crispy chicken leg.  KFC refuses to change their inhumane treatment of the chickens they kill, and cause them unnecessary suffering.  That is what animal lovers protest and why many don't eat there.

A Scriptural quote about how to treat animals is:  "The righteous man regardeth the life of his beast."  That's found in Proverbs.

Welcome to the forum.  I do hope you get many people to join you in your discussion.   

[janine]

To the people who would wipe out ownership of animals because they are so cruelly treated:

I do hope you only wear leather that comes from cows who were never inhumanely treated and died of natural causes.  Check into that thoroughly before you buy.  I do hope you check into the animal husbandry practices of the breeders, feeders, stockyards, railroads, trucking firms, slaughterhouses and butchers involved with your belt or shoes or coat very carefully before you ever eat at any restaurant, or buy animal products from any store.

Make sure you don't have any animal-origin proteins, fats, or chemicals that come from animals, in your bath soap, laundry soap, shampoo, moisturizer, deodorant, medicine, vitamins, make-up, house paint, carpet, wallboard, insulation, insecticide, fertilizer...

I'm not a horse or racing enthusiast -- I like horses a lot, but I think I'd really only enjoy being there for the tradition of it and watching the festive crowd  on an important race day.  I do like to go look over the horses present at a county fair, though.  I have friends up North who raise Percherons.

I will tell my friend Patricia, who loves horses and who would like to go to a traditional race sometime, to email you.

[Horsefan]

Hi all, would love to hear from any one who likes horse racing and would like talk about their favorite race horses and the big races each week.  Would love to talk to anyone who enjoys the FUN of this sport.  Thank you All!

Alot of really good horses were retired after the Breeder's Cup races- Street Sense, Hard Spun, Lawyer Ron, English Channel, After Market, probably Any Given Saturday.  The Breeder's Cup is a huge day but knowing that it can hail the retirement of so many horses to a career as a  stallion certainly puts a damper on it.  It's just that they can make so much more as a stallion than they can as a racehorse.   The Breeder's Cup Classic winner was Curlin and many are still hoping that they will keep him racing in 2008.  Tiago and Midnight Lute will still continue to race.  Does anyone have any favorite race horses that they are following?

[spurly]

Does anyone have any favorite race horses that they are following?

The horses under the hoods of the cars driven by Hendrick Motor Sports team members Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Kyle Busch, Casy Mears and soon Dale Earnhardt, Junior.  Those are really the only horses I enjoy watching race.

[Horsefan]

Thank you anyways Spurly!

Please don't be offended! Does anyone know of any other Christian sports forums that might get more traffic?  I will keep checking back to see if any other horse racing fans are out there.  I am beginning to think that there are not alot of us who don't gamble but are still into it as much as I am.  It is the only sport I follow, otherwise I would try to quip in on the other sports posted.  Take care everybody.

[Horsefan]

 
Happy Thanksgiving All and God Bless!

[Horsefan]

I also put this under the Prayer Forum- Please say a prayer for 16 year old jockey Lyndie Wade, he was in a racing accident today and has not regained consciousness (it's been about 6 hours now) Thank You

[Horsefan]

Jockey Lyndie Wade woke up and is expected to make a full recovery, or very nearly so at least! PRAISE THE LORD!!! He takes such good care of us! Thank you for all of your prayers, and PLEASE-

If you know someone who loves horse racing and wants to chat send them my way.  Myself and a friend are tracking 2008 Triple Crown winners as we speak!!!

[zoonance]

Great news.   I enjoy horses and have been to a few races.  I might have even placed a bet, I don't remember.   But I am not the enthusiast you are hoping to find!  Sorry.   I used to work on a racing quarterhorse farm in Wichita, Kansas - AI, pregnancy exams.    Come to think of it, they still owe my some money!