5 Reasons I Hate the Kentucky Derby (and a Few Reasons I Love It)

I have a love-hate relationship with the Kentucky Derby and horse racing in general. So every year around this time I feel a sense of excitement and unease when the Run for the Roses is near.

I love horse racing because it features horses-obviously! Going to a race is magical with the thundering hooves, cheering fans, and pre-race pageantry of jockeys in bright silks atop prancing, amped equines.

Racing is a simple sport to understand and thus, in way democratic: the horse who runs fastest wins. You don’t need to know bloodlines, racing stats, or what a trifecta is to enjoy the thrill of sleek Thoroughbreds shooting out of the starting gate and galloping on through to the finish line.

Thanks to horse racing, I have my new best friend. And a number of other horsey friends I know in real life or via the blogosphere have their heart horses thanks to the Sport of Kings.

Another reason I love horse racing is because I have happy memories of going to Arlington Park with my dad when I was a kid. I have this feeling like I even saw John Henry run there (which I can’t confirm, but it seems real in my mind).

A few days ago I met a new friend at my barn who said her dad used to work at the track, and that she won’t go to races anymore because the industry is “evil.” I thought, “Wow!” that’s a harsh indictment.  I’ve actually in the last year or so met some of the finest people with true hearts for horses who are part of this industry. For example, the manager of a breeding farm who said when the recession hit she’d get at least one call a week from concerned neighbors/citizens reporting on horses (Thoroughbreds) in need. She’d take them in saying it was part of her duty.

On the other hand, I hate aspects of horse racing. Here’s why.

1. Too Many Breakdowns

I’m still a bit traumatized from from watching the 2008 Kentucky Derby in which  the gorgeous gray filly Eight Belles broke down and had to be euthanized pretty much on the spot. All I could think is literally that she ran her heart out. I cried and I didn’t even know her. It seemed so wrong. Not necessarily that she was being asked to run, because that’s what Thoroughbreds are meant to do. Wrong that the very thing she was meant to do killed her.

She’s not the only horse who has lost its life while doing their job. Breakdowns are more frequent on tracks than the general public is probably aware of.  If you want to research this more, just Google “breakdowns at racetracks” and you’ll see New York Times, Bloodhorse, The Chronicle of the Horse and PETA articles (four very different sources). I don’t have the heart to search up exact numbers, but it’s not just a once-every-few-years kind of thing. Horses die on tracks somewhat routinely.

2. Gambling as Addiction

I’m also uncomfortable with the whole backdrop of gambling at the racetrack. I have placed bets here and there over the years and have won a bit of cash from time to time. I think I won $38 once; that was a big deal. I personally don’t have a gambling problem, but some folks do have a problem and lose not just money, but their well-being from their addiction. There’s a reason Gambler’s Anonymous exists.

3. Horse Overpopulation

I saw an infographic last year which I can’t find online now, but it outlined the path of a horse going to the Kentucky Derby. It showed there are 38,000 Thoroughbred foals born every year, and how only a small percentage will reach the highest level of elite racing and there is only one Derby winner. Does the world really need 38,000 potential race horses born each year?

Where do all those non-contenders go? What about the ones who are contenders but sustain career-ending injuries? Fortunately many of them become riding companions and start up a second career thanks to the great work of organizations like New Vocations, Neigh Savers, and CANTER, but not all of them do.

4. Shady Horse-Racing Personalities

A controversial PETA horse racing video was circulating in cyber world around this time last year. It was disturbing and showed the dark sides of both a fairly well known trainer and jockey. I am not confident that PETA can be regarded as a reliable source of balanced information, but if even 5% of the information in the video was true, my new friend’s descriptor of “evil” about summed up the activities of those racing industry heavyweights.

Yet, I know that trainer can’t possibly be representative of ALL trainers. I know not all NFL players are dogfighters or all baseball players are on steroids.

 5. Nurse Mare Phenomenon

I don’t have statistics on this one and for those of you (like me) who can’t take those ASPCA commercials with Sara McLachlan and the sad dogs in the pound, I’ll talk vaguely about this point. Basically some race horse mares that are “valuable” will give birth and the foal (also valuable) will be given to another horse of lesser value (breed not important) to nurse. There is not always a happy ending for the lesser value foal who is born essentially so its mother can have milk for the pedigreed baby. Do your good deed for the day and go to Facebook and like the page of Last Chance Corral in Ohio. They’re doing great things.

These are some of the reasons why I love/hate the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness and all the other horse races both famous and not.

I do not have a Derby favorite this year. I will be pulling for all of the horses and praying they run safely and cross the finish line. Regardless of what order they happen to finish.

Thanks for reading!

Love it, hate it, or a little of both? What are your views on the Kentucky Derby and horse racing in general?

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