The Belles are Still Tolling

This time the public outcry seems to be longer and stronger. Over at Dolittler, Dr. Patty Khuly has urged a moratorium on watching Triple Crown races, even though she herself loves the sport.

Sally Jenkins in The Washington Post, wonders if horse racing is breeding itself to death. Jane Smiley won't stop watching the animals she loves compete, but she does point out that in Europe, where horses rarely race on dirt and wait until they are older to start competing, break-downs are less frequent.

The New York Times yesterday wondered why there is no governing board in horse racing to oversee safety and equine welfare.

And some of the bettors who won money on Eight Belles are turning their winnings over to horse rescues.

Bravo! It's about time. Maybe this time, with Barbaro and Eight Belles leading the way, racing will get the message. Enough is enough. Enough breeding for speed. Enough racing too young, too far, too fast. And enough investing in horses like they are commodities that can be "sold" when they are done producing.

We need consistent surfaces, less emphasis on big name races for three year olds and independent safety stewards, not connected to any racetrack, to not be afraid to call off events if track surfaces are deemed dangerous to man and beast. And we need to remember that the sport begins and ends with the thoroughbred and if we don't treat them with respect, it will indeed end.