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I'm not a gambler, not in the sense you would define. I grew up in KY and graduated from the University of Kentucky, so I've been to the races at Keeneland many times. I always set a loss limit of $20 or less on my trips, and never gambled until I'd lost the entire $20. I have never liked throwing away my money. But I love to see those beautiful animals parading in the paddock and galloping along the track. I love to stand at the finish line and feel the earth begin to rumble beneath my feet as the field heads down the stretch. They are magnificent athletes.
But Doyel is right. More needs to be done to prevent the needless deaths of these magnificent animals. And PETA is right, the horses shouldn't be whipped. I believe the new artificial surface at Keeneland is designed to be more forgiving, to reduce leg injuries. That is a step in the right direction. But there is a sickening side that Doyel doesn't touch on -- drugs. Horse trainers are worse than bodybuilders, baseball players or sprinters in drugging their athletes. The drugs cause bronchial bleeding and other distasteful side effects that should not be inflicted upon these marvelous animals. Thoroughbred racing needs to be forced to clean up its act. More sports columnists need to call attention to the shame of racing. More centralized oversight of the industry needs to be effected.
Horse racing is shameful in so many ways, but I still love to watch those horses run.
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