tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post3693619070030686600..comments2023-11-17T12:09:40.494-05:00Comments on Foolish Pleasure: Reality CheckValerie Grashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696887655473752690noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-13107087603146765702008-05-07T17:48:00.000-04:002008-05-07T17:48:00.000-04:00To Sharon Crute---of course those with Horse racin...To Sharon Crute---of course those with Horse racing knowledge would applaud something to come out of the Fanatics demostrating---but be careful for what you wish for--lets let the owners of Race Horses be more vocal instead of the Breeders---raceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-30231705664173170462008-05-06T18:55:00.000-04:002008-05-06T18:55:00.000-04:00Thank you for the excellent post, Valerie. There a...Thank you for the excellent post, Valerie. There are so many factors involved, and we're all still hurting, that it's difficult to be intelligently objective. I've been an advocate for drug-free racing for years. The competition for top horses amongst trainers warrants that they maintain an "edge" by using whatever is the pharmaceutical latest as well as the routine medications (lasix, bute, steroids, etc.). Many vets consider it a challenge to mask these concoctions - i.e. milkshakes, cobra venom, elephant juice, etc. This tragic event will not go quietly into the night. Thank goodness. I know you consider PETA an overwrought pain in the a__, but American racing needs to squirm a bit under the microscope. If Eight Belles' horrible demise is instrumental in implementing change in a constructive manner, then God bless her, she didn't go in vain.Sharon Crutehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863738656880236937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-80197169170148775142008-05-06T09:41:00.000-04:002008-05-06T09:41:00.000-04:00Nice work as usual Val but you are not addressing ...Nice work as usual Val but you are not addressing the developmental point of view. <BR/><BR/>Very few would say that fillies and mares of a certain age can not compete on equal footing.<BR/><BR/>I saw All Along and Dahlia in their hey day. <BR/><BR/>But European style turf racing is one thing and the running style of the Kentucky Derbys is quite another.<BR/><BR/>I look forward to your thoughtful reply :-)Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03874325506841146077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-78947798900403433432008-05-06T09:06:00.000-04:002008-05-06T09:06:00.000-04:00Great work. Male and female horses run together e...Great work. Male and female horses run together everywhere else in the world (just look at the UK, France, Germany, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Dubai, etc.) and it's no big deal. <BR/><BR/>With respect to Helene's comment, I agree that turf tracks are usually safer and more forgiving (and are the norm just about everywhere else), but I don't believe it confers any sort of advantage to either gender. The difference is that we breed for it, and few other countries do so.Superfectahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-59825757376515993512008-05-06T00:42:00.000-04:002008-05-06T00:42:00.000-04:00I respect you as an intelligent and a real horse l...I respect you as an intelligent and a real horse lover but disagree with you on the female racing male factor.<BR/> The Arc de Triumphe as well as most<BR/>racing in Australia is on turf.<BR/> On this surface 3 year olds also <BR/>can compete well against older horses evem before the fall so it <BR/>appears to have that equalizing<BR/>nature. Young fillies chasing the males on dirt although some have succeeded it is not worth the end<BR/>damaging effects on their soundness.<BR/> I argued this on my forum list for weeks the moderater still has the posts, I dont pat myself on the back I am deeply saddened by<BR/>witnessing this filly run out of life. We can all argue and debate <BR/>but why even test the waters when it took so much out of others.<BR/> I care too much about our female horses so beautiful in evry way but<BR/>they should beheld honorably by us even if they do not win a classic race against males. Few of our great female retirees are taken care of and pensioned but so many more fall through the cracks.<BR/> That said for all she had accomplished Coolmore and the Jockey Club has no idea what happened to Davona Dale I urge you <BR/>to attempt a search its a dead end.<BR/>and no one cares.<BR/> I bring this up only to let you know how much I adore our great female stars. It really hurt watching her along with my daughter<BR/>and her four daughters on Saturday<BR/>leave this world in agony for the world to see.They were well aware of Barbaro even though they were so<BR/>young, but I cannot exlain to you what they feel about the fataloutcome of Eight Belles life.<BR/> Helenebaileyhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18278219698174775195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-87325842141672127982008-05-05T21:29:00.000-04:002008-05-05T21:29:00.000-04:00This is great and exactly what is needed... REAL D...This is great and exactly what is needed... REAL DATA. Nice work!danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10108031874575905943noreply@blogger.com