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| Sunday, 26 February 2006 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Cruelty in horse racing There are many ways in which man can be cruel to animals. This includes cruelty to animals they may encounter on the roads and elsewhere, and cruelty inflicted on the pets and other animals they themselves rear. Entertainment is another area where animals are misused, abused and ill-treated. A variety of animals including lions, tigers, elephants and bears are forced to learn and perform actions which are unnatural to them, merely to provide thrills and enjoyment for human beings. Horse racing is another area where poor animals are subjected to abuse, to satisfy man's greed. It is a sport which generates huge sums of money, and a winning horse could mean millions in the bank, for the owner. So, race courses around the world welcome the best of the horses to take part. Animals on the race track are in some instances beaten by their riders to prompt them to run faster, which could lead to accidents after colliding with each other. Some of them even die on the track due to exhaustion. Also, since maintaining an old, feeble or sick race horse could prove to be very expensive, owners wouldn't think twice about putting down an animal which is no longer able to compete. Isn't this cruelty of the first degree? Most race courses in Western countries now utilise part of their profits to maintain rehabilitation centres for old and sick horses. This is a welcome move which could be emulated by horse owners in other parts of the world as well. -IT |
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