This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/05/horses-die-horrible-deaths-and-yet-the-melbourne-cup-crowds-will-be-back-next-year

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Horses die horrible deaths, and yet the Melbourne Cup crowds will be back next year Horses die horrible deaths, and yet the Melbourne Cup crowds will be back next year
(about 5 hours later)
It’s the 2013 Melbourne Cup and a five-year-old French horse called Verema has collapsed halfway through the race, having shattered its cannon bone, a large bone in the lower leg of horses.It’s the 2013 Melbourne Cup and a five-year-old French horse called Verema has collapsed halfway through the race, having shattered its cannon bone, a large bone in the lower leg of horses.
Green blinds are swiftly pulled around Verema as the horse is “euthanised” – a term used by racing officials that suggests Verema consented to galloping around in a circle, understood the risks of injury and regrettably agreed to being put to sleep.Green blinds are swiftly pulled around Verema as the horse is “euthanised” – a term used by racing officials that suggests Verema consented to galloping around in a circle, understood the risks of injury and regrettably agreed to being put to sleep.
The death provoked much indignation, much like the demise of favourite Admire Rakti in this year’s race, followed by the passing away of the seventh-placed horse, Araldo. Controversial billboards suggesting horses don’t have much fun while racing suddenly feel less, well, controversial.The death provoked much indignation, much like the demise of favourite Admire Rakti in this year’s race, followed by the passing away of the seventh-placed horse, Araldo. Controversial billboards suggesting horses don’t have much fun while racing suddenly feel less, well, controversial.
But the outrage at such tragedies surely germinates from a feeling of complicity. Australians bet around $800m on the famous race. Even those who don’t have a flutter are prone to gawking at the opulence and garishness that’s paraded in front of them.But the outrage at such tragedies surely germinates from a feeling of complicity. Australians bet around $800m on the famous race. Even those who don’t have a flutter are prone to gawking at the opulence and garishness that’s paraded in front of them.
With such a carnival of booze and shoeless revelry, it can be easy to forget the Melbourne Cup’s centrepiece comprises small men whipping animals, which, having survived an initial cull of foals deemed unworthy of racing, can end up being slaughtered once they hit old age.With such a carnival of booze and shoeless revelry, it can be easy to forget the Melbourne Cup’s centrepiece comprises small men whipping animals, which, having survived an initial cull of foals deemed unworthy of racing, can end up being slaughtered once they hit old age.
When deaths occur, we are sharply jolted from the spectacle. Like psychological experiments that show many people subconsciously enjoy inflicting discomfort for entertainment, the realisation of the pain caused is jarring.When deaths occur, we are sharply jolted from the spectacle. Like psychological experiments that show many people subconsciously enjoy inflicting discomfort for entertainment, the realisation of the pain caused is jarring.
People regularly suffer these uncomfortable moments. We buy the cheapest caged eggs until we are reminded of the suffering of battery hens. We wear clothes made by impoverished workers who toil in death traps and then something prods our consciences. We happy chew down delicious meat and then learn how it ends up on our plates.People regularly suffer these uncomfortable moments. We buy the cheapest caged eggs until we are reminded of the suffering of battery hens. We wear clothes made by impoverished workers who toil in death traps and then something prods our consciences. We happy chew down delicious meat and then learn how it ends up on our plates.
These moments are mostly shrugged off, forgotten about or self-justified. We all have our own little hypocrisies – I’m a vegetarian but I wear products derived from animals. Until Tuesday, I was only vaguely troubled by horse racing. Those who care not a jot about any of these things are perhaps in the most comfortable moral setting of all.These moments are mostly shrugged off, forgotten about or self-justified. We all have our own little hypocrisies – I’m a vegetarian but I wear products derived from animals. Until Tuesday, I was only vaguely troubled by horse racing. Those who care not a jot about any of these things are perhaps in the most comfortable moral setting of all.
The Melbourne Cup is harder to dismiss because millions of us eagerly watch the straining of the horses. It’s not quite Clockwork Orange but we can’t shy away. And when we are reminded that our favoured horse isn’t just an avatar for a betting slip but is in fact a sentient, suffering creature, we have to ask ourselves the awkward question of whether this entire equine circus was worth it. Any honest answer would be “no.” According to the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, 129 racehorses died between August 2013 and July this year – one every 2.9 days. Deaths aren’t rare, freakish events.The Melbourne Cup is harder to dismiss because millions of us eagerly watch the straining of the horses. It’s not quite Clockwork Orange but we can’t shy away. And when we are reminded that our favoured horse isn’t just an avatar for a betting slip but is in fact a sentient, suffering creature, we have to ask ourselves the awkward question of whether this entire equine circus was worth it. Any honest answer would be “no.” According to the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, 129 racehorses died between August 2013 and July this year – one every 2.9 days. Deaths aren’t rare, freakish events.
An act of cruelty in Victoria is defined if someone “overrides, overdrives, overworks, abuses, beats, worries, torments or terrifies” an animal. Once you strip away the pomp and prestige horse racing has to justify its existence, all you’re left with is people beating animals in front of a baying crowd.An act of cruelty in Victoria is defined if someone “overrides, overdrives, overworks, abuses, beats, worries, torments or terrifies” an animal. Once you strip away the pomp and prestige horse racing has to justify its existence, all you’re left with is people beating animals in front of a baying crowd.
The stuttering march of progress may one day make us scorn horse racing as we now scorn bear baiting and cock fighting. As Martin Luther King said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” The trouble is that we are at the start of the arc and the jobs, money and sheer larks of horse racing easily have the upper hand.The stuttering march of progress may one day make us scorn horse racing as we now scorn bear baiting and cock fighting. As Martin Luther King said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” The trouble is that we are at the start of the arc and the jobs, money and sheer larks of horse racing easily have the upper hand.
The death of Admire Rakti and Araldo will be tutted over, brows will furrow, but people move on and forget, just like they did after the demise of Verema. The crowds will be back next year, with their perchers and their daft hair. And then we they may have to see another animal die, and find new ways to tell themselves that it is OK, that it is all part of the fun. The death of Admire Rakti and Araldo will be tutted over, brows will furrow, but people move on and forget, just like they did after the demise of Verema. The crowds will be back next year, with their perchers and their daft hair. And then they may have to see another animal die, and find new ways to tell themselves that it is OK, that it is all part of the fun.