Industry Responds to PETA

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166659.post-68210463207961617602008-05-06T09:13:00.005-04:002008-05-06T09:48:33.441-04:002008-05-06T09:48:33.441-04:00Industry Responds to PETA<a href="http://fatdaddye.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/homer_beer.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://fatdaddye.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/homer_beer.jpg" border="0" /></a>I'm not sure I understand why PETA's grandstanding is getting so much attention, as the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority today has said in a response that the the demands (below) that PETA makes are not based in fact -- although making stuff up is nothing new for this animal rights organization. PETA's track record speaks for itself, they routinely makes up facts, hoping to quickly make news and sway the debate in their favor. When I was the editor of my college newspaper, PETA started a "Got Beer?" campaign where they blitzed college papers with press releases that claimed that beer was more nutritious than milk. Too bad that there was no truth to the statement that beer was healthier, as this was just a ploy for PETA to get people to stop consuming animal products. A few years later they also started a campaign aimed at high-school students that made false claims that milk caused acne, obesity, heart disease and cancer. Again, all lies. PETA plan to protest the KHRA today, and have made a list of demands that include: - Banning the racing of 2-year-olds - No racing on dirt (synthetic or turf only) - Ban the use of the whip Today the KHRA issued a response to these demands: <div><div><blockquote>People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent the KHRA a letter requesting that certain actions be taken. One statement indicated thoroughbreds should not be trained or raced before their third birthday, The KHRA has no scientific evidence to support the need to make this change. According to Dr. Larry Bramlage, the on-call veterinarian for the American Association of Equine Practitioners, "as soon as thoroughbreds are physically mature, they should start effective training. It is most desirable not to let the bone formation apparatus atrophy after growth and then require it to be re-created. The most effective training takes advantage of the blood supply and cell population that contributed to growth, and convert it to forming bone in response to training. Scientific evidence shows such horses have longer careers and are more successful." There has also been a suggestion that racing should be limited to synthetics surfaces or turf tracks. Research is ongoing on the safety of dirt and synthetic surfaces. It would be premature to rush to judgment on the exclusive use of any particular surface at this time.The KHRA will continue to monitor the research on the safety of track surfaces. Another suggestion has been to reduce the number of races per season. Again, the KHRA has no scientific evidence to support this view. With regards to the whipping of horses, a whip is a tool used by jockeys to direct and control the horse during the course of a race. This tool provides safety for all participants in the race, including other horses and riders, by reducing contact with other horses as well as the rail.Abuse of the use of a whip is a violation of Kentucky racing regulations and is unacceptable to the KHRA and state racing stewards. As a matter of fact, Kentucky racing stewards have taken disciplinary action against jockeys who have abused the use of a whip during a race. Kentucky stewards are required to review the videotape of a race before it can be declared official. Kentucky stewards reviewed videotapes of the Derby and saw no evidence of a violation of any racing regulation by Mr. Gabriel Saez during the course of the race.</blockquote> </div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06801414754458604594noreply@blogger.com