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'The Onion' Predicts Identity of 'Horse Torturer of the Year'

Written by PETA

Posted 04-28-2010

While billboard companies in Louisville may want to keep Kentucky Derby fans in the dark about the racing industry's appalling abuses, which lead to breakdown and death, The Onion makes them front-page news.

In making their predictions for the upcoming Kentucky Derby, The Onion's "Steam Room" commentators reveal just how shockingly* far "horse beaters" (their words) will go in forcing their beleaguered, drugged thoroughbreds to race (or hobble) toward the finish line, including whippings and more. As one of the sportscasters notes, "As far as I know, there are no rules in horse racing. You just procure a horse and get [him or her] across the finish line by any means necessary." Folks, you won't want to miss this video:

Jockey Liam Hollins The Favorite To Brutally Whip Horse To Kentucky Derby Win

The last time "America's Finest News Source" shed light on "expendable athletes," some readers didn't make the connection to the horse-racing industry—but this time, there can be no denying it. Thanks, Onion!

Written by Karin Bennett

*and satirically

Tags:

Louisville, PETA U.K., The Onion, Arnold Ziffel, Internet Soup, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, thoroughbreds

Recent Comments

KIM G. commented:

Apr 30, 2010 10:38 PM

I don't think there is anything wrong with horse racing.now there are bad sides of the sport and bad people but most of the time the horses are treated like royalty.i ride horse and have 2 horses of my own and i love horse racing.i in no way agree with the abuse and mistreatment that does go on.in all sport there is a chance of injury.anything type of horse riding has a chance of that but that does not mean all of it is bad.i am all four horse racing and i love horses.
Rev. Meg Schramm commented:

Apr 30, 2010 10:40 AM

Apparently Leslie has never been spanked or if she was spanked as a child she has forgotten how painful it can be. An adult hand applied however lightly to a small rear end hurts! Anything used to hit a child a flyswatter a willow switch or the green sticks intended for roofing material on a Lincoln Log set hurts even more. Why does she think the horses run faster when they are whipped? It's to make the pain stop. Hitting or whipping anyone to make them do something or stop doing something is done by people who has lost control of themselves or the situation they are in.
Ellera commented:

Apr 30, 2010 2:49 AM

Horse racing is corrupt as can be! The drugging of these animals is considered normal and races are fixed. This is ORGANIZED CRIME operating under a shiny surface.
Margaret commented:

Apr 30, 2010 2:32 AM

As for John J's comments that people should stop posting they hope people get hurt the answer is an UNEQUIVOCAL "NO"!!! If people think it is OK to abuse horses or ANY animal for that matter then they themselves deserve to get hurt!! What the hell?? The people who INFLICT pain on animals should FEEL the pain THEMSELVES AND I HOPE THEY DO!! It would serve them right! Also Leslie Casey states that not all thoroughbred owners and trainers are COMPLETELY cruel etc. Are you kidding me????? So in your opinion it is ok to be PARTIALLY cruel?? Furthermore if you think the only thing these jockeys are instructed to do is to give the horses a little slap with a whip to keep them in a gallop THINK again!! Do you really think this whole PETA investigation is about a LITTLE slap with a whip?? It is a WHOLE lot more!!! You need to check out the information again and take the blinders off!!!
Ellie commented:

Apr 29, 2010 6:42 PM

Some of that just seems nonsense. In parts of Europe there are rules in the horse and racing industry and certainly on using the whip and drugs!
Jay commented:

Apr 29, 2010 4:31 PM

M O N E Y S U C K E R S !
Shari commented:

Apr 29, 2010 3:39 PM

That was so funny! But true! So sad this is really happening. Slowly the public is learning that horse racing is a all around losing "sport" It's the rich man's dogfighting sport! Horses are so beautiful they should and always remain free!
Brenda Hixenbaugh commented:

Apr 29, 2010 3:00 PM

John what is wrong is that there are lawsnot even mentioning the humane issuse here that make it illigal to abuse any animal. And the fact that some jockeys openly and with out fear abuse these horses to excess and the owners not only know about itbut allow it is what is wrong. Abuse is abuse no matter who it is This world has got to change and the gray areas need to be eliminated Abusers need to be dealt withnot get nothing done to them. Can you fully comprehend the pain and agony that some of these horses must endurewhen all the while the abuser go's about his merry way.Put yourself in that horses place.Close your eyes and just imagine.Remember their crys of painpanicand helplessness. See their eyes while this gos on now put yourself in that horses place.Its not right just because its a man or who ever is doing it. Its not right to allow abuse to against an innocent creature to go on.Its not right to allow these kind to keep having victim after victim. That is why you have people wishing harm donebecause there is not going to be anything doneThat is what is wrong. Abusers are not human they are in fact a vile desease that is out of control and must be wiped out because all that these parasites offer is the painsufferingand agony of death to helpless creatures that have done nothing to deserve the torture.If you have ever known abuse then you would know what these horses are going through and it isn't prettyits heart breaking.So I too knowing that there is nothing going to be done even though it should hope that the poor abused animal stomps that little worm into the ground.
Kate commented:

Apr 29, 2010 2:48 PM

These thoroughbred's abuse at the racetrack is only the beginning of their problems. The thoroughbred industry breeds thousands of horses every year so that the fastest ones can win money for their owners for a year or so. After that the ones who aren't fast enough to win money or the ones they break down by racing so young end up sold for slaughter. Sure a few of them go to homes and have other careers but the majority are jammed on a truck that is too short for them to raise their heads with their final destination being eaten as someone's meal. The racing industry is an ugly thing.
Brenda Hixenbaugh commented:

Apr 29, 2010 2:26 PM

You know that there is a line that you don't cross over and for anyone to stand around and allow what is obious abuse to go on unchallenged is just as much an animal abuser as the one that is doing the torture. May God have mercy on your souls.

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