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It's an event that some people wait all year for, but this time around, the Preakness is surrounded by controversy. Animal rights activists say horseracing is cruel, especially after the death of a horse at the Kentucky Derby.
Images of three-year-old Eight Belles after breaking both her ankles moments after finishing second is what set off PETA's latest round of horseracing protests. Eight Belles was euthanized on the Churchill Downs track shortly after her injury.
Within hours, PETA launched a chorus of criticism, painting horseracing as a "dirty business no better than dog fighting." Now, the group is gearing up for a visible protest during the Preakness at Baltimore's Pimlico Racetrack on Saturday.
The're pressuring racing officials to take four immediate steps to improve safety and alleviate suffering:
- ban the whipping of horses
- prohibit racing horses before their third birthday
- replace dirt with synthetic tracks
- limit number of races horses can run each year
At Pimlico, trainer Rick Dutrow called the recommendations badly misguided and highly unlikely to make an impact. "No one, no matter what anyone says, they're not gonna stop it. The horses have to be trained and they're going to race and that's when the injuries happen."
His horse, Big Brown, placed first in the Kentucky Derby and is favored to take the triple crown. He said he understands the concerns, but defends the practices as an inherent part of the sport and ultimately the business. "Today, some horse is gonna get hurt. It's just gonna happen."
PETA plans to protest at the track Saturday, determined the Preakness spectators will hear them, although it seems less likely racing leaders will seriously consider their demands.
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