[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

I love a bit of boxing. I see no reason that consenting adults should be stopped doing a sport they love and one that gives them self-control and discipline. Horse racing and horse riding is really dangerous and prone to a lot of injuries and deaths. Can't see anyone calling for it to be banned though.

There are huge anti-horse racing movements actually... probably bigger than for boxing actually... the difference is, it's not because anyone cares about jockies getting hurt (although they often do) but because they care about the conditions for the horses

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

Cynical woman. I LOVE 'Jumps' racing because it requires far more skill in a jockey than just 'steering' as with Flat Racing, and the horses actually ENJOY jumping - witness how many who have unseated their rider often continue to jump and complete the course.

This is actually a myth Kirk, the reason unseated horses continue to run the course is that they're instinctually driven to continue to "run with the herd". Horse racing on the whole is pretty ruthless and, fairly obviously, the horses would MUCH rather be running free in large groups over open spaces...

And all of this coming from a bookie . I actually dislike horse racing as a sport. I mean I'm far from a PETA activist or a... bleuch... "vegan"... but it DOES seem like needless exploitation.

...Dog racing is even worse, though.