On racing’s egregious meter, steeplechasing is practically unsurpassed. These are the kinds of races you watch with an expectation of horses falling – and breaking. This past Saturday saw the 118th running of the Maryland Hunt Cup, a 4-mile race – at times, run at 30 mph – featuring 22 5-foot-high solid timber fences. The final tally: 15 started, 4 finished; of the 11 who did not, 4 fell, 4 “pulled-up,” and 3 lost their riders. The Baltimore Sun reported thus: “The crowd, which covered a hillside overlooking the course, groaned in unison when the first horse fell at the third fence.” When a “sporting event” regularly elicits groans, perhaps it’s time for a bit of introspection.
Horses have carried us thru war,plowed our fields so we could eat,have been our transport,our friends. Haved saved my life,and carried me away for a few moments of peace,from a horrible childhood. Vengeance is mine sayith the Lord. Those jerks will be punished for there evil deeds. The Hopi Indians dance a hoop dance the circle of life. What comes around goes around,a mantra we even use in karate. I wish the entire world would get up and stand up for the all the wrongs around us.
I have never watched steeplechasing. I have never cared to, and most certainly never will. Then I read that only FOUR of the FIFTEEN horses FINISHED the race? And the crowd merely GROANED?…my dear God, I would hope they would flee from the “hillside” where they were witness to these tragedies! How can this be…