My grandparents used to breed and train racehorses. We even had one place in the cup a long time ago. These horses were loved and treated beautifully. The race was different then.

Now it is unabashed cruelty and alcoholism and I cannot stomach how grotesque it is. https://twitter.com/ewster/status/1321578751642071042

Don't get me wrong, it was still about glorification or rich people and horse racing wasn't super kind even then, but it was kinder. And the cup was less about multi million dollar horses dying and people getting shitfaced.

My grandfather would weep to see it now.

To my knowledge none of our racehorses were injured or died during racing (or shortly after). We had scores of photos on the wall of them racing and their names and dates and then when they were done they would be breeding stock and live in luxury on our farm.

It is unfathomable to me that people would allow horses to die in this way. They are worth more alive. To funnel all that money into a short career of racing and cause an early death when they are such beautiful and valuable animals beyond their racing. It sickens me.

Many horses love to run, and genuinely enjoy racing. I say that as someone who has ridden a lot and has known some spirited horses who just want to lead the pack and be first.

But the way racing is now isn't about that.

Horse racing now is about that short burst and winning at whatever cost for the prestige. And they are destroying bloodlines to do it and destroying wonderful creatures who could have known a better life.

And about being drunk and hats.

They are exploiting a horses natural tendency to run and delight and find joy in running and turn it into death. I can't stomach it.
And I can't stomach the glorification of alcoholism. So yes, this is my very privileged and roundabout way of saying #nuptothecup