Poetry: Thoroughbred Racehorses and Broken Bones
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Despite efforts to avoid the tragedy of race track breakdowns in Thoroughbred racehorses, broken bones often occur during races and even in workouts, or in freakish accidents, as well.
Are we doing enough to help prevent these accidents and elevate the health and welfare of the racehorse to its highest level?
This poem is dedicated to that lofty cause, and to those amazing creatures who run for their lives.
...{ Broken Bones }...
We watch them farely glide
Across tracks of flying dirt.
Seldom do we really surmise
Any soon will be grievously hurt.
Reality's lessons now should suffice,
Warn us all of the unending
Strife of their facts of life:
Their hearts ever will try, unbending.
Hoofs and hearts are buried here and there,
Signs of long bones broken short
Of the wire to which they tear
Without quit, neither hesitant snort.
Brave G. W., fillies Ruffian and Eight Belles
Misstepped, stumbled, stopped, went out
Before we were ready; it tells
That we still need to shout about
Thoroughbreds and their tenuous plight,
Creatures of training, however, frail
In their expected, difficult fight
To please while we pursue bragging tales.
Rewilding, latest to die, this for
England's George VI and Queen Elizabeth
In the stakes of their royal lore.
He now is Heaven's uplifted gift.
Sublime Barbaro, several years gone,
Never met the Preakness Stakes wire.
Slipping under foot, his last song;
His lasting legacy, never to sire.
Thoroughbred broken bones, our own woes;
We lead them to an unrelenting gate
To vanquish their contemporary foes
While we admire strength, mindless of cruel fates.
Ours, they proudly go, ready, able,
Prancing to the start, not knowing
Varied agendas upon owners' tables.
Nickering they go, high-stepping, blowing.
Shall we stop the trend of bones
Broken as we send them to act
Out our own fantasies and tones?
Or finally, willing, face fatal facts?
- Thoroughbred Racing and Unwanted Horses Rescue
What is being done to rescue unwanted retired Thoroughbreds and other unwanted horses in America?
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I always thought the horses rather enjoyed running, now i'm not so sure. Lovely poetry.
@Writer20...It is difficult, the Sport of Kings. The problem is inherent. Breed and raise X number of foals per year with only a handful getting the high life. What to do with those who don't get there?
@always exploring...Some Thoroughbreds, I believe, do very much take to their training and love to run in racing conditions. I think jockey Ron Turcotte's remarks about Secretariat's 31-length Belmont Stakes win is the best proof of that. Turcotte said Secretariat did it himself that day, that he just went along for the incredible ride.
Over 30,000 foals come along every year and just one as a three-year-old can win the Kentucky Derby and have a chance to break the Triple Crown drought (since 1978).
I love horse racing, but how we handle the "left-overs" situation is the problem. It's another let's be aware question. As the horse's human caretaker, it's up to us.
Thank you both for sharing on this hub!
There is great beauty and sadness in what you say but your poems are not easy to read. I find that if I revisit my poems and try to improve the flow, I can make them better. Some, I have been working on for years
@rjsadowski...Thanks for your sentiments!
When I write poetry, I use the old-fashioned way of using punctuation to express each thought. Read the punctuation, not line by line, and it may become an easier flow for you.
I enjoyed reading your poem, thanks for sharing.
@Coolmon2009...Thanks for sharing your enjoyment of this Hub!
writer20 Level 8 Commenter 9 months ago
Poor horses, we should totally look after them.