Planning world domination, PETA takes Churchill Downs first

June 19th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

It is only a matter of time before the two political parties in this country are the NRA and PETA. But why stop there? PETA is buying shares of things it doesn’t like, which sounds a lot like annexation, and it’s beginning with Churchill Downs. Of course, the group isn’t buying into the Downs because it particularly enjoys horse racing. It’s doing so to gain a foothold of influence in the track’s policy, and, you know, maybe that’s not such a bad thing:

PETA is seeking reform measures including: A ban on steroid use in horses; A ban on legal drugs in the week prior to races; Stronger penalties for the use of illegal drugs; No racing of a horse before it is three years old; Replacement of dirt racing surfaces with synthetic surfaces; A limit on the number of races a horse can run each season; A ban on whipping horses with a riding crop; Permanent bans for owners, trainers and veterinarians found to have used drugs to a horse’s detriment.

Those are probably all good things, and realistic, except for the riding crop bit. How do you get a horse to run, or a blogger to blog, without a riding crop? Science has yet to answer this vital question.

That said, don’t let all this moderation and common sense fool you; PETA is still PETA, which means they’ll still be throwing buckets of red Kool-Aid at people who dare to enjoy an afternoon at the track:

In a news release, PETA said that some of its members will be at Churchill Downs holding posters showing the filly Eight Belles lying in the dirt after breaking its legs during this year’s Kentucky Derby. PETA members also are expected to carry signs that read “Eight Belles: Raced to Death.”

Sounds effective! Nothing attracts the average citizen to a cause quite like photos of dead animals. The only thing more eye-catching is a photo of a dead fetus. Does PETA have any photos of dead horse fetuses? It would be the perfect protest storm.

{HT: The Maj’s Shared Items feed}