LETTERS
Demise of Eight Belles stirs plenty of emotion
To the sports editor:
As a female, avid sports fan and animal welfare advocate, I was not at all surprised to see that it was a male (Greg Cote of The Miami Herald) who authored the article that ran in the Review-Journal's Sports section on May 7 ("Animals rise up vs. PETA"). Only a man could conjure up the fantasy of a chimpanzee making a human-worded statement such as "Christina Ricci was hot."
While I grudgingly agree that the jockey of Eight Belles did not murder the filly, which was injured, then euthanized at the Kentucky Derby on May 3, I vehemently disagree that animals would ask the often-overzealous PETA organization to stand down their compassion for animal safety.
Cote's statement that fellow thoroughbreds envy the royal care that Eight Belles and her racing counterparts receive makes as much sense as when I hear imprudent individuals say the animals of Africa long to be in the circus.
The age of these horses, which are bred and raised only to be bought and sold to win races at any cost, is what we should be looking at closely.
JANICE RIDONDO
To the sports editor:
Horse racing makes me sick. No race is worth having one of these magnificent animals lose its life for the greed of its owners.
Eight Belles did not have to die. Such tragedies could be prevented by having horses race only after reaching their fourth birthday, which would give them time to develop the bones in their legs.
Hats off to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for the work it does in speaking up for animals.
JACK STEWART
To the sports editor:
The uninformed critics of horse racing -- such as PETA members who don't even know the difference between a colt and a filly -- are having a field day bashing the sport after the unfortunate death of Eight Belles.
I have been involved in all aspects of thoroughbred racing since 1968. I have seen everything. I have witnessed untold tragedies and brilliant victories. But I never have lost faith in these magnificent animals or their dedicated jockeys, trainers and owners.
Overzealous trainers or jockeys don't cause breakdowns. They just happen, for no known reason -- and nothing can be done to predict or prevent them.
There is no more pampered and loved animal than the thoroughbred racehorse. Horses are born to run, and they revel in it.
JAN FREEMAN
Gladiators' absentee owner selfish tightwad
To the sports editor:
Regarding Mark Anderson's article on the city's erstwhile Arena Football League team ("Gladiators' absence barely leaves mark on Las Vegas," May 6), absentee team owner Jim Ferraro was portrayed as the victim of unforeseen circumstances. That is not true.
Mr. Ferraro was self-serving and a cheapskate with an inflated ego. Interviews with former employees of the front office would have given you the real behind-the-scenes story.
Yes, I am bitter about how the team was mismanaged and about it leaving town for Cleveland. I thought of torching all my personalized jerseys and sending the remains to Ferraro in Cleveland. But he is not worth the postage.
LEE SQUIRES
The Review-Journal welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be 150 words or less and must include the author's name and phone number. Send letters to: Letters to the Sports Editor, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070. Letters also can be e-mailed to: jhawk@reviewjournal.com.
