Thanks for clarifying, AMF.
I understand what you're saying. I represent several large meat and poultry processing operations...I see many things folks would like to believe really don't happen. There are certain things I won't eat because of the way animals have to be raised to produce them, and yet I'll eat a steak without a problem.
I'll never understand bull fighting...but I find joy watching morons flying through the air during the running of the bulls. Justice, if only for a day.
The sport of kings treats its animals no different than horses on ranches or farms. I had to put down a huge draft horse when I was a kid because I failed to keep him from tumbling into a small irrigation ditch when I was plowing behind him. Snapped a front leg (bone out of the skin). Far too large to lift without a crane that was hours away, and he was screaming in pain. My dad took the rifle off his rack, handed it to me and told me it was my responsibility to end his pain since I caused it. One of them there hardass life lessons.
We domesticated animals thousands of years ago for various uses. Horse racing was used to settle disputes to prevent wars, or to select chiefs, or to firm up bonds between neighboring groups of folks. It's part of our cultural evolution.
It's a strong wind you're pissing against.