Dealing with Death.

And so there we were yesterday with 30 ambassadors getting excited about learning racing. Explaining all the rules regulations, ins and outs, animal protection etc. when race 2's finish had the unfortunate timing of an injured horse which was screened off, and destroyed.

Traumatic and sad, and not the best time to be running to the ladies' to vomit. How does one explain this to a group of people also feeling very emotional, and now taking that picture home with them?

Any suggestions welcome. (I did the low % of incident in racing talk, and that vets and ambulances are on hand, and the physical structure of horse legs).

After being present when our dog had just been destroyed at Powderhall and the owner of the track announces "high class agent is fine " over the tannoy..

All you can do imo is explain how difficult it is to care for a horse with the tragic injury,and all the money in the world can`t help a serious break

Don - The devil is often in the detail.

In your case it is in the wording.

The industry has habitually & traditionally used the term 'destroyed' when referring to horses being put down. That pretty much (for a welcome change) honestly (a foreign word in racing!) sums up the official attitude to horses - they are 'commodities' and/or 'things' which are disposed of when they break, get injured or fall ill.