Take the alcohol away and see how many show up. It's a party event even the racing people on here will agree with that and it's why a lot of serious race goers steer clear.

I don't consider it a sport but I personally love riding as a past time. It's an un winnable argument from both sides is this one.

As for the gambling I would be happy to see it go from the AFL, other revenue streams will be found. A bit like the end of the world when we couldn't get the smoking $'s.

Ah, so now there's a disclaimer...

"Ban betting and no-one will turn up to the Melbourne Cup*"

(*Must also ban drinking at said race meeting to prove our point)

We've already provided you with the definition of sport, horse racing clearly fits in this category.

Ah, so now there's a disclaimer...

"Ban betting and no-one will turn up to the Melbourne Cup*"

(*Must also ban drinking at said race meeting to prove our point)

We've already provided you with the definition of sport, horse racing clearly fits in this category.

Ummm…no. My point on Melbourne cup day is it has less to do with racing and more to do with a party and being seen there. If you are a racing man you would agree, the day has been hijacked.

As for the definition, it depends whose it is. I'm not going to get into that argument any further as I've said it is un winnable from both our sides.

Now as for racing in general, it wouldn't exist as it does today without betting. Yes, people would still race but the interest in the sport for the majority is in the betting. I know some like 'Redleg' have a deeper interest but it's not the majority. Without the gambling industry racing would be more like 2 farm boys racing their horses to the gate, and even then they would probably have a beer on the result.

Football is not dependant on gambling, but gambling is trying to make itself indispensable. The game can't let that happen.

As for the definition, it depends whose it is. I'm not going to get into that argument any further as I've said it is un winnable from both our sides.

What do you mean the definition of sport depends on whose it is? Words have specific accepted meanings. These meanings are found in dictionaries.

I accept sometimes there may be some room for confusion or wriggle room for some words. Sport is not one of these words.

There is a universally accepted definition of sport (as it relates to this discussion not in terms of being a sport etc):

an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

I defy any one to find a dictionary that does not define sport in a similar way.

By any accepted definition racing is a sport.

Mods i beg you please lock this thread. My pedant brain cannot take it any more.

some people say that any pastime carried out whilst sitting down can't be a sport

Wheelchair basketballers would break your fingers if they heard that!

Ummm…no. My point on Melbourne cup day is it has less to do with racing and more to do with a party and being seen there. If you are a racing man you would agree, the day has been hijacked.

As for the definition, it depends whose it is. I'm not going to get into that argument any further as I've said it is un winnable from both our sides.

Now as for racing in general, it wouldn't exist as it does today without betting. Yes, people would still race but the interest in the sport for the majority is in the betting. I know some like 'Redleg' have a deeper interest but it's not the majority. Without the gambling industry racing would be more like 2 farm boys racing their horses to the gate, and even then they would probably have a beer on the result.

Football is not dependant on gambling, but gambling is trying to make itself indispensable. The game can't let that happen.

Sure, take the betting component out of racing to change the landscape. How would AFL today look if we didn't pay players?

And again, the true definition of a sport is about an activity (ie a race), involving physical exertion and skill (ie jockey fitness, horsemanship, horses being trained via exercise to reach full fitness) in which a team or individual competes against anoth (ie the other 23 horses in the Cup field) for others entertainment (ie the 100k+ that attend the track to watch the Cup run). Given the cheer when the barriers open for the start of the race, the cheer when the horses go past the post the first time, and the cheer as the winner crosses the line, I'm tipping a large number of those that go to Flemington go to watch at least the main race.

I consider myself a "true racing man". I don't fully agree that they day has been hijacked for the reasons I have stated in the previous paragraph. Sure, most of those 100k won't attend another meeting during the year, but the fact that there is the possibility of them seeing something special will keep this industry strong. Ask anyone who was there the day Oliver won the cup days after his brothers death, ask anyone who saw 1, 2 or 3 of Makybe's wins, anyone that saw any of Black Caviar's 25 wins. Sure, the 100k+ "only" saw Gai win her first Melbourne Cup this year, but there wouldn't have been many in the crowd that didn't know who trained the winner.

Answer us this...

Why isn't horse racing a sport?

some people say that any pastime carried out whilst sitting down can't be a sport

DC - this is as much evidence I need to confirm that Nash Rawiller is NOT a sportsman. The amount of times he has sat down on a horse that I've invested in makes me sick just thinkng about it.

noun

• 1an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment:team sports such as soccer and rugby

²sport

noun

: a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other

: sports in general

: a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment

Wheelchair basketballers would break your fingers if they heard that!

Racing car drivers, trotting drivers, bob sledders, chess players, etc.

DC - this is as much evidence I need to confirm that Nash Rawiller is NOT a sportsman. The amount of times he has sat down on a horse that I've invested in makes me sick just thinkng about it.

He cost us the Rosehill Guineas on Rock Kingdom, when he sat down just before the line. We lost in a photo.

Racing car drivers, trotting drivers, bob sledders, chess players, etc.

Chess is not a sport, its a game! (joking joyce)

More people die in the field of battle during a game of Lawn Bowls than any other sport .

Fact!

would pocket billiards be a sport......or would that be stretching it

Alot of pretty disgusting comments in this thread.

These schemes are made to lure people in. Madoff's ponsie scheme got up to around $50 billion by the time he was caught.

From what the media has been saying this seems alot more detailed.

It's a bit cowardly to plug a bloke who made a mistake in his personal life on an online forum behind a keyboard when no one knows your financials.

It's a personal issue, nothing to do with the club. Shut it down or move it to the general thread.

More people die in the field of battle during a game of Lawn Bowls than any other sport .

Fact!

Yeah ... I heard that taking viagra can be dangerous.

More people die in the field of battle during a game of Lawn Bowls than any other sport .

Fact!

Sorry but it DL so I have to say it

Source?

would pocket billiards be a sport......or would that be stretching it

You could be stretching it but that would be a matter of individual technique.

Sympathy? I don't think so. Don't fancy myself as a king and my sport is AFL. Don't need to bet on it to care or add excitement. How could it be more important?

Arguing with WYL is not a sport.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but are these losses tax deductible and are the tax payers going to foot half the bill? If the participants ran them as a business maybe they are.

Any accountants out there know what the situation is.

Arguing with WYL is not a sport.

neither is horse racing.

It is a financial transaction.....

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but are these losses tax deductible and are the tax payers going to foot half the bill? If the participants ran them as a business maybe they are.

Any accountants out there know what the situation is.

Yep. Very few ppl can claim punting losses. The bar is set very high with regard to proof (see Brajkovich v FCT)

Few ppl can claim to be commercial horse breeders and again the bar is set very high.