midget race in australia

[Amby 490]

Oct 13 - A race in Australia involving men piggybacking dwarfs dressed in jockey silks is denounced by the local government and advocacy groups.

The race at the Cranbourne Cup on Sunday (October 11) was dubbed the "Midget Cup" and was meant to promote Melbourne's annual carnival. The competition has been condemned by government officials and advocacy groups. A marketing manager at the track said the race was intended to be "harmless fun," but apologised and said it would not be repeated.

There's a video on the link http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=...;videoChannel=4

[alienlovechild 75]

Oct 13 - A race in Australia involving men piggybacking dwarfs dressed in jockey silks is denounced by the local government and advocacy groups.

The Australians so much more advanced in culture.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Yeah they're still calling little people "midgets"

[scandal 951]

Oct 13 - A race in Australia involving men piggybacking dwarfs dressed in jockey silks is denounced by the local government and advocacy groups.

The Australians so much more advanced in culture.

They have much better fresh produce too.

And their houses costs a jillion times more than American houses do, so of course they're better too.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Yeah they're still calling little people "midgets"

You PC sheep, you.

[The_Dude 1,142]

OK, lets just say hypothetically, how would one go about signing up to be one of the midget riders?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think this is a bit more humane than dwarf tossing, the traditional sport involving midgets.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

This may be considered a baiting thread and a violation of TOS,

[Amby 490]

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian horse racing officials have been slammed for holding a dwarf racing competition called the 'Midget Cup' at a meeting in Melbourne to promote Victoria state's annual carnival.

The race at the Cranbourne Cup Sunday involved three men charging down a 50-metres course with dwarfs dressed in jockey silks riding piggyback, and has been denounced by government officials and advocacy groups.

"Well look, there's often a fine line between a bit of fun and a silly stunt and I think this falls into the latter category," Victorian racing minister Rob Hulls told state radio.

"I mean the Midget's Cup for goodness sake. It's certainly no way of promoting this great Spring Carnival right around the world, right around Australia and right throughout Victoria."

The controversy comes days after an Australian talent show came under fire for airing a comedy troupe skit involving dancers wearing afro wigs and black-painted faces to impersonate late pop star Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5.

Stuart Laing, a marketing manager at Racing Victoria, said the dwarf race was intended to be "harmless fun," but apologized and said it would not be repeated.

"We understand that you can't please everyone and if anyone's offended by the events of Sunday then we apologize to them," he said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnough...E59D4LM20091014