Robot Camel Jockeys

[Monte Smith]

Hey, now that's progress.

Qatar has staged the world's first ever camel race with robot jockeys.
Ananova.com



Seven robot jockeys took part in the race at Al Shahaniyya Camel Racecourse on the outskirts of Doha.

Race officials said it was a successful event. Robot jockeys were developed after child camel jockeys were banned.



Camel racing is a hugely popular sport in the Gulf countries and children were preferred jockeys because of their light weight.

But the ban was introduced over concerns the children were treated like slaves by their employers.

[Noj]

By crikey, people have a lot of spare time on their hands.

[Monte Smith]

What are you going to do? You're bored...you're in the frigging desert...child jockeys have been banned....

[al j]

let's hope the terrists don't get any ideas about this contraption as a prototype for non-entertainment.

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Hey, now that's progress.



Race officials said it was a successful event. Robot jockeys were developed after child camel jockeys were banned.



Camel racing is a hugely popular sport in the Gulf countries and children were preferred jockeys because of their light weight.

But the ban was introduced over concerns the children were treated like slaves by their employers.

This brings up an interesting point. In so-called civilized western countries, jockeys were until quite recently, always men.
Now, even men who are small in stature are heavier than women of the same size. The most women interested in the horseracing business could do was exercise the mounts.
So, to make weight before a race, it is still a common practice for male jockeys to go to extraordinary lengths, including damaging diet regimes, exausting exercise and the very dangerous vomiting their entire stomach contents before weighing in. Women seldom have to do any of this, being naturally lighter, but their participation in horse-racing was banned, as I said until quite recently. Robin Smith [married to Fred Astaire in his last years] was the first woman jockey in the U.S.
So, although the west didn't use children as jockeys or keep children in slavery to ride racehorses, I wonder whether what the racing community did and continue to do is any more logical, or humane or civilized.

[Monte Smith]

Riffing off of your complaint, patricia, I wonder if we couldn't somehow combine the practice of using women jockeys with that of robot jockeys. Voila! Stepford Jockeys!

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by Joe Christmas

let's hope the terrists don't get any ideas about this contraption as a prototype for non-entertainment.

I am sure the authorities have already posted warnings about possible robots on camels boarding planes or subway cars.

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Monte Smith

Riffing off of your complaint, patricia, I wonder if we couldn't somehow combine the practice of using women jockeys with that of robot jockeys. Voila! Stepford Jockeys!

Brilliant, Monte!! Compliant almost-women, off the track. Competative, aggressive jockeys on the track.
Warms the heart, like a twelve-pack of beer, a boat and motor with couple of good fishing buddies. Does life get better than that??

[frankenmeister7]

sure does!!

robot jockeys, robot camels.

go to the races and you have robot people, making bets with robot men behind the counter taking those bets.

then you have the food consession where you have robot cooks, waitress', bus boys and cashiers. all tin hats and tin heads.

the only humans are the kids running all over picking up beer left over on the tables and the tickets that got ripped up because robots can't think and the camel that won, nobody would know.

kid picks up the winning ticket and goes home with more money in his pocket that he ever dreamed.

could be the next 1984 saga of a kurt vonegut novel, called. the tin world of the racetrack.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by frankenmeister7

the tin world of the racetrack.

Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman to star. It'll be the next Ishtar. We'll call it Ishtar II. No, we'll call it Ishtar Wars.