<html>
<body>
(Note the third paragraph in particular. YL)<br><br>
From
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/casvbkf" eudora="autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/casvbkf<br><br>
</a><font size=3>Rav Menashe Klein discusses (Mishneh Halachos 6:270) if
it is permitted to go to the race track and bet on horses or even to
watch horse racing just for fun. The Mekor for this Halacha is a
Mishna in Sanhedrin (3:3) that says Mafrichei Yonim, pigeon flyers, are
Pasul for Eidus. The gemara says that according to one explanation
this means pigeon racing for money and it applies to any other animal
racing including horses. The Rambam (Eidus 10) and Shulchan Aruch
(CM 34:16) say this only applies to people who are not gainfully employed
and do this for a living. However says Rav Klein that while the
threshold to be pasul for eidus is that it must be your means of earning
a livelihood, nevertheless it is assur to bet on these races even if it
is just a hobby.<br><br>
This all implies that if you are merely going to be entertained by the
spectacle and are not involved in any betting, then it would be
permitted. However says Rav Klein, there is a Mahari Bruna that
speaks about this. He says that watching horses race is not assur
because it is educational and can teach you how to ride horses faster for
a living and to run from your enemies. The Mahari Bruna then says
that if your intention in going is simply to enjoy a jousting match then
it might be assur. In our case says Rav Klein since there is no
redeeming value whatsoever it is certainly assur.<br><br>
This issur he says, would extend to all spectator sports and would fall
under the issur in the gemara Avodah Zara (18b) of going to stadiums
since it is considered Moshav Leitzim, which Rashi says is Bitul
Torah. Moreover, he says, even if you were to watch it on
television from the comfort of your own home, which would eliminate the
issur of Moshav Leitzim, still you will be left with Bitul Torah and
anyone with Yiras Shamayim should stay far away.<br>
</font></body>
<br>
</html>