While this page quite obviously focuses on the abuse and killing of active racehorses, when opportunity presents, I do report on “the others.” Wednesday, Blood-Horse carried the obituaries – in separate articles – of a pair of “star” broodmares: 12-year-old Smuggler, April 16; 17-year-old Easter Bunnette, April 18. The former, “complications from foaling”; the latter “hemorrhaged and died after foaling.”
It is the unequivocal position here that no distinction should be made between these deaths and those involving shattered cannons “in-competition”: As long as they are being used – and make no mistake, the breeding shed is but another form of enslavement/exploitation (Blood-Horse called Smuggler a “producer”) – what happens to them is entirely on the industry. In other words, these were no flukes of nature. They were, like poor Elda in the 2nd last night at Penn, Racing kills.
Absolutely Patrick!…Smuggler and Easter Bunnette went from one type of exploitation (I’m assuming they raced) to another. I always bristle when I hear of a racehorse “retiring” to be used for breeding purposes. That’s not retirement…that’s just having their bodies used in a different manner but still for earning purposes!
RIP, sweet mares…12 and 17, too young to die.
Agreed Joy! They will be used until they are no longer profitable and then dumped. Hopefully when racing is finally shut down all this will stop and the horses can finally be free from it all.
Rest in peace Smuggler and Easter Bunnette.
Speaking of Horses being killed. The SAFE ACT is being introduced again this year.
it REALLY needs to be passed this time. Then RACE HORSE Owners could no longer Text KILL BUYERS to come get their horses. They would have to take responsibility for what they had done to that horse themselves.
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Federal legislation to prevent the re-establishment of horse slaughter on U.S. soil, bar the live export of horses for the purposes of slaughter, and protect the public from the consumption of toxic horse meat was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, April 22, 2015.
H.R. 1942, also referred to as the SAFE Act, is sponsored by Rep. Frank C. Guinta (R-NH-1) and has 41 originating co-sponsors. View co-sponsors here.
“For centuries, horses have embodied the spirit of American freedom and pride,” said Rep. Guinta. “To that end, horses are not raised for food – permitting their transportation for the purposes of being slaughtered for human consumption is not consistent with our values and results in a dangerously toxic product. This bipartisan bill seeks to prevent and end the inhumane and dangerous process of transporting thousands of horses a year for food.”
Rep. Michelle Lujan Griffin (D-NM-1) who helped introduce the bill stated, “Horse slaughter is an inhumane practice that causes great pain and distress to the animals, and poses numerous environmental and food safety concerns. The vast majority of my constituents oppose horse slaughter. I’m proud to support the SAFE Act to ban this cruelty once and for all.”
The bill was referred to two Committees – the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Agriculture.
Patrick , While im sure you will block this post , because even though you claim to report facts of the horse-racing industry, you will and do block any racing supporter that calls you out on those so called facts . You allow your readers and supporters to berate , insult and accuse professional horsemen and women and when those people defend the industry or themselves you block them. Why is this ? What exactly are you afraid of ? The only facts you can prove on here is what any person can read on Equibase or the racing form, As far as you and you posters accusations about how racing professionals feel about the horses in there care i have yet to see you walk down the shedrow of a trainer who has just had a horse breakdown and ask him or her how they feel right then . So lets be honest here Patrick all of your accusations are based on what exactly ? You say that all your doing is trying to save horses . OK i can respect that if it were true that is . I have read on here people discouraging donations to rescues such as “Canter” ,”Remember me rescue ” etc… because they support racing . Really ?? why is that ? Are those horses any less deserving of donations towards there well being ? Kinda hypocritical don’t ya think ? I mean if your only agenda is saving horses.. You and your followers spew that all horse-racing pros . only care about money we profit from the exploitation of animals . If that is true then couldn’t you also say that almost every person in the world that owns a horse is profiting from that horse in some way ? I mean from the 4H kid at horse show to the mounted police officer , how about Clinton Anderson or Parrlli ? even the guy who runs the wild horse sanctuary in South Dakota is profiting from a horse. So are all those horses abused? and none of these people care about the animals right ?
You and your followers accusing all racetrack pro of being Greedy ,non caring , horse abusers is kinda like Hitler saying all Jews are bad and should be killed !! There is no fact to your accusation !! You can Block me all you want Patrick but you will not stop the Horse racing professionals from standing up and defending the industry and the Amazing athletes we poor our hearts and souls into everyday .
Thank you Laura
Laura and Britt05 –
Have either of you ever paid for a broodmare rescue from $laughter?
Or paid for tb race horse training before? At which day rate?
How many ottb retirees are you supporting right now?
And finally, what kill auctions do you attend?
To answer your questions Jo-Anne, No i don’t have any broodmares , I have nowhere to keep one. Although growing up My father and Uncle were partners . Kemling Bros inc. My uncle had a large farm and my father a a trainer . at any given time we had over 100 head between the farm and racetrack (40 +yrs) so yes i do have a little experience. In all that time i can count the number of broodmares lost in foaling on one hand . Foaling complications due happen not often but they do . Just like any animal including humans can and do die in child birth .. Now as far as forcing mares to reproduce . Have you ever tried to breed a mare that’s not in heat ? You will get your head kicked off ! Reproduction is part of nature , If you think wild horses don’t produce foals every year you need to do some more research . No , Jo -Anne i have never paid for Race horse training Because i am a licensed Trainer and i train my own . I don’t have any horses in training right now I’m an Asst . Trainer for another stable we currently have 38 in training . and just so you know we have not lost a single horse to catastrophic injury in the 2 yrs i have worked for this stable.. As to your 3rd question i currently have 2 ottb retirees both are pony horses i have retrained myself , both are in perfect health , completely sound , and extremely spoiled and VERY VERY MUCH LOVED ! they both love to work and do there job extremely well . Now as far as kill auctions go , as far as i am aware there are none where i live so no i don’t attend any . There are some horse auction that i know of , but consist of working cattle horses and show horses .. Quarters , Paints , Appys etc.. Most of these auctions are on Sat Or Sundays Im almost always working so no i don’t attend . If there are Kill Buyers at theses auction i have no idea and if there were , well its not like they have a big sign over their head announcing it . … So Jo-Anne if you have any more questions i would be more than happy to answer.
Laura,
Patrick didn’t block your post did he? He isn’t afraid of what you, or anyone who is pro-racing has to say. He reports the facts of every thoroughbred death, which your glorious industry tries to cover up. I only know of N. Y. having a database of deaths and injuries. He has to use the “Freedom of Information Act”, to get most of the information he posts, and it is true and accurate!!
And yes, we want to shout it from the mountain tops and let the public know just what is happening to these beautiful, majestic creatures. They are needlessly dying, pumped full of drugs, forced to race with excruciating injuries, isolated in their stalls for more than 23 hours a day, whipped to their breaking point, over-raced, over bred, and your industry even has the audacity to race 2 year olds, whose skeletal system is not fully formed, and they are breaking down before their life has even begun, babies dead in the dirt for what? You call this a great sport, watching horses die in front of your eyes for $2.00 bets. Oh let’s bring the whole family so our children can witness Black Beauty suffering and dying on the track. Bring them to the track so you can show them what animal cruelty really is.
Your industry is so transparent that when they simulcast and a horse breaks down that race is taken off and you are not able to view it. Oh that is real transparency!! Or when a horse breaks down, the announcer just completely ignores it and goes on announcing like nothing ever happened. Horse breakdowns are bad for business. This poor horse just gave his life and doesn’t even bear mentioning. This is beyond sad.
Amazing athletes you say. Tell me what should we say about T I Doublegrrr, who raced in New Mexico and out of 4 races he had to be ambulanced off for 3 of them. He was a combined 117 lengths back in his races. He has never been a factor in any of his races and yet the wonderful, loving, owner plans to race this horse again, probably to his death. He doesn’t belong anywhere near a track. Amazing athlete?
Your industry is made on the BLOOD of innocent sentinel creatures, and they are dying in droves, from abuse, neglect, designer drugs, forced to reproduce, forced into the gate where many have met their deaths by splitting their heads open on the gate, or falling backwards and breaking their necks. What about all the trainer suspensions for drugs, neglect, and a plentitude of other infractions. Not facts, gee I guess the New York Times and a million other publications got it wrong. What about PETA’s fact filled investigation FILMED AND RECORDED, confirmation by the God D. Wayne Lucas using buzzers to shock the horses, and the prolific comments of Scott Blasi and “how these mf’s break your heart everyday”. Steve Asmussen, crazy glued Zayas’s horse’s quarter crack and sent him out to race, what an inspiration…That really showed how much he cared for the horses well being.
Your industry Laura is sickening, no wonder you don’t have the guts to use your last name. Your industry is fueled by greed and money on the blood and backs of innocent animals who are forced to partake, many to their deaths. You should start looking for another job, because at the rate horses are dying, the public is getting smarter as to what your glorious blood sport is all about, and they are saying they don’t want any part of it. Good luck job hunting, try something where animals are not the victims. Marlene Thornley
Thank you, Marlene, for stating the truth.
Thank you, Marlene.
I just looked up a new “fact” for Laura and her ilk. I looked up the term “oxymoron” and found the term “professional horseman.”. How does anyone defend an industry that kills with such regularity simply so that people can make a $2 bet?