Charles Town, again. Take Your Chances in the 8th last night, as relayed by Equibase: “suffered a fatal injury shortly after the start and had to be euthanized.” The 4-year-old is the third horse to be killed at the “Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races” this week. Which reminds, if you care about animals, if you do not wish to be a party to cruelty and murder, do not patronize racinos (combination racetrack/casino) like this one, for a seemingly innocent night at the slots or poker tables (without so much as a glance toward the racetrack) still goes to support this awful industry – indeed it’s the only thing keeping it alive in much of the U.S., including West Virginia. By all means, gamble if you’re so inclined – just not at racinos.
Say what you will about chartwriters (yes, they are very much a part of the industry), but at least the one(s) at Penn National is honest – brutally so. From yesterday:
race 3 – “MR. TALENT had the early lead while running in the two path, stopped at the three eighths pole and was whipped sixteen times in the stretch despite being well behind the next horse.” Mr. Talent finished last, 17 lengths back.
race 4 – “BOLD STROKE…was able to pass tired rivals down the lane while being hit by the whip eighteen times in the stretch. MY ONLY SUNSHINE…was taken up a bit at the seven sixteenths pole and faded steadily from there, was kept to task [was whipped] through the finish.” My Only Sunshine finished last, 17 lengths back.
race 6 – “SPEAKER JOHN…lacked a rally despite being hit by the whip seventeen times in the stretch.” Speaker John finished second-to-last.
This is horseracing.
Kudos to the chartwriter. It sounds as if they have enough of a conscience to try to bring attention to this blatant abuse.
What a sadly ironic name for a poor horse running at that dump Charles town.
How I wish,
if just for a day,
that racehorses could have their say,
by using the whip,
to beat to hit
and to have their way
with these abusers who say
that all is okay,
but their will come a day when this business will go away
and that will be a glorious day!
Please don’t support this display of blatant racehorse abuse, inhumane treatment of sentient beings, and these public executions.
Shut horse racing down now.
.