As mentioned in this morning’s post, I have been working closely with CNN over the past couple weeks. While a larger piece is still to come, yesterday I was asked for a response to HISA’s statement announcing an “Emergency Veterinary Summit” on the Churchill deaths. My statement was read by CNN’s Nick Watt; the full text is below.
“The recent statement by HISA on the Churchill deaths – at least 12 in 31 days – is the same rhetoric we’ve heard ad nauseum at track after track, in state after state for years now. Each time the industry comes under intense scrutiny for what is perceived to be a spate of killing (Churchill actually averages 25 kills annually), the powers that be come out and promise that nothing is more important than the welfare of their ‘equine athletes,’ that no stone is being left unturned, that in-depth analyses of the dead horses are being conducted, that all safety protocols are being reevaluated, that more vets will be added, drug rules tightened, etc. Then they trot out their supposed track-surface gurus who speak in highly technical language about cushion depth and moisture content. All of it, of course, meant to assuage and reassure the public. And yet, the killing continues.
“Since Horseracing Wrongs began compiling death data in 2014, the numbers have not changed in any meaningful way year over year, especially when considering declining metrics (less racing, less horses, etc.). Truth is, from breeding for speed (massive torsos, spindly legs, fragile ankles), to employing pubescent/adolescent bodies, to the incessant grinding – not to mention commodification – of those bodies, to forcing them to run at an unnatural rate (breakneck), in an unnatural way (in close quarters; among an anxious, artificial herd), and through unnatural means (perched, whip-wielding humans), horseracing guarantees a certain level of killing. Guarantees. We know it. They know it. Anyone who follows racing closely knows it.”
You are appreciated Patrick. Thanks so much for your courage and determination.
Ken Rudulph knows all about the guaranteed killings of horses. He blurted out a truth bomb on Twitter, even though it showed that he doesn’t have an ounce of empathy for the horses or care that this industry is full of cheats. After his Twitter truth bomb received negative reactions from this lying, cheating, horse killing industry/ business, he then attempted to walk it back. It was a very obvious attempt. It was a very lame attempt. It’s too late for Ken Rudulph to keep his job with FanDuel TV. I love it. Way to go, Ken Rudulph. These exploited-to-death-for-fun-and-profit horses need more people to blurt out more truth bombs, in my opinion.
Of course, it is preferable that someone inside the horseracing industry could have empathy for the horses as sentient beings and walk away from the Business Conduct Codes violations and especially the Animal Welfare Codes violations; enough maiming and killing of horses for a crooked gambling game.
Thanks to you for your dedication to end this brutality against horses, Patrick Battuello and everyone at Horseracing Wrongs.
Perfectly stated Wanda…Ken, told the TRUTH.
Thank you Patrick
Thank you, Patrick.
The way in which your bravely you spoke “the language” of horseracing ~TO~ the General Public watching CNN ………… [i.e., “… the powers that be come out and promise that NOTHING is more important than the welfare of their ‘equine athletes,’ that NO stone is being left unturned, that IN-DEPTH analyses of the dead horses are being conducted, that ALL safety protocols are being reevaluated, that MORE vets will be added, drug rules TIGHTENED, etc. Then they trot out their supposed track-surface gurus who speak in highly TECHNICAL language about cushion depth and moisture content”; yet, the deaths of racehorses STILL continue, year-after-year] …………………… is, in my opinion, simply CRITICAL during this period of time.
All efforts & promises to the contrary, no matter WHAT will be done in the future by the Horseracing Industry, [i.e., because of how, as you perfectly described, horseracing specifically “operates” at each cruel STEP of the way], the killing of horses is …………………… GUARANTEED.
I honestly wonder how long it’ll take for the General Public to fully realize that they’ve been “had”
…………………… i.e., that. they’ve. been. “had”. by the Horseracing Industry?