The 3rd at Finger Lakes just a little while ago, in the words of the chartwriter: “Daredevil Bull appeared to be blocked leaving the 5/16 pole, waited, chased, broke down and then was humanely put to rest.” And that, folks, is a first in my 10 years of doing this: “humanely put to rest.” At once unique and obscene. Daredevil was just four years old.
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“Put to rest”? Implies a grave under a tree in a grassy meadow, not the landfill he probably ended up in. And you put loved ones to rest, not the disposable chattel that racehorses are to these parasites. Seriously. Disgusting.
I hope everyone reads the article on Paulick report…Pamela Wood, a veterinarian from SC. Says saratoga did it for her. She’s THROUGH,and sold her shares of horses she owned!
Very important. Progress.
Worth reading:
SHINING LIGHT ON THE HORSE INDUSTRY
Letter To The Editor: One Horse Owner Is Getting Out Of The Game After Saratoga Breakdowns
by Letter to the Editor
I have been mesmerized by horses from a young age. I was fortunate enough to own three horses before I went off to college. From there I played polo, rode in the intercollegiate horse shows early years, and eventually became a veterinarian.
My first racing memory was Proud Clarion in the Derby, and Dancer’s Image eventual disqualification for a drug I had no idea of its purpose until years later. I listened to Tom Durkin at Tampa Bay Downs before his rise to the top. I saw Al Hattab at Aqueduct at age 12 when my brothers snuck me into the track. Horses have been part of my life for 60 years.
Last Saturday has become a turning point for me. I own an OTTB, a sweet 11-year-old Tapit son as a result of my involvement with my racehorse ownership.
As I age I have become more aware of my limits, and the limits of my horses. Any misstep or stumble and l instantly hope they, and I, are ok. I used to play polo full speed, jump cross country with abandon but that is now sadly fading.
After watching Maple Leaf Mel go down three weeks ago, and New York Thunder on Saturday, I can no longer stomach watching racing. The final bit was “the sound like a baseball bat” when New York Thunder’s leg broke is my finish line.
I have cared for thousands of animals in my 37 years as a vet, seen so many things. I can no longer bear to see another race.
I am selling my shares in my two 2-year-old fillies as I will not watch them be exposed. Both have already had knee surgery after starting their time as race prospects, with kind and knowledgeable people.
I looked up the pedigrees of a few of the recent war horses I’m aware of, and their breeding does reveal lesser known names than the most popular, inbred stallions.
I lived in Florida, and watched the death of Greyhound racing. As someone both on the inside and outside of the horse world, I fear the same death is visible not too far down the road.
Money and tradition be damned.
Change or die.
How many more babies will our dirt tracks claim?
–Dr. Pamela Wood
Veterinarian, owner
Aiken, S.C.
Thanks Bonnie. I read it and posted it to my profile as an example of incremental progress, even among some owners.
Bonnie, I read that the other day, or whatever day it was, and I was thinking that after sixty years of experience with horses and 37 of those years being a veterinarian, how did it take her until Saratoga Saturday and MAPLE STREET MEL & NEW YORK THUNDER breaking down to be sickened by horse racing to the point of no return??? It takes what it takes.
Wanda, for some strange reason there were quite a few near the finish line that heard the leg break. And they can’t unsee the accident and can’t unhear the break. So honestly it’s believable that this doctor can’t unsee or unhear this whole rotten scenario. Coupled with that darling Maple Leaf Mel accident..very sad.
Nancy, my point is that she would have seen a lot of gory, gruesomeness as a person who had hands on experience with horses for sixty years and thirty-seven of those were as a veterinarian.
OMG…does this BS ever end!
Why is this animal abuse allowed to continue..when in reality that is all it is!
Torture..Abuse..and Murder Horses..
While they line their greedy pockets with bloodstained cash! Absolutely makes me sick!
Gotta figure a way to put a stop to these crooked evil people! Thank You Mr Patrick for all you do!
There is a difference between a quick humane death on a track and the horrendous torture equines endure in a slaughter house. I apologize for disrupting the narrative here, but there is no comparison between a jab in the jugular and a slow painful demise. In Mexico after being shot multiple times with a captive bolt most equines are butchered well after the 30 second requirement, meaning they are fully conscious when they are ripped apart. That’s just reality. It’s tragic Daredevil Bull lost his life but he died “humanely”, as humanely as it gets for horses in this wicked world.
You have a right to beat your own drum, Karen, because you know in the United States we still have the freedom of speech. But there’s NOTHING HUMANE about the way these horses are treated as racehorses while they are alive. Racehorses are tortured in so many ways all of their born days whether they are killed or not.
These magnificent beautiful creatures cannot speak for themselves. We MUST be their voice! I am very grateful to have found this organization, Horseracing Wrongs. It may not be much but I intend to do everything I can to help spread the word about their mission and to raise awareness of this horrendous cruelty! I wish I could do more!
Thank you, Christine, for your heartfelt desire to be a part of the collective voice for the horses.
Remember that a horseshoe nail is very small and seemingly insignificant by itself, but that without a horseshoe nail, a kingdom could be lost.
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost.
For want of a horse, the rider was lost.
For want of a rider, the battle was lost.
For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
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