From the weekly harness rulings…
Yonkers, Sep 20: “While driving Twin B Allure, Joe Bongiorno did use the whip in an excessive manner. Joe Bongiorno is hereby suspended from driving 1 day and fined the sum of $250. This is his second whipping or kicking offense in 365 days.”
Monticello, Oct 10: “Driver Kyle DiBenedetto is hereby assessed a fine of $500 and suspended from driving for 7 days for using the whip in an excessive manner, using the whip more than 3 times in succession without giving the horse time to respond. This is the 3rd violation in this category in a 365-day period.”
Northfield, Oct 16: Marc St Louis fined $300 for “kicking a horse.”
Harrington, Oct 21: Ceba Horsey fined $200 for “kicking a horse.”
For a bit of perspective on the above, two drivers/trainers were fined $500 each for being “disrespectful to the track veterinarian” at Northfield Oct 8, while another was fined $250 for “disturbing the peace at Shenandoah Oct 13.” Priorities, huh?
Is anyone at the United States Trotting Association aware or concerned that these drivers of harness horses ARE making their industry/ business/ “sport” look bad???
If not, just how bad does it have to be to show up on their “Oh, no! You’re making our sport look bad!” radar???
Isn’t illegally attempting to euthanize a horse with a broken leg without a veterinarian’s license, and failing at it, considered bad enough by the USTA??? (Ceba Horsey was charged, but is still allowed to kick horses while participating in this despicable business and the United States Trotting Association is not concerned???
Of course, we know that the imagery is more important to the USTA than the actual welfare of the horses themselves, but still you know it’s not a good image, don’t you???
In case anyone missed it, Ceba Horsey was arrested and charged with various various forms of animal cruelty in the past. There is an article online dated July 20th 2015.
Harness racing is on the decline but the brutality against the horses must be recognized as the abuse that it is. These low fines won’t stop repeat offenders from doing what they do. Eventually, maybe the racing will become such a financial burden that they will be evicted from the racetracks much like the 300 horses at a certain racetrack now.