As mentioned in this morning’s post, there were a lot of weather-related cancellations last week, especially on the East Coast. Aqueduct and Charles Town, for example, didn’t hold a single race all week. On Friday, Laurel Park tried, and ultimately failed, running just the 1st race. Here is how the track looked when they called the rest of the day…
Yup, nothing says “equine welfare is our highest priority” like snow and “frigid conditions.”
Then this from the Thoroughbred Daily News:
“Heaven and Horseshoes, A Worship and Community Center, is preparing to officially open Friday, Feb. 6. The 7,000-square foot facility is located just outside the entrance to the backstretch area at Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing and Casino and will provide space for numerous events for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing participants.”
Says the resident chaplain, Mickey Sajche: “Our ministry for our racing community is a vital part of our operations. This space allows us to provide more efficient space for weekly bible study groups as well as weekly church services.”
Bible-study groups and church services at a house of cruelty. How proud Jesus would be.
This space should provide clean restrooms for the backside track workers and their children. Also, I am speculating this “community center” will also provide a space for the charitable donations of food and personal hygiene products to be handed out to the needy backside track workers and their children.
Hypocrisy at its finest! We gave up on organized religion 50+ years ago. Sadly most ministries are really about the $$. This “ministry” were sure is just going to be a public relations gimmick for the track & industry. Elizabeth every thing you wrote is accurate in our experience. We still believe in our own way. This farm is our church. Even if at times its wet & muddy in the aisle ways!
Deceiving people who are addicted to gambling by telling them “You are not right with God if you are not winning at slots” is a real thing in Las Vegas. It follows that there would also be many false doctrines perpetrated in the horseracing industry.
There is such a thing as “cowboy church” associated with the rodeo events at the local county fair. Instead of a day of rest, it’s a day of abusing cattle and horses for ego trips and maybe a little prize money. If the events are connected to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, there could be some prize money involved.
It is abominable how people find ways to be selfish and cruel and think it is what life is all about.
Perfect, Elizabeth. Thank you.
The challenging weather in this neck of the woods is beyond brutal. To even think of subjecting horses to this frozen ground,ice laden tracks and below freezing temperatures that burn your insides is just unforgivable.
Oh, wonderful. Nothing says “spiritual enlightenment” like a side of slot machines, the smell of fried concessions, and the distant cries of frightened horses. “Yes, this is exactly where I intended my flock to gather between the book of Psalms and the betting window,” thinks Jesus. Heaven and Horseshoes, saving souls one pari-mutuel wager at a time. “Truly I tell you, what you do to the least of these, you do to Me and that includes the creatures who cannot speak for themselves. If you cannot love and protect the innocent, how can you claim to follow Me?” Jesus says. But sure, let’s set up weekly Bible study right next to the thundering hooves and frightened horses. Because nothing says “love thy neighbor” quite like turning God’s creatures into profit margins.