In May, I reached out to the Saratoga Springs Public Library about possibly sponsoring an HW talk. The key word is sponsoring, for another local library had offered to “rent” a room to us, but with no library involvement. There was no point in that, as filling a room with our supporters is the definition of preaching to the choir. No, what we wanted was a crowd of the uninitiated, people who are unaware of the cruelties of racing or those who may know some but not all. To my surprise and satisfaction, the Library agreed to sponsor, meaning they’d publicize/promote across their forums and handle registrations.
The initial email from the Head of Adult Services read: “Yes we would advertise it! It will go in our newsletter, in our program brochure, on social media and on our program board.” Not only that, but this person (who was terrific throughout) offered us two dates, evening Jul 15, morning Jul 28. She then suggested the following as an event description:
“Join us for a presentation that offers a critical examination of the American horseracing industry and the ethical concerns surrounding the sport. Through a non-graphic visual presentation, attendees will explore perspectives that are often overlooked amid the popularity and tradition of horse racing in Saratoga Springs. The program runs approximately 30 minutes, followed by an open Q&A discussion session. Designed to educate, engage, and empower community members, the presentation encourages informed conversation and critical thinking about the realities of the racing industry.”
When I thanked her, she responded:
“Absolutely! I was going to call the program Horseracing Wrongs, unless you had a different title in mind? So, we do social media promotion, newsletter promotion, the program goes into our brochure and the PR person does a poster that gets hung on our program board. I will send you the poster once she makes it (prob by early June). If you have any pics you want used, I can take them via email.
“We will have a parking spot reserved for you in the library. The sign will say for library service providers and that is you when you do a program for us. We have mics and a laptop, but if you’d like to bring your own computer, we can most likely hook it up to the projection system! I put you in the Dutcher Room at the library. Will you need any tables for displaying any items?”
Again, she couldn’t have been more welcoming and accommodating. I had told her exactly what the talk entailed, and she was fully on board. She even titled it for us:
“Hello! Would both of you be okay if we used this picture of Patrick instead of the one that was previously sent? My PR person got this from your website.”
On Jun 22, I received this: “Hello again! Here are the postings for the 2 programs at SSPL. Please share these links with people and we will share on social media, as well as in our program guide and our online newsletter. Horseracing Wrongs – LibCal – Saratoga Springs Public Library.”
So, after almost two months of planning and preparing, we were set to go for Jul 15. But Thursday, I received this:
“Hi again! Would you be willing to share your presentation with me? We’ve had some negativity on the promotional post for the event and some community members have emailed our board. I’d like the presentation to show our board the educational purpose of the program and ease any worries. Thank you! I know you previously shared the presentation but I am out of the office and it would be easier if you resent it.” (Again, I had already been fully transparent on the contents of the talk; it defines educational.)
I responded: “Enclosed is the presentation. We read through some of the FB comments and it’s the same old, ignorant people we’ve been dealing with for years (none of whom would have the courage to actually debate me in a public forum). Rest assured, everything I utter is 100% supported by hard data and expert testimony. Please also share with the Board that I’ve been vetted by (among others) HBO, CNN, MSNBC, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker.”
She said: “Yes I am not concerned and I anticipated this. Just want to make sure my board has all the info! Thank you for sending…I appreciate your openness!”
Which takes us to Friday. Early morning, I received this: “I will have audience members submit written questions instead of having you take questions with raised hands after the program. I am going to draft up an intro reiterating that this is a safe space for discussion and insults will not be tolerated. I’ll send that to you once I am done with it.”
Shortly thereafter, this came from the library director, Ike Pulver:
“Good morning, Patrick. Unfortunately, I was unaware of the content, name, and composition of the program until recently, and it is my sad responsibility to let you know that, as it is currently presented, the library cannot be a sponsor of the program because it appears to affiliate the library with an activist organization without presenting a balanced viewpoint. Our sponsorship of this particular program is withdrawn. Below is the text of an announcement that will be posted on the library’s website.”
Animal Welfare Program Reconsideration Update:
“The library is committed to serving as an open, accessible public forum for our community, where topics of local interest, even those which are potentially controversial, may be addressed civilly and productively.
“As an organization with a long history of providing programming about Saratoga’s colorful local history, including racing, horses, and the Saratoga Race Course, and one that has a long history of working with and presenting programs about animals and their handlers, a program about the welfare of animals in the racing industry is of profound local interest, and a logical addition to our programming complement.
“Unfortunately, in its current configuration, the recently-announced program featuring a presentation from representatives of an organization named Horseracing Wrongs fails to accomplish our mission in a manner that appears balanced and complete. As a result, the library’s sponsorship of the program has been withdrawn.
“Even though staff have done diligence in researching the presenters’ organizational affiliation and reviewing the content of the presentation, the program as it is presented and titled now appears to platform and align the library with an activist group with a very specific point of view about an unsettled topic without providing a countervailing viewpoint. We are grateful for the thoughtful feedback from community members, particularly those in the horse community, asking us to reconsider sponsoring the program. We have heard that feedback and will endeavor to do better in planning a future program related to this topic.”
I, of course, immediately called Mr. Pulver; that call came to an abrupt end with him saying, “I’m not going to debate you.”
The Library, the statement reads, has “a long history of providing programming about…racing, horses, and the Saratoga Race Course,” and “a long history of…presenting programs about animals and their handlers.” This “long history of programming,” I’d bet the farm, has been nothing but positive about all things horseracing. The irony, apparently lost on Mr. Pulver, is that we would actually be providing that “countervailing viewpoint,” a countervailing viewpoint, that is, to all the lies – “sport,” “athletes,” etc. – that have been disseminated by and about Saratoga Race Course for over a century.
But here’s the key passage:
“We are grateful for the thoughtful feedback from community members, particularly those in the horse community, asking us to reconsider sponsoring the program. We have heard that feedback and will endeavor to do better in planning a future program related to this topic.”
In short, Mr. Pulver and his board took the coward’s route, allowing themselves to be intimidated by the abusers. Here was my parting shot, sent Saturday morning:
What’s the “countervailing viewpoint” to this, Mr. Pulver? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2026/05/16/betting-watching-todays-preakness-helps-make-this-dead-horses-possible/. Or this? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2026/03/31/whats-behind-the-kentucky-derby-this/. Or this? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2026/05/02/12145-dead-horses-this-is-the-kentucky-derby-this-is-horseracing/. Or this? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2025/11/14/in-memoriam-saratoga-2025/. Or this? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2022/09/01/the-evil-yes-evil-of-racehorse-confinement/. Or this? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2022/08/05/expert-on-the-cruelty-of-bits-its-self-evident-purpose-to-cause-pain-is-bad-enough-but-its-unintended-consequence-of-asphyxiation-brings-to-mind-the-methods-similarity-to-that-of-waterboarding/. Or this? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2022/08/25/the-lie-that-whipping-doesnt-hurt-the-horse/. Or this? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2019/11/10/racing-executive-admits-multiple-thousands-of-thoroughbreds-slaughtered-annually/. Or this? https://horseracingwrongs.org/2025/08/23/the-249-horses-killed-at-saratoga-since-2009/. Need I go on?
What the hell happened to free speech?
SSPL = FAHRENHEIT 451
Perfectly said Steve 🙏
Bonnie- agreed!
The whole community of Saratoga is complicit and is selling its soul. As is so often said, “If you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem”. Time will not reflect favorably on that town.
Patrick, You have a in my opinion a solid case for a Frist Amendment violation against the library.
Forum Doctrine: Courts recognize that publicly funded libraries are government entities. If a library opens its meeting rooms to the public, it creates a “designated” or “limited” public forum.
Prohibition of Viewpoint Discrimination: Once a public forum is created, the government cannot censor or cancel speech based on the content or viewpoint of the message (e.g., animal rights or anti-cruelty advocacy).
Arbitrary Rescission: If approvals are rescinded because of public backlash or a disagreement with the animal rights message, the library’s action is subject to strict scrutiny in court, which the library will likely fail to justify. Exceptions: A library can legally rescind approval if the group violated the facility’s content-neutral “time, place, and manner” regulations, broke conduct rules, or if the space had only been reserved for internal library-sponsored events.
Libraries cannot cancel out since you met their stated requirements and their last minute cancellation sabotages First Amendment protections. They have a discriminatory viewpoint that is not acceptable under court protections. Libraries are obligated and bound by legal wisdom and morality to uphold the laws preserved and protected by civic, state and federal laws. Tell them they have to honor the First Amendment or face the ire of state or federal courts along with John and Jane Quiet Citizens who are dedicated to the preservation of the rights and privileges of living in a free and democratic nation. And, so we will not tolerate subversion of our rights as sustained in the Declaration of Independence and was originated by God in the 10 Commandments.
Technically, his name was New York Thunder …not NY Thunder. People who witnessed it there at track said when his leg snapped off it sounded like a bomb going off 🤮 “F” you New York. ALSO, New York has the MOST KILLS… of ANY track.
Good luck with fighting organized horse racing in this country and around the world. This so-called sport generates so much money, this is the uphill battle to end all uphill battles! And most of the money is in stud fees, which is in the millions. Lots of people who otherwise might not have a job unfortunately depend on this industry. It’s a sad situation all around, and I think a movement to the anti-slavery movement in the 19th century will be required to finally shut it down.
So the SSPL board is against free speech and a proponent of squelching public information???? Seems ripe for boycotts, letter writing campaigns and more!
Saratoga YOU are the ones that killed Maple Leaf Mel and NY Thunder back to back on YOUR track. What POS’ you are for not allowing this EDUCATIONAL presentation from Patrick.
Has anybody considered letters to the local paper documenting what has occurred ?
Somehow the people need to know about this form of intimidation going on in the community. It is censorship by their library.
If the horse racing industry had nothing to hide, if it were as “pristine” as the public relations department wants people to believe, they would welcome the public forum. Obvious to many, this industry is not “pristine” and hiding as much of the corruption and killing of the horses as they can, even when it means threatening certain individuals, is cause for the library staff and anyone associated with the events at the library to ask themselves the big question, “WTH? Just what (and how much) are they trying to hide?” In this way, the cancellation of the whole event speaks volumes against the racing industry. Nice work hanging themselves with their own rope, so to speak.
Reminds me of the old legal adage, Steve: If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts. If you don’t, pound the table and yell like hell. That’s all they have left.
Saratoga is so overrated and now they show how pathetic,sickening,cowardly and gross they are. Disgusting leaches. 🤬
Because racing seems to be the main lifeblood of the local economy there, the industry and local powers that be are afraid of HW. They should be. The facts are not in their favor.
Organized Crime has struck again!
I think I see a theme here??
– Let’s not discuss what really goes on at Saratoga.
– Let’s not discuss Bob Baffert.
– Let’s alter any video that shows a horse breaking down.
🙈
The horseracing industry is a private, gambling industry that survives on taxpayer subsidies. Many local news outlets report on horse deaths at Saratoga now (because of HW!). That should be all the library needs to know when dealing with pro-racing people. The public deserves to know what their tax dollars support. And the poor horses deserve a voice and advocacy. We are so sad for the horses.
As an avid reader, I have always loved libraries. Most of them are havens for controversial topics. They encourage people to read banned books; they have LGBTQ+ reading and discussion groups; and on and on….for a public library to fold to an outside industry goes against everything libraries are supposed to stand for: education, open and honest debate, access to information, freedom to express ideas. If the library and the racing industry are so afraid of Patrick’s talk, then why don’t they send a spokesperson in for an honest debate? I think we all know why. Honesty is certainly not their strong suit.
Shame on the SSPL! If they require a balanced overview and countervailing opinions then they must require it of all sides of the issue. I am sure the horseracing industry does nothing to uncover the darkness of its “sport”. Where is the balance when they present the issue?? Cowards!
The PROPER response, and the one that would have been taken in a community whose economy is not fuel by cruelty would be to have Patrick’s program shared by someone of the opposite viewpoint or to schedule another program with a horse racing advocate. Unfortunately, I think they understand that there is no good answer that can defend their “sport”. Keep doing what you’re doing and I encourage everyone to give a couple of bucks or speak out.
A public library’s mission is to foster informed discussion, not silence one side of an issue after outside pressure. If this presentation was considered appropriate for nearly two months, reviewed, promoted, and described as educational, then canceling it only after complaints from those with a vested interest sends a troubling message. The response to facts should be more facts, not censorship. If the racing industry believes the evidence presented is inaccurate, it should welcome an open public discussion rather than seek to prevent one from taking place. Shielding the public from tireless documentation about horse deaths, injuries, confinement, whipping, and slaughter does nothing to advance honest dialogue. True balance is achieved by allowing different viewpoints to be heard not by canceling one because it makes some people uncomfortable. Libraries should be places where difficult conversations can occur respectfully, especially on matters of public interest and animal welfare. The Saratoga Springs Public Library should be ashamed of yielding to intimidation instead of standing up for free inquiry. When fear of upsetting powerful interests outweighs the public’s right to hear documented evidence, the library has failed. History looks unkindly on institutions that choose silence over truth.
This is so sad and infuriating! A data driven animal rights organization is not permitted to partner with a library to provide accurate information to the public, which is the underlying mission of all public libraries. Taxpayers who fund the library are not allowed to become educated. I hope this gets a lot of publicity!
To say how disappointed I am in Mr. Pulvers attitude and cowardice is nothing short of infuriating ! His rhetoric is nauseating ! His obvious inability to allow the truth to be presented speaks volumes that animals and animal rights are of no consequence to him. He’s definitely a spineless coward!!!
Thank you Patrick .
Sunny
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