I have confirmed the following two kills:
McClusky, dead after being ambulanced off in the 4th at Arapahoe Jul 11. He was five. The complicit: breeder Eric Scott Jensen, owner/trainer Rafael Barraza, jockey Nathan Haar. Barraza also had this poor boy “For Sale” – about as cheap as they come, $2,500 – immediately before his death race.
Rhaenys, dead after “taking a bad step” in the 9th at Colonial Jul 23. She was four. The complicit: breeder Bellary Bay Bloodstock, owner David Miller, trainer Jason Cook, jockey Samuel Marin. She, too, was “For Sale” right before dying.
Sharon, the thing is that if anyone did put up a sign that said Lexington, Kentucky is the Equine Murder Capital of the World, the powers that be would be able to file a lawsuit against the offending party for libel even though the statement is based on facts rather than malice.
Rather than “a label” with a negative tone that comes across as “malicious and defamatory” that could have a negative effect on their economy, a statement of the names and birth and death/kill dates of horses killed by the racing industry in Kentucky would be sufficient and factual and would make the point.
More horses intentionally exploited for racing and gambling were killed in New York State than in Kentucky the last time I checked the lists.
Both Lexington, Kentucky and Ocala, Florida claim to be the “Horse Capital of the World” so it should be recognized that Florida is also a HORSE-KILLING Capital of the World. There have also been reports of Thoroughbred racehorses lead by halter and lead rope/strap out into a wooded area and tied to a tree, shot dead between the eyes, then butchered for the meat. There is a black market for horse meat in Florida. It could be happening in other states also.
#HorseracingIsAnimalCruelty
I am still in distress over the Aloha Beach and Bruhn tragedies. Lexingtonian Mayor Linda Gorton needs to be informed that The Breeder’s Cup Festival is a revolting display of callous disregard for the suffering and abuse of thoroughbreds. The Mayor’s office contact numbers are: 859-258-3100 and 859-258-3194. Indeed the horse racing industry is more dastardly in deeds than the infamous mobs that ruled Chicago in the days of Capone and Murder Incorporated. The death count for that era was according to police records was in the 7 hundreds as opposed to 12,459 equine hits. Nobody is doing autopsy results with drugs in the blood of these horses, but I would wager that every one of the victims has serious amounts of poisons swamping their hearts and veins.
I intend to inform Ms. Gorton that Lexington has earned the infamy of Being the Equine Murder Capital of the World. Kentucky breeds the horses, they sell them, they race them and they are disinterested that horses are dying in transit to the tracks, fires in the barns, but the cruelest indifference is when 12,459 horses are euthanized due to being raced on bones that cannot be repaired to full healing by surgery. Horses do not have strong bones when they are babies, just like humans they need to develop their balance, strength and vitality by natural growth and not on poisons that enhance speed. Steroids bulk up muscles they do not increase heart health or determination of courage. This mayor is focused on economic growth and is promoting a useless festival that celebrates brutality resulting in death to horses. The mayor needs to be reminded that as a former nurse it was her responsibility to save lives…well, this sweetheart needs to look into the mirror and ask herself what happened to her will to preserve life?
We need protesters who live in Kentucky to put up signs Welcome to Lexington, Kentucky, Equine Murder Capital of the World.