A recent letter from a group of West Virginia legislators to the two U.S. senators from that state illustrates (again) the gaping inconsistency between the ways dogracing and horseracing are perceived, spoken of, and treated in this country. The letter…
In a Dec 2024 interview in Equus Magazine, neuroscientist and horse trainer Dr. Janet Jones was asked the following: “Do racehorses and other equine athletes have competitive instincts?” Her answer: “It would be the rare racehorse who ‘loves to run.’…
Ahead of today’s Preakness Stakes, the 27 (disclosed) kills at Maryland tracks last year: Trophy Boy, Jan 14, Laurel S “Showed signs of illness Dec 26. Condition deteriorated and connections could not financially afford to send the colt to a…
As HISA trots out another supposedly glowing “safety” report, I thought it a good time to revisit this issue – the killing, that is – with context. In 2014, we confirmed 1,104 kills at U.S. tracks (the actual number of…
With the Kentucky Derby upon us, a reminder: Even if you only watch, or wager on, this one race, you are a part of it – the it being the everyday abuse and constant killing of horses at American racetracks.…
With the Kentucky Derby just a few weeks away, a reminder: Even if you only watch or wager on one race a year, you are a part of it – the it being the everyday abuse and constant killing of…
An amendment to this year’s federal “farm bill” would end dogracing in all of America (currently, it only exists at two hellholes in West Virginia). The legislation is actually far more comprehensive, as it would not only ban racing here…
An “In Memoriam” video put together by one of our great volunteers, Linda Rydant:
(Note: I like to re-post this every few years as a reminder.) Up until very recently, knowledge and appreciation of the equine mind has been noticeably lacking. Sure, we’ve learned rudimentary things about horses through the years, but only enough…
As Triple Crown Season rolls along with the Preakness Stakes tomorrow, I offer this as a reminder of the law of unintended consequences. As I wrote of the Derby, even if you only bet (or watch) once (or thrice) a…
A recap of our FOIA reports, with a sampling from each state. Because California, Kentucky, and Maryland give us the most detail, I encourage you to visit those reports independently: California, Kentucky, Maryland. Oklahoma Keen Intention, Mar 4 – “bone…
The Kentucky Derby, the world’s most famous horse race, is tomorrow. Tens of thousands will attend, millions will watch, and a boatload of cash will be wagered on the action. But here’s the thing, none of that happens in a…
