THE NEW YORKER PODCAST “BLOOD ON THE TRACKS”

THE NEW YORKER PODCAST “BLOOD ON THE TRACKS”

CAN HORSE RACING SURVIVE?  

In a time of changing sensitivities,

an ancient sport struggles to justify itself.

In 2019, dozens of thoroughbreds died at California’s Santa Anita Park. 

 As outrage built, the industry was forced to contend with an existential question:

 Is racing inseparable from cruelty to animals?

MAY 15, 2021 – By William Finnegan

The linked article is long but a very worthwhile read or listen.

Yes, I said read or listen.  There’s an audio file linked near the top of the article, a podcast –  so you may choose to listen instead of reading.

Published in the print edition of The New Yorker on May 24, 2021, with the headline “Blood on the Tracks.”…

This article is a wealth of information about horse racing, in the United States and the information – and the industry –  includes strong ties to Canada as well.

For that reason we’ve chosen to feature this article for a second time.

P.S. Our followers from Australia and New Zealand will find it interesting too.

What happened at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in late 2019 looked like the end of horse racing in California, maybe in America.

It was the twelfth and final race of a two-day series, at Santa Anita Park, the storied track near Los Angeles. Sixty-eight thousand people packed the Art Deco grandstand, the apron, the infield, the high-priced suites.

The “handle”—the total betting for the day—was a healthy hundred and seventeen million dollars, but thoroughbred racingitself was on life support.

Since the beginning of the year, thirty-five horses had died at Santa Anita.

Public dismay had risen to the point that Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, had told the Times that racing’s “time is up” if it did not reform.

Dianne Feinstein, the state’s senior senator, had released a letter calling the Breeders’ Cup races a “critical test for the future of horseracing.”

T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND 

LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA 

CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including  Japan.

The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT  horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan,  to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane. 

BILL C-355 SENATE

BILL C-355 SENATE

HON. PIERRE J. DALPHONDBill C-355 - a bill to ban the export of horses from Canada for the purpose of slaughter by air or to be fattened for slaughter passed through Parliament and is now in the hands of Canada's Senators. Senators are appointed by the Governor...

read more
THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

 CANADIAN ICON JANN ARDEN GAINS MORE PRESS Thank you, Jann Arden, for your unwavering commitment to advocating for the protection of horses. Your efforts, particularly in helping to ban the live export of horses for slaughter, have made a tremendous difference. (That...

read more
CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

 SOCIAL MEDIA WRONGLY BLAMING PM TRUDEAU  Recently on social media, we’ve noticed some advocates blaming Prime Minister Trudeau for the ongoing export of horses from Canada to Japan and other markets for the purpose of slaughter. We are thankful that Prime Minister...

read more

BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR ANY PURPOSE
DONATESHOP TO SAVE HORSES
HORSE RACING HAS OUTLIVED ITS TIME

HORSE RACING HAS OUTLIVED ITS TIME

THE WASHINGTON POST – OPINION 

MARCH 13, 2020 – By Editorial Board

IN THE aftermath of federal indictments that charged more than two dozen people in or associated with horse racing in “a widespread, corrupt” doping scheme, the industry rushed to put on a good face. The arrests, said the head of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, show that the system works, and that will have “a cleansing effect” on racing. “Let’s face it. It’s like any sport,” said one leading horse trainer. “We’re no different.”

Let’s be charitable and chalk up such comments to self-delusion, because anyone who thinks horse racing is like any other major sport is lying, ignorant or kidding themselves.

No other accepted sport exploits defenseless animals as gambling chips.

No other accepted sport tolerates the cruelties that routinely result in the injury and death of these magnificent animals.

The rot in horse racing goes deep. It is a sport that has outlived its time.

T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND 

LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA 

CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including  Japan.

The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT  horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan,  to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane. 

BILL C-355 SENATE

BILL C-355 SENATE

HON. PIERRE J. DALPHONDBill C-355 - a bill to ban the export of horses from Canada for the purpose of slaughter by air or to be fattened for slaughter passed through Parliament and is now in the hands of Canada's Senators. Senators are appointed by the Governor...

read more
THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

 CANADIAN ICON JANN ARDEN GAINS MORE PRESS Thank you, Jann Arden, for your unwavering commitment to advocating for the protection of horses. Your efforts, particularly in helping to ban the live export of horses for slaughter, have made a tremendous difference. (That...

read more
CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

 SOCIAL MEDIA WRONGLY BLAMING PM TRUDEAU  Recently on social media, we’ve noticed some advocates blaming Prime Minister Trudeau for the ongoing export of horses from Canada to Japan and other markets for the purpose of slaughter. We are thankful that Prime Minister...

read more

BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR ANY PURPOSE
DONATESHOP TO SAVE HORSES
A SPORT THAT GAMBLES WITH HORSES’ LIVES

A SPORT THAT GAMBLES WITH HORSES’ LIVES

THE WASHINGTON POST – OPINION 

DOES A SPORT THAT GAMBLES WITH THE LIVES OF HORSES REALLY BELONG IN OUR WORLD? 

JANUARY 25, 2020 – By Editorial Board

THE DEATHS of nearly two dozen horses last year at Santa Anita Park in California caused the famed racetrack to close for three weeks as it tried to assess the situation.

It reopened with changes that included a new track drainage system, strict medication rules, enhanced training protocols and more veterinarians to oversee the horses.

Despite the changes, there were six deaths of horses racing or training during the fall meeting leading up to the renowned Breeders’ Cup races.

During the final race of that two-day event, a 4-year-old gelding broke its leg and had to be euthanized. Since the start of the new season in December, there have been five more deaths, including three in as many days over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

It’s good that public outcry has forced government and the industry to finally start paying attention to the treatment of these beautiful animals.

But the question is whether the proposed reforms go far enough.

We have our doubts and think animal rights activists make a powerful case that the fundamental problem is with horse racing itself.

“The killing is built into the system” is the blunt assessment of Patrick Battuello, founder and president of Horseracing Wrongs, who has spent the past five years tracking public data on racehorse deaths at the 100 racetracks in 35 states.

He has confirmed 1,000 deaths annually but says the actual number is much higher.

T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND 

LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA 

CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including  Japan.

The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT  horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan,  to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane. 

BILL C-355 SENATE

BILL C-355 SENATE

HON. PIERRE J. DALPHONDBill C-355 - a bill to ban the export of horses from Canada for the purpose of slaughter by air or to be fattened for slaughter passed through Parliament and is now in the hands of Canada's Senators. Senators are appointed by the Governor...

read more
THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

 CANADIAN ICON JANN ARDEN GAINS MORE PRESS Thank you, Jann Arden, for your unwavering commitment to advocating for the protection of horses. Your efforts, particularly in helping to ban the live export of horses for slaughter, have made a tremendous difference. (That...

read more
CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

 SOCIAL MEDIA WRONGLY BLAMING PM TRUDEAU  Recently on social media, we’ve noticed some advocates blaming Prime Minister Trudeau for the ongoing export of horses from Canada to Japan and other markets for the purpose of slaughter. We are thankful that Prime Minister...

read more

BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR ANY PURPOSE
DONATESHOP TO SAVE HORSES
GRIM FUTURE FACING MOST OF AMERICA’S RACEHORSES

GRIM FUTURE FACING MOST OF AMERICA’S RACEHORSES

THE WASHINGTON POST – OPINION 

THE GRIM FUTURE FACING MOST OF AMERICA’S RACEHORSES 

MAY 8, 2018 – By Kathleen Parker – Columnist

While racing fans are always interested in historical stats, many in the horse industry are more interested in how a horse’s age foretells its likely shortened life owing to injury.

About 20,000 thoroughbreds are born each year.

At 2 years old, a horse’s bones aren’t fully formed, yet typically, they’re put on the track.

This unfortunate fact leads us to other, less agreeable statistics.

In 2017, almost 79,000 horses, some of them thoroughbreds, were transported to Mexico or Canada under abhorrent circumstances — crammed into trucks or trailers for more than 24 hours without food or water — to be slaughtered under often brutal conditions.

Exhausted, terrified, dehydrated and hungry, these horses are usually shocked and bled-out.

Sometimes, when the shock is incorrectly administered, as is often the case, horses are skinned and dismembered while still conscious, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND 

LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA 

CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including  Japan.

The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT  horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan,  to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane. 

BILL C-355 SENATE

BILL C-355 SENATE

HON. PIERRE J. DALPHONDBill C-355 - a bill to ban the export of horses from Canada for the purpose of slaughter by air or to be fattened for slaughter passed through Parliament and is now in the hands of Canada's Senators. Senators are appointed by the Governor...

read more
THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

 CANADIAN ICON JANN ARDEN GAINS MORE PRESS Thank you, Jann Arden, for your unwavering commitment to advocating for the protection of horses. Your efforts, particularly in helping to ban the live export of horses for slaughter, have made a tremendous difference. (That...

read more
CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

 SOCIAL MEDIA WRONGLY BLAMING PM TRUDEAU  Recently on social media, we’ve noticed some advocates blaming Prime Minister Trudeau for the ongoing export of horses from Canada to Japan and other markets for the purpose of slaughter. We are thankful that Prime Minister...

read more

BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR ANY PURPOSE
DONATESHOP TO SAVE HORSES

WHO – NOT WHAT –  IS A NURSE MARE FOAL?

WHO – NOT WHAT – IS A NURSE MARE FOAL?

WHEN YOU SUPPORT HORSE RACING 

When you support racing you support the slaughter of a little-known “by-product” of the racing industry, “nurse mare foals“.  Many nurse mare foals are slaughtered immediately after their birth, not necessarily using humane methods.

You might notice someone on social media looking for a mare who has lost her foal and is still lactating because a mare has passed while giving birth. Or you may notice someone offering a mare – referred to as a “nurse mare” – who is lactating because she’s just given birth and either had a stillbirth or her foal did not survive. Of course, we admire those who work together to help foals in need.

The racing industry intentionally creates nurse mares to use to feed intentionally “orphaned” foals.

There are a few reasons breeders use nurse mares – including the reason above but there are other reasons…

  • They have a mare they want to be able to race again as soon as possible so they don’t want her nursing her foal.
  • They may want to breed her again as quickly as possible.

In both cases, they take her foal way and a nurse mare nurses him or her.

Again, for a mare to be able to feed any baby she must be lactating and lactation is brought on in one of two ways.

  • By giving birth to a foal of her own
  • or being treated with hormones.

Treating a mare with hormones to induce lactation is expensive so the most common way is to breed a “nurse” mare and then take away her baby so she can be used to feed a foal who is considered more valuable than one she gave birth to.

There are operations that specialize in the leasing of nurse mares to breeders.

Sadly, as soon as the foals born to the nurse mares are born they are considered worthless.

The “nurse mare foal” is disposed of.

In some cases, because the meat of foals is considered a delicacy the foals are slaughtered for that purpose.

(Horse slaughter for human consumption is alive and well and is legal in Canada and Mexico and horses from the USA are routinely shipped to both countries for that purpose.).

“Pony skin” is often sought after in the fashion industry. We know, gross right?

Many foals born to mares who go on to be used as nurse mares are destroyed.  

Is that legal or humane?  

In many cases, it is certainly not humane but even still it happens regularly.

If a need arises to take a foal “off” a mare deemed too valuable to raise her foal, and a nurse mare is not available,  then inducing early labour of a nurse mare — where the foal has no chance of living is another “technique” used by these operations.

Again, many nurse mare foals are born and are simply destroyed, not necessarily using humane methods. Whether or not it is humane does not matter –  it still goes on.

The lack of concern for foals born to create nurse mares is just one of the many reasons we implore you to join us in boycotting the horse racing industry.

T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND 

LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA 

CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including  Japan.

The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT  horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan,  to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane. 

BILL C-355 SENATE

BILL C-355 SENATE

HON. PIERRE J. DALPHONDBill C-355 - a bill to ban the export of horses from Canada for the purpose of slaughter by air or to be fattened for slaughter passed through Parliament and is now in the hands of Canada's Senators. Senators are appointed by the Governor...

read more
THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

 CANADIAN ICON JANN ARDEN GAINS MORE PRESS Thank you, Jann Arden, for your unwavering commitment to advocating for the protection of horses. Your efforts, particularly in helping to ban the live export of horses for slaughter, have made a tremendous difference. (That...

read more
CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

 SOCIAL MEDIA WRONGLY BLAMING PM TRUDEAU  Recently on social media, we’ve noticed some advocates blaming Prime Minister Trudeau for the ongoing export of horses from Canada to Japan and other markets for the purpose of slaughter. We are thankful that Prime Minister...

read more

BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR ANY PURPOSE
DONATESHOP TO SAVE HORSES
ANNE TELNAES:  THE HARSH REALITY OF HORSE RACING

ANNE TELNAES: THE HARSH REALITY OF HORSE RACING

THE WASHINGTON – ANN TELNAES

JUNE 6, 2015

I think the illustration says it all but Ann Telnaes also writes: 

The Belmont Stakes is being held today and most of the attention is focused on whether or not American Pharoah, the winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, can become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

But what should be in the media spotlight is the harsh reality of horse racing and the abuses horses suffer in this sport.

Horses are started under saddle too early, sometimes at one and a half years old, which results in injury and early break-downs.

They are drugged so they can continue to run even when injured.

The sad outcome of many of these horses is their racing days are cut short and they end up discarded years before the end of their natural lives.

T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND 

LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA 

CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.

Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including  Japan.

The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT  horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, from the United States are shipped to Canada and to Mexico to be slaughtered.

In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan,  to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air, is far from humane. 

BILL C-355 SENATE

BILL C-355 SENATE

HON. PIERRE J. DALPHONDBill C-355 - a bill to ban the export of horses from Canada for the purpose of slaughter by air or to be fattened for slaughter passed through Parliament and is now in the hands of Canada's Senators. Senators are appointed by the Governor...

read more
THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

THANK YOU JANN ARDEN

 CANADIAN ICON JANN ARDEN GAINS MORE PRESS Thank you, Jann Arden, for your unwavering commitment to advocating for the protection of horses. Your efforts, particularly in helping to ban the live export of horses for slaughter, have made a tremendous difference. (That...

read more
CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER

 SOCIAL MEDIA WRONGLY BLAMING PM TRUDEAU  Recently on social media, we’ve noticed some advocates blaming Prime Minister Trudeau for the ongoing export of horses from Canada to Japan and other markets for the purpose of slaughter. We are thankful that Prime Minister...

read more

BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR ANY PURPOSE
DONATESHOP TO SAVE HORSES

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