Thanks, Suffolk
Suffolk Downs takes a zero-tolerance stand on slaughter:
Sam Elliott, the track’s vice president for racing, has informed the leadership of the New England Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association that any trainer found to have sold a horse for slaughter will have his stalls revoked and be denied stalls in the future.
Horsemen are in support of the new policy: “There’s no reason why that should happen nowadays,” said New England HBPA president Al Balestra. “There shouldn’t be any horses going to killers” (ThoroTimes).
Related: Eliminating slaughter won’t solve the problem of the unwanted horses. Fran reports from a recent American Horse Council forum on the issue, which doesn’t get the attention of the emotionally-charged anti-slaughter movement, but is even more important.
6/28 additions: Here’s a story that illustrates too well the problem with unwanted horses. Fortunately, Getaway Hall — a harness racer with career earnings of more than $700,000 — was found by good people. And over on Blood-Horse, Alex Brown answers questions about horse rescue and welfare.
Supporting Retired Horses
Here’s one idea to ensure secure retirements for racehorses:
As a solution to the funding problem, the TRF has proposed the creation of a social security trust fund for retired thoroughbreds. Money would be raised for the fund by deducting one-half of one percent (.005) from all purse monies. (At this rate, a modest $5 would be deducted for every $1,000 in earnings.) The fund would be managed by people within the industry, with money allocated to rescue organizations on a horse-by-horse basis. With total purses annually running over $1 billion, this method would raise over $5 million per year.
In the meantime, Woodford Reserve distillery will sell $1,000 mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby to support thoroughbred retirement groups.
Senate Passes Slaughter Amendment
By 68-29, the US Senate passed an agricultural appropriations bill amendment that would eliminate federal funding for USDA inspectors at the three remaining horse slaughterhouses in the country, a move that would shut those facilities down for the coming fiscal year (Thoroughbred Times). Bill H.R. 503, which would permanently end horse slaughter in the United States, was re-introduced in the House earlier this year and is pending before the Energy and Commerce Committee. Supporters are hopeful that Tuesday’s vote on the amendment will lead to a vote on H.R. 503 on the House floor soon.
Related: Pity the French butcher, deprived of American horse meat (Wall Street Journal — sub. req.):
A US ban would mean that Mr. Dhalluin would no longer be able to buy the meat that vaulted him to a gold medal in a recent culinary contest for “best sausage in the category of garlic.”
Yes, that would be a terrible shame. Surely we should continue to slaughter nearly 60,000 horses — including wild horses, quarter horses, and thoroughbreds — in the United States so that Mr. Dhalluin and his colleagues may continue to make sausage.
After the Finish Line
Lowell Sun racing columnist Paul Daley reviews Bill Heller’s new book on efforts to end horse slaughter in America.”‘After the Finish Line’ may just be the most important book you read this year.”
Arrest Made
“New York State Police arrested former Finger Lakes employee Sue Leininger on Wednesday and charged her with scheme to defraud in the first degree, a felony, after determining she took horses from the track to auctions after promising owners they would be sent to good homes.” (Thoroughbred Times)
Stopping the Slaughter
The National Horse Protection Coalition and six other organizations are working to educate fans this weekend about horse slaughter. “Trainer Nick Zito, National Horse Coalition spokesman, told an assembled group at Lone Star the afternoon before Breeders’ Cup World Championship day, ‘Horse slaughter is just wrong … It is an owner’s responsibility to take care of the horse after his career has ended.'” (Blood-Horse)
More: “Zito message: Simply think about the word ‘slaughter’ for just a minute” (Thoroughbred Times) and “Group pushes anti-slaughter bill” (Courier-Journal)
It’s Time to End
Horse slaughter, writes Kevin Blackistone, and the Breeders’ Cup is the right platform from which to address the issue. “Who cares about the economic impact of the Breeders’ Cup or its putting Lone Star on the map? Its greatest legacy would be the extermination of horse slaughter here and the triumph of national legislation to end the despicable deed everywhere.” Note: This article opens with a graphic description of horse slaughter. (Dallas Morning News)
Investigations Requested
“Law enforcement authorities in New York and Massachusetts have been asked to investigate how at least two racehorses recently wound up in the hands of slaughterhouse buyers after their owners had been assured they were sent to good homes.” (Thoroughbred Times)
A Close Call
Maggie Moss thought she had found US Gold, a nine-year-old winner of 21 races, a good retirement home. Then: “Only one week after US Gold was sent to Blazing Saddles Farm, Moss was informed that US Gold was to be sent to a Texas slaughterhouse after he failed to sell at an auction in Agawam, Massachusetts.” The horse was rescued and sent to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Lexington facility. (Thoroughbred Times)
Change of Plans
The Fund for Horses has scrapped plans to hold an anti-slaughter rally during Breeders’ Cup week, opting instead to have an informational table inside Lone Star Park. “[A]fter several discussions with Lone Star Park, it was decided that the best way to bring as much attention as possible to this issue would be to do something inside the racetrack,” Vivian Farrell, president of The Fund for Horses, told the Thoroughbred Times.
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Jessica Chapel writes and edits in Massachusetts. Railbird is a Thoroughbred horse racing blog published from June 2004 to July 2019. More / Contact
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