No Horse Sense

May 3, 2008 : 9:37 PM

Kentucky Derby ends in tragedy.

By Kelli Banet, Best Friends Network Volunteer

For the second time since 2006, a young horse has met a tragic end during a stage of the Triple Crown. Eight Belles was euthanized on the track at the Kentucky Derby, after breaking both front ankles. This event serves as a reminder of Barbaro's 2006 Preakness run, during which he broke his leg in more than 20 places. After grueling surgeries and months of rehabilitation, Barbaro was euthanized on January 29th, 2007.

These deaths were certainly not isolated incidents; they just happened to get press coverage because they took place in premiere races. The breeders, owners, trainers, and anyone who still believes that horse racing is a spectator sport are ultimately responsible for the deaths of these animals. Asking a horse to train for and compete in the Triple Crown is akin to asking a five year old child to run the New York Marathon.

Nature programmed horses to have their babies in the Spring, when the weather is accommodating to birth and food is plentiful. Thoroughbred racehorses are all considered to be yearlings (one year old) on January first, regardless of when they were born. Therefore, foals born later in the year are at a distinct disadvantage when competing against their peers born when the weather is still crisp. Artificial lighting and drugs have been created to bring mares into heat earlier in the year, thus allowing them to have their babies in the middle of the winter.

Racehorses begin training as yearlings, and run competitively as two and three year olds. Once a horse is in training, he spends almost all of his time in a twelve foot by twelve foot stall. He is allowed out to train, and to hand-walk, because turning him out in a pasture to be a horse could result in injury. The majority of competitive racehorses are finished racing by the time they are four (and can live 20-30 years). Along the way, many of these horses face injuries including (but not limited to): stress fractures, bone chips and lesions, bowed tendons, bucked shins, bleeding (exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage), and issues with suspensory ligaments. The fact is that horses are large animals with delicate feet and legs. Racehorses are asked to put a tremendous amount of stress and strain on bones that are still soft and growing.

Although I did not watch the race, I did hear a bit of the commentary. I heard a newscaster say that there are 13,000 Thoroughbred mares bred each year. A trip to Ocala, Florida will confirm that there are indeed a LOT of foals born every year. One needs to think about how many horses actually make money racing. Of all of the thousands of foals born each year, how many aren't fast enough to make it to the track? What becomes of them? The lucky ones are auctioned off to begin second careers. I know that the rest of them aren't put out to pasture on the breeding farm. We can be thankful that U.S. slaughterhouses are a thing of the past, but what fate awaits these unwanted animals?

Perhaps the death of Eight Belles (so soon after the death of Barbaro) will be a wake-up call to the general public. People were consumed with Barbaro's story because he was a beautiful, talented young horse who was injured before his life really began. His owners put an unbelievable amount of money into his rehabilitation, and people rallied around his recovery. The fact is that Eight Belles probably had a more humane end to her life by being put down immediately on the track. Although we all rooted for Barbaro, any experienced horseperson knew that he would never be able to recover from such a devastating injury.

Thoroughbred racehorses are over-bred, over-trained, over-used, and treated like money making machines. If they don't produce, they are cast aside like disposable commodities. Until they are treated like the intelligent, magnificent creatures that they are, tragedies will continue to mar the "sport" of racing.

How You Can Help:

Consider sponsoring or adopting a retired racehorse. Click here to visit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to rescuing and placing retired racehorses.

Visit H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut, Connecticut's own equine rescue.

Check out CANTER New England, which is dedicated to the welfare of the racing Thoroughbred and assisting ex-racers, especially at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, MA.

Look into H.O.U.R.S.E. of Vermont, and its mission to to rescue, rehabilitate and adopt out unraceable Standardbreds to caring homes.

Visit New York Horse Rescue, working to prevent the inhumane slaughter of injured, abused, and unwanted horses and to rehabilitate and place these horses in qualified adoptive homes.

Click to visit ReRun, a nonprofit Thoroughbred adoption program based in New Jersey and adopting out horses in NJ, NY, and KY

For national resources on behalf of horses in need, especially racers, visit EquineRescue.info and HorseAdoption.com.

Posted By: Kelli Banet
Photo Credit: Bill Tarpenning

Comments

May 10, 2008 at 2:46 PM
posted by: PamelaB

Yes, Kris, I've been wondering about this too. My friend Lucy Fensom, who runs Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land, has investigated prosthetics for her injured donkeys for years. And while investigating for her, I discovered a marvelous vet who had developed a successful prosthetic for an alpaca! (hmm--perhaps she was a llama?)

So the science and technology are definitely there. I'll bet the money and compassion are not!

May 8, 2008 at 6:03 PM
posted by: krislh

I just found the most amazing website. Why must so many injured horses immediately be euthanized? Read he amazing story of Molly here: http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2008/03/pony-romps-to-new-role-in-lifeon-three.html

May 8, 2008 at 1:16 PM
posted by: PamelaB

In an earliter comment (see below), I mentioned that CHAI was fighting the racing industry in Israel.

Here is CHAI's latest web page on Eight Belles.

Death at the Kentury Derby

May 8, 2008 at 1:14 PM
posted by: PamelaB

Take a look at PETA's efforts to help races horses and retire the industry.

Eight Belles Should Sound the End of Racetrack Betting

May 7, 2008 at 4:19 PM
posted by: crowbird

Horse racing as well as Dog racing must be eliminated... It's a very horrible industry. I totally agree with Beamer.

May 7, 2008 at 12:19 PM
posted by: soosz

If you look at a horse's body, it's large in proportion to it's skinny legs. To race such young horses is cruel. I would think their bones would need more time to develop. The breeding/training regimen seems to be designed for the convenience of humans. To retire these young horses after 3-4 years conforms to our society's misguided philosophy that a creature or thing that isn't brand new has little value (or isn't "cute" anymore) and is therefore disposable. We humans need to develop some horse sense.

May 6, 2008 at 3:58 PM
posted by: PamelaB

I am overjoyed that Kelli Banet has brought the cruelty and abuse of horse racing to the Network's readers at this time.

CHAI's Anti-Racing Campaign in Israel

I'd like to mention also the impressive anti-racing campaign now being waged in Israel by CHAI, an acronym for the group 'Concern for Helping Animals in Israel.'

Visit the campaign AGAINST RACING IN ISRAEL

International readers will recognize CHAI, whose founder and director, Nina Natelson, has written moving and marvelous stories of rescued Israeli dogs for the Network. But she's also a determined advocate against horse racing and gambling on racing in Israel, as you'll see if you click on the link above.

May 6, 2008 at 12:47 PM
posted by: rmlamasney25

If someone "cares deeply"about their horse, why would they subject them to the potential of crippling injury or even death? I don't buy it. Racing subjects horses to tremendous strain on immature skeletal and musculature systems which often results in permanent injury. Trainers and owners know this.

May 6, 2008 at 6:44 AM
posted by: sherylcatmom

Current DawnWatch: NY Times columnist asks why we keeping giving Horse racing "a pass." 5/4/08

May 6, 2008 at 6:33 AM
posted by: cbarnes

With all that horses, donkeys and all the equine family has done for this nation I believe that we owe them alot more respect then they heve ever been given. Horses, donkeys and mules heve build the world we live in literally one their backs and true to human nature we have treated them like garbage. When will we learn that animals are gifts and not something to use ,abuse and throw away when we are done with it? This make s me sick to know that with animal rights in full swing we are still living in the dark ages with horse races, dog and cock fighting etc. still going on.

May 6, 2008 at 5:18 AM
posted by: Busters

Press coverage is necessary for these evils. Everyone here can send a letter to the New York Times Editor at letters@nytimes.com, don't forget to include your name, address and phone number and limit your letter to 150 words.

My letter today to them: Why are we humans compelled to utilize animals for entertainment? Some might say, that horses are in their natural environment by running. Running in nature maybe, but not pushed to the limit and bred for our human idiosyncrasies. Do we enjoy the stress from our careers where we push ourselves..do we feel that our stress improves our lives? Are we a society which will continue to indulge ourselves with no mercy of all other sentient beings? I am confused. My heart is with Eight Belles, 2008 Kentucky Derby runner-up who gave her life for our entertainment; and, with sincere hope that Eight Belles legacy will prevent horses becoming the “puppy mills” of the future.

May 5, 2008 at 11:03 PM
posted by: mini

I was a young naive girl who went to work at the track with dreams of becomming a jockey. I changed my mind fairly quickly. I loved horses but couldn't think with dollar signs and not my heart. I guess I just didn't have the greed. I continued to work there for many years knowing that the horses weren't going any where and hoped that I could at least make it better for the horses who were forced to be there.

I will admit that some horses did actually like to race and that some of them were treated very good. More then not unfortunately hated being there and were not treated good. The high end expensive horses at the big tracks had a better chance at a shorter career and being treated better. A low end horse had a good chance at being raced till they dropped and treated like garbage. Go to a B track and see how crappy the lives of the horses are. Everything from the track surface to the hay they eat is on the low end. If you don't make it there you are surely going for meat, even if you are perfectly sound. They gotta make a buck with them some how.

After watching abuse and explotation on every thing from thoroughbreds to standardbreds I'd had enough. I just couldn't take seeing horses beaten in heir stalls, hobble burns, dirty stalls, crappy food, the list goes on. Even just the fact that they are kept in their stalls for 23 hours a day is cruel. I'd seen my favorite horses snap a leg off. The cruelty just never ends. Any time there is money envolved peoples morals go out the window. I'm not saying that their aren't good people out there who do care deeply for their horses and they do treat them well, but the bottom line is that there is too many out there that don't.

I was surprised to find that most of the people who are at the track aren't there because they love horses. They are there because they can't get a job any where else. A lot of the people have drug and alcohol addiction, criminal records. It's a different world at the backstrech of the track.

One of the last things that I did before I left the track was to rescue one of my favorite horses and buy him for my pet. He is 20+ years old and looking good. Fortunately I rescued him before he was ruined. He was a bottoms claimer and would not have made it to 20 if he was still at the track. If you could ask these horses how many of then are happy being racehorses they wouldn't be telling you yes.

When I go to the gym to work out and I've had enough and I start to hurt I go home. These horses don't have that luxury. People think it's cruel for parents to put their children in sports and pagents against their will. No thought is given to the horses at the track against their will.

If horse racing in not going away the least they could do is treat the horses with respect and dignity. The least they could do is wait till their bones are fully developed. There are so many things that could be done to make their lives better while they are exploited, but that would cut in to profit. If my 15 years at the track taught me anything, it's that the world is a cruel place with cruel people whose bottom line is money. Even if you do care deeply for your racehorses, if you are racing them you are exploiting them. They have nothing to gain by racing, you do.

I now choose to spend my time making up for those people by being someone who cares about animals and tries to make a difference by doing all I can to make life better for as many animals as I can.

May 5, 2008 at 10:34 PM
posted by: beamer

Legislative action, alone, is not the answer. It is the same as Greyhound racing...you hit them in the wallet...stop the betting, stop attending...
When it become unprofitable...then it will go away

May 5, 2008 at 7:44 PM
posted by: bum

I live in Florida and have, indeed, made several trips into Marion County/Ocala. Most of the people buying/breeding/training horses know from the outset that their horses are not Triple Crown contenders. I know an attorney in Tampa who runs her horses at Tampa Bay Downs and cares about them deeply, not exploiting them. In my behind the scenes looks, it's about an even split: half of the horse people probably need a lot more schooling (about the horse and the morality) while others understand and care for their horses.

For the record, Barbaro was not tested for potency prior to his breakdown in the Preakness nor was DNA saved to "clone" him. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson made the decisions about his care not even knowing whether or not he could sire any babies.

As for the prostitution claim, there are many more sentient beings who are exploited without money changing hands - children and the elderly are routinely exploited. Having said that, not all horses are "forced" to perform - neither are all prostitutes. (Have you been to Vegas?)

May 5, 2008 at 5:40 PM
posted by: rmlamasney25

In my opinion, Barbaro's owners were not acting in his best interest, but their own. Laminitis is painful. A shattered leg is painful. The humane thing would have been to euthanize. Were the owners trying to do the best for Barbaro, or were they interested in the stud fees for such a famous horse?
And as for Eight Belles, her gruesome, horrific death is the direct result of human greed. These horses are under tremendous strain on their still-developing bones - bones too soft to withstand such pressure. The owners and especially the trainers know this, they just don't care. It all comes down to $$, and the horses are just objects to be used up and thrown away. No, bum, life is not green paddocks and admiring visitors for the majority of TB's, but rather crippling injury and early death for many. All for the sake of money.

May 5, 2008 at 5:29 PM
posted by: QMD333

I like to compare Horse Racing to prostitution.

Prostitutes are forced to "perform", and sometimes their performance includes "being whipped". (Actually, some prostitutes have a choice, others feel that they cant do anything else to make ends meet)

Horses are forced to perform, and sometimes their performance includes "being whipped."

Both are exploited so that moolah can be made..

Men pimp women for their own WALLETS, not because they care about the women.

Horse Racing owners, breeders, etc race horses for their own WALLETS, not because they care about the horses.

Do you think it's a coincidence that retired race Horses (the lucky ones who survive) end up as "studs"?
No way Jose.

If you truly care about a Horse, you let them roam in a big backyard with their fellow horses, you dont race them at high speeds against other horses.

If there was no money to be won in horse racing, horse racing would cease to exist.

The human animal prostitutes Horses for the good of their bank accounts.

In that way, horse racing is no different than the circus.
Animals are manipulated into performing, and if they break a leg, we kill them. If they can make us money, we keep them alive...if they cant make us money, they die,or we pimp them to breed horses who will be as fast (and as skilled in the money making machine) as they were.

If we cared for them, we wouldnt allow them to be in a race that could potentially cause their legs to break.

It's not enough to say "I love Horses". PETA says that they love animals, yet in 2006 they had a 97% kill rate of animals. The HSUS and ASPCA says that we have to end the killing of shelter animals, yet they are FOR the killing of shelter animals.Talk is cheap. Actions matter.

Horses arent raced for the sake of the horses, they are raced for the sake of the human animal.

Exploitation.

May 5, 2008 at 4:27 PM
posted by: crvb

Every state needs to enact a law that requires all horses in a horse race to have attained the age of 5 years or older. That will eliminate some, but not all, of the injuries due to working young animals too hard.

May 5, 2008 at 4:09 PM
posted by: krislh

Thanks for this article Kelli.

This brings to mind the story of the beautiful Ruffian who also gave her life in 1975 to help raise awareness of the hidden cruelty of the racing industry. She brought the city of New York...arguably, the nation, to a very different place of understanding about the racing industry. In fact, public outcry was so great that new humane practices were introduced for racehorses. Hardly enough....but some.

For those who are unfamiliar, I urge you to research Ruffian and her amazing story. I believe that these animals are trying desperately to teach us by their living...and in some cases, dying, example to move to a place of heightened understanding about these hidden cruelties...so that the endless exploitation of their lives becomes a thing of the past. However, while their lessons are masterful...there is, sadly, a paucity of students. I hope that Eight Belle's life was not another lost in vain.

Matt Lauer did a great interview this morning with Eight Belle's trainer, pressing him about the possibility of horse racing being a form of animal cruelty. NPR also did a great report. Perhaps, finally, the light bulb is flickering. But how many more animials must die for the cause? This is what i mean about the animals being amazing teachers. Had this not happened, the question would not have been asked and, what for many was an 'a-ha' moment, would not have occurred.

This is a time where parents and teachers can take the time to discuss this...in classrooms and at dinner tables. There is no better time than right now...amazingly...this is BE KIND TO ANIMALS week.

May 5, 2008 at 8:31 AM
posted by: kelliab

In response to bum's comment, I was involved in the horse industry for many years (for both business and pleasure), and I was also employed at a major equine hospital. In my experience, the average racehorse does not lead the life that bum saw when visiting Kentucky. Those animals are retired superstars, standing at stud. As I said in the article, I recommend a trip to Kentucky or Florida horse country in January, February, or March if you want a more complete picture of what I am describing. Nobody disputes the fact that Barbaro's owners (and trainer) went above and beyond for him. In my own experiences however, they are the exception to the rule.

May 4, 2008 at 10:58 PM
posted by: laddie

Thank-you, Kelli, for doing such a good & informative job at exposing the inhumaneness of horseracing. It is an institution that will die hard but hopefully, as the slaughterhouses, it will die also. I see no difference to the horses used in racing than in the animals that are used for medical experimentation; they have no voice. We must be their voices. Geri

May 4, 2008 at 9:44 PM
posted by: bum

Actually, Kelli, Barbaro was well on his way to recovery from that catastrophic injury. What ultimately began his decline was that one of the screws used in the leg repair had bent, as memory serves, and infection set in after the replacement of it.

Barbaro's laminitis ended up being a precursor to his actually foundering. To that point, he did very well although he probably would've been prone to laminitis all his life.

I also had the opportunity to visit Darley Farms in Lexington and meet Hard Spun, Street Sense, and Bernardini, to name a few. While I was there, none of them spent most of their time in their stalls. It was a rainy day and they were each turned out into their respective paddocks. Street Sense (the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner) took great exception to the attention we gave Hard Spun and zoomed around his paddock, snorting and such. They were well cared for, happy, and in their element, at least while I was there.

Breeding Thoroughbreds (TBs) in the USA has been done largely for speed, rather than endurance. We're also the only country that I know of that sanctions the use of steroids for our TBs. And, we routinely send our "excess" horses to slaughter (now by transporting them to Canada and Mexico). But we still send our "excess" cats and dogs to "shelters" to be "euthanized".

Undoubtedly, there is a great deal of corruption in many aspects of horse-racing but that doesn't make the horse a victim in each and every case. To make sweeping generalizations against horse racing would be akin to making sweeping comments against all dog breeders/owners or all sports involving animals because animals can't speak for themselves. Not all dog-breeders are puppy-mill breeders; not all horse-breeders are in it to just turn out huge numbers of horses.

I think Eight Belles' death is painful to all of us who love animals. And I think her owner and trainer probably feel pain at her demise as well. But I don't think it's fair, or just, to lump most horse-racing owners into a group who overbreeds and tosses them aside. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, Barbaro's owners, have actually addressed Congress in support of the anti-horse-slaughter bills currently on Capitol Hill.

May 4, 2008 at 2:46 PM
posted by: traceylasz

What a wonderful story exposing the rarely unseen dark side of horse racing. Most people simply do not understand how horses are exploited on behalf of this ridiculous industry. This story did a terrific job of consisely highligting the central issues and dispelling any myths that the horses, even the most prized, are anything other than a means to and end for those who participate in this industry. Thank you.