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On the Sad Prevalence of Abuse in the Horse Racing Industry

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This sport is full of abuse it is flooding from the cracks. With many horses always run on Lasix and others always having to fight through injuries that go untreated. They are started very young and run in many different types of breezes where injuries are common and go uncared for. The only thing most people care about is the gambling and the money that is extremely sunk into this sport! Then after these poor horses are run out of their brains they are sent to slaughter or a life in a stall. The horses need good retirement homes and good vet care to make this sport enjoyable for all!

Mary Fischer of MN 5:40PM April 22, 2012

you know, the big fact is being looked over by the race veteran in the previous comment. no matter how many retirement programs, etc that are set up for off the track horses this guy -Ernie P.- did a horrible thing to the horses in his care. the punishment should fit the crime! he should be made to care for these horses- with his own hands- until they are well enough to be place with ohters. and when i write with his own hands, by gosh i mean with his own two hands! not one bred type horse "tribe" is with out it's horror stories about abuse, neglect, or wrong doing to the horse in its public and private use. BUT in that same spoon there have be heoric efforts by the different "tribes" when in fact the metal meets the meat.
I have a mutt bunch of horses that i dearly love. anyone here that has horses knows that to have a horse(s) is to know what sacrifice is. the person will sacrifice a huge amount of time and money to the animals they love. i'm a working class person that has sacrificed her time and her money in making her horses comfortable. and i stress money! is it worth it? Heck yes! am i the perfect horse owner? NO but i do make the effort to becoming better.
basically, straving a horse is BAD and should have a fitting punishment to imprint just how bad it is. let him invest HIS time to nurse these horses back to health. the horse "tribe" in general is a good bunch of people.

Crystal Rogers of TN 9:03AM April 18, 2009

I've ridden the show circuit for 15 years and my family's invested in racing syndicates so I am fairly familiar with a number of horse-related industries.
Many sport horses are treated very well during their careers--given the best veterinary care, feed, and exercise.
One of the most pressing concerns, though, is what happens to thoroughbreds in the long term, once they are off the track. As many of you are aware, Ferdinand, the Kentucky Derby winner, was eventually sent to slaughter. Magic Flute, another winning racer, went to slaughter recently. I have also seen a number of sound, fine thoroughbreds rescued one step from the slaughterhouse.
Although the original owners probably did not want these horses sent to killers, they still ended up there. Alex Brown, an exercise rider and industry insider, writes very compellingly about rescuing thoroughbreds from the kill pen.
All horse owners need to ask themselves: Where will my animal spend the last days of his life?

Jill of CA 5:27PM April 17, 2009

Would anyone care to comment on the Nurse Mare Farms and the suffering that accures to the offspring of the Nurse Mares. I doubt it just another dirty little secret of the racing industry.

Sandra of NY 5:02PM April 12, 2009

I have worked in the racing industry for many years and now work at an equine hospital, so I can speak with some confidence that you can rest well assured that the OVERWHELMING majority (as in almost all) of cases if neglect are perpetrated by "backyard" horse owners and breeders of other breeds, NOT Thoroughbred breeders no matter how large or small. In fact the racing industry is very aware and becoming much more proactive about providing retirement options for horses post racing. You will not find a single breed registry that has as many retirement programs and charities for their breed -- an effort is being made. I have a personal friend who breeds and races a few thourougbreds and is very careful to follow "her" horses careers and bring them home when they have finished running. So the ignorant, reactive statments made by Ms. Erbe are just that -- ignorant, reactive statements. If you want to investigate some truly appaling treatment of horses look no further than the hunter-jumper show people for "pain management", the quarter horse "halter horse" folks for steroid abuse, not to mention the horror that goes on with the Tenessee Walking horses. And they do it for what? Some blue ribbons? It stuns even us "racetrack veterans".

Charlotte of KY 3:53PM April 09, 2009

Racing's organized crime family
treats those who abuse horses with
the highest honor.The stable vet of
EIGHT BELLES still hasn't been questioned,

roz of NY 12:54PM April 08, 2009

From Ogden Phipps of The Jockey Club:
"...pursuant to Section V, Rule 19A (4) of the Principal Rules and Requirements of The American Stud Book, The Jockey Club reserves the right to deny any or all of the privileges of The American Stud Book to any person or entity when there is a final determination by a court, an official tribunal or an official racing body that such person has killed, abandoned, mistreated, neglected or abused, or otherwise committed an act of cruelty to a horse.
"The Jockey Club has invoked this rule in the past and will not hesitate to do so again when appropriate. The Jockey Club maintains a long-held conviction that owners are responsible and should be held accountable for the care, well-being and humane treatment of their Thoroughbred horses."
This may be so much wind, but it is not as if the horse-racing community is ignoring this.
We'll see - after all is said and done in this case - if the Jockey Club backs its words. And we'll see if it is as widely reported.

evening attire of NC 12:53PM April 08, 2009

I do believe that Paragallo's abuse of his horses is an exception rather than the rule. With that in mind, it does not follow that it should be swept under the rug. This kind of behavior must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. In addition, horse racing authorities must make Paragallo suffer the most extreme penalties possible. His crime goes far beyong the reach of the law. He must be held up to every criticism and penalty.

Joanne Kraft of MD 10:29AM April 08, 2009

I agree with Ace. There are always people who abuse animals in all walks of like but my experience in horse racing is that they are very much the exception; not the rule. And if you were truly acquainted with the horse racing industry, as you claim, you would be aware that the vast majority of owners lose money (usually very significant amounts) and that it is far from being a "money" machine.

FourCats of VA 1:44PM April 07, 2009

"Prevalence"? Certainly there is abuse in horse racing just as there is abuse in pet ownership, which has nothing to with gambling. The commentor who equates gambling to abuse is an idiot. There are plenty of animals abused due to ignorance and/or plain old cruelty in general that have nothing to do with gambling.
As Breakage points out, there are plenty of hard working, respectable people in horse racing who put the safety and care the animal above all else. I do agree that there should be zero tolerance for abuse, neglect and drugs but take issue with your sloppy headline.

Ace of NY 11:18AM April 07, 2009