Watch the VIDEOS then Contact Mountaineer, the track shown on HBO:
Ask for ask for Rosemary Williams she is in management of the race track.
Keep calling and leaving her messages !.
Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort
Route 2
Chester, West Virginia 26034
Phone: 1-800-80-40-HOT!
E-mail: info@mtrgaming.com
Part 1
Part 2
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
HBO HORSE SLAUGHTER May 12 GRAPHIC
Anti-Slaughter piece in yesterday's DRF
Columnists | Posted 5/13/2008, 5:37 pm
High time to snap this food chain
By JAY HOVDEY
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - In this week's episode of HBO's "Real Sports," host Bryant Gumbel and his crew could not resist the temptation to use the death of Eight Belles as a way to get into their brief but vivid feature on the practice of selling unwanted racehorses for slaughter. Unless the segment was called "Terrible Ways for Horses to Die," one had nothing to do with the other.
If they really wanted to keep it on topic, they could have forgotten Eight Belles for a moment and resurrected the memory of Ferdinand, the winner of the 1986 Kentucky Derby who came right back to finish second in the Preakness, while running into the teeth of a speed-biased Pimlico surface that whisked Snow Chief to a four-length victory (third-place Broad Brush was more than six lengths farther back).
Despite his Derby fame, his 1987 Horse of the Year campaign and his abundance of royal blood, Ferdinand met his end in a Japanese slaughterhouse some time in 2002, because he was an economic failure at stud. The subsequent outcry in this country resulted in a flurry of legislative lobbying and the formation of the Ferdinand Fee, a New York program that raises money directly from an owner's starting fee, with funds distributed by Thoroughbred Charities of America.
Then again, the Eight Belles tragedy might just be the kind of public relations hook needed to jump-start positive and permanent change in a business that historically has had serious problems with behavior modification. Perhaps the image of the mortally wounded filly will be burned permanently into racing's collective consciousness. Maybe enough have seen enough.
Liz Harris, executive director of the Thoroughbred Charities of America, announced this week the formation of the Eight Belles Memorial Fund. Donations will go not only toward research into the prevention of catastrophic injuries, but also toward retraining of Thoroughbreds for secondary careers, other than cuisine.
"Approximately 39 percent of our grants already go toward retraining Thoroughbreds," Harris said. "And many of the donations that have come in for Eight Belles were actually cashed winning tickets that people didn't want to spend on themselves."
The "Real Sports" segment should be required viewing for anyone who has ever placed a two-dollar bet. It is also becoming a very old story, with only a few new logistical twists. Slaughterhouses in the United States have been closed, but enough states still allow for the transport and export of horses for slaughter, providing a safe corridor to the abattoirs operated in Canada and Mexico before the meat is exported to Europe and Japan.
Privately funded organizations continue to offer alternatives to the slaughter option, and their volunteers scour the killing pens for Thoroughbreds who should not be there. The "Real Sports" report focused on the Thoroughbred Little Cliff, once a Kentucky Derby hopeful who was miraculously rescued, four owners later and one step from slaughter. This despite the fact that his foal papers indicated he had a permanent home if he ever became unwanted.
Unfortunately, the practice of sending horses off to slaughter is embedded in the darker side of the American agricultural psyche. It also pays a few bucks. Beyond the price of the meat, proponents continue raise all manner of justifications, ranging from the cultural ("Why should we tell people what not to eat?") to economic ("They're just too expensive to keep") to the humane ("Slaughter is better than starving to death").
Even though Thoroughbreds do not represent the largest breed of horses found in slaughter pens (estimates peg them at about 15 percent), the Thoroughbred community is burdened with the highest profile, as well as the mythology that all Thoroughbreds are bred to be champions and cared for as if they were members of the family.
"Real Sports" drove another nail into that fairy tale, with covert footage of a horse at Mountaineer in West Virginia being smacked and prodded into a van bound for a livestock sale, and with graphic video from deep within the bowels of an equine slaughter operation.
The closure of the last U.S. slaughterhouse in 2007 prompted a quick and cynical PR campaign by slaughter apologists. Video of horrific killings at a nonregulated Mexican slaughterhouse started making the rounds, along with dubious claims that parts of the United States were now being overrun with unwanted, starving horses - horse who in the past would have been neatly disposed of in government-inspected slaughter facilities.
Try saying that with a straight face, though, after watching horses being hit numerous times with a captive bolt as they squirm and fight for life - in a U.S. government slaughterhouse - from video taken not long ago. Compare such a practice with a knife in the spine at a Mexican slaughterhouse, or a Canadian bullet between the eyes, then go ahead and call one worse than the other.
This will be a melancholy Preakness on Saturday. Two weeks is not long enough to get over the trauma of Derby Day, even by modern standards of institutional amnesia.
Far more insidious, though, is the attitude given voice by the man identified in the "Real Sports" piece as the trainer of a horse sent off to slaughter. Supposedly, he was not aware of the horse's inevitable fate.
"I have no idea where they went, because I don't want to know," he told reporter Bernard Goldberg. "If you don't know something, it's better, isn't it?"UPDATE Starving Horses in Wisconsin
| Friends, Below is my response to an email sent from Tommy Schneider early this morning.Below that is his message to all of us.They are clearly dragging their feet on this issue.We have to keep pushing -there is no other way that works with these people(unfortunately!)The district attny will be next if they don't get them out by tonite.Thank you for everyone who contacted them.It is clearly getting to them. charise Mr.Schneider, It is because I know due process of law that I know those > horses should.ve been removed from Ms.Gehin's custody along time ago.One > is dead ,there are 2 animal specialists that are eyewitnesses to the > surroundings/and afflictions that these animals are clearly suffering!What > pasture-out of Ms.Gehnin's reach?What medical treatment will be performed > as of today concerning the fungus/rain rot that Andrea has observed and > are clearly obvious in all the photos?And what about the other 8 horses > that are up to their waists in mud!And the quality of water that they are > being given which is also clearly disgusting as it also appears in the > photos.What help are you giving to them?The laws are there for a reason-to > use them to protect the innocent NOT THE GUILTY as you so obviously are > doing!If you cannot use your power to get all 12 of those horses out > today-we will move onto (tonite) to contacting the Disrict attorney's > office ,the Chief of Wisconsin State of Agriculture Dept .,and then on to > the state attorney's officeWe will let them explain the wisconsin state > animal cruelty statutes to you since you apparently don't understand what > they mean.Ms.Gehnin is in violation of so many of them at this point > !.This is an absolute travesty!I don't know what else you are waiting to > investigate.If it wasn't for the neighbors at this time-those horses would > have had nothuing to eat at all! we will await at the end of today to see > what has been done to help theses poor ,helpless creatures. > Charise DeMao > > All, > > I am sending one response to all of you who sent emails to me since last > evening, since I believe you probably all know one another. Thank you > for the emails and your concern about the horses. We are no less > concerned about this situation and are investigating the problem, as you > know. The two Animal Services Officers involved in the case will be in > at 10:30 so I have not had a chance to talk with them yet today. > However, it is my understanding that the four horses that are most > stressed will be moved today to a pasture area where we will be > observing them. Such cases require a lot of investigation and intensive > discussions before we make final decisions about what should be done and > I am sure you aware of the legal due process that is required in such > cases. Again, thank you for your concern-- this is a top priority for us > now. > > Tommye Schneider > Director Environmental Health > Public Health Madison and Dane County > (608) 243-0363 > |
JOE @ TB FRIENDS California,US
Wednesday, May 14th... Extreme Fire Danger. Today they say 40 mile an hour winds with 93 degree temps. Right now, at 6:25 on a Wednesday morning, we are a dust bowl. Winds rock our house. In the barn 95.3 on your FM dial is turned up loud, drowning out the sounds of a hurricane. In the mare motel horses are spooked. In our fields horses on alert. Later today from a race track in Los Angeles comes a gelding, and I hope he brings a sense of humor.
Like searching for a shoe nail in a haystack, but mechanic Jay in Woodland found a radiator for the old ranch truck. Every few miles I had to stop and add water. At a junk yard Jay found a 1969 Ford with a donor card. So now we are cruising in style. No more smelling antifreeze as we head down the 505. Life is good in the boonies.
Lots of kids have been visiting from youth shelters, and one girl asks: Is that your truck? Why not just ride one of your horses to town? Do you guys even have electricity?
Allison Martino is 12, and sometimes she stays with us while her mom is in class. I had to give Allison a ride home, and she tells me no way is she getting into my old truck. It is embarrassing. I tell Allison to walk home then. Finally Allison accepts the ride, but she wants to wear a paper sack over her head.
Mike Baker tells me gasoline could be over $6.00 a gallon this summer. Mike Baker is buying a little Civic for his commuter car. His big truck will stay in the garage.
Tom Hayes tells me Yolo County wants to moniter our water wells, and charge more money if we use too much water. Tom Hayes is a farmer, and he is going to a city council meeting to protest this idea.
Horse killer Manny Phelps tells me because of gasoline he must once again raise the costs of rescuing a horse.
Stephanie Diaz tells me she just paid $4.85 for a jug of milk, and $3.00 for a dozen eggs.
Rachel Jeffers says she just paid $15.00 for a bale of alfalfa.
You have to go outside. The late night darkness makes it all better. The sounds of 105 horses. Top It Off with her broken ankle, and how she cries when you approach. Little Justin with his broken knee, standing in the corner, hoping for a tiny bit of attention. The 47 incher tells us about forclosures and unemployment. But injured horses tell us things could be worse. Horses teach us to be grateful. Cathy and I are blessed. I love my old ranch truck. Who cares if no one wants to go for a ride? All the nutty things going on in the world, but outside with horses is a feeling like no other. Outside with horses brings Peace. And as you grow old, Peace is as good as it gets.
Joe
Thank you Joe
Soon a new link on this website. Past Adoptions.
In 2007 we found homes for 529 horses
In MEMORY of all the HORSES
 Thank you Jill ! In Loving Memory of all the Horses who have tried so hard to please, who worked so hard, who ran their very best and hardest, who trusted humans for their care, and trusted in their love. In Memory of all the horses who were not given the chance for life or continued life, and who lived in this world much too short a time. In Memory of their wonderful Faithfulness, unconditional Love and their gracious Beauty as one of God's most wonderful and artistic creations.In Loving Memory of all the Horses and the right to Life which was denied them. In Memory of all of them, we continue to fight. |
Protecting the Health of Our Equine Athletes By Edgar Prado
From The Baltimore Sun: By Edgar Prado Eight Belles was just a few yards in front of me when she collapsed after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby on May 3. As I eased up my horse, Adriano, who had finished next to last, I saw the filly stumble and fall as she galloped out. I prayed she was just tired, just as I had prayed that Barbaro wasn't seriously injured when I felt him go weak underneath me in the first 100 yards of the 2006 Preakness Stakes. As everyone knows, it turned out Barbaro had suffered a catastrophic injury that eventually led to his demise, and I knew Eight Belles was in similar trouble when I watched her struggle to get up. She fell back, obviously unable to bear weight on her front ankles - then tried to rise and fell back again. My heart ached as I watched the equine ambulances speeding toward her, taking me back to that sad day at Pimlico Race Course when I had to stop Barbaro. When doctors discovered that Eight Belles was, in fact, severely injured, she was humanely euthanized. Barbaro's injury started an important national conversation about what causes horses to break down. The racing industry reacted in positive ways. The installation of synthetic racing surfaces at nine major American tracks has resulted in fewer catastrophic injuries, according to a new reporting system overseen by the Jockey Club, the governing body of American horse racing. Eight Belles' demise has people talking again about what the industry can do to keep its horses safe. I would love to see it devise a single set of rules, in effect nationwide, governing the use of medication and overall treatment and care of horses. As it is, some are pushed beyond their limits, given medication so they don't feel pain and can run when they shouldn't. This would happen less if every state operated under the same rules. No matter what the industry does, though, we'll likely never know what caused Barbaro or Eight Belles to break down. In my experience, which includes more than 25,000 races, it is the champions that push themselves to their physical limits, sometimes with fateful consequences. Horses love to run; if you leave them alone in a field, they naturally start competing. But run-of-the-mill horses can go around and around a track without anything bad ever happening. They don't push themselves to go faster and do better. They recoil from pain and slow down. Those horses know their limits. That's why they're on the bench, as opposed to in the game, when the big races come up. Great horses such as Eight Belles are different. They aren't just faster; they have a competitive instinct that makes them want to finish first. It doesn't matter whether their jockey touches them. It doesn't matter how long the race is. They want to run in front of a pack, and they'll put themselves on the line physically to do so. Even after Barbaro's right rear leg bones shattered into 27 pieces that day at Pimlico, he kept running on three legs, trying to stay up with the other horses in the race. He wanted to keep going. He wanted to be in front. Eight Belles finished second in the Derby, but she put forth a magnificent effort. She finished ahead of 18 colts - far ahead, in some cases. Coming through the stretch with her legs pumping, her eyes focused and her competitors falling away, she was a breathtaking vision of pure athleticism. Then, suddenly, she was down. In the vast majority of instances, these champion horses don't injure themselves going all out. But we should continue to focus on doing all we can to help them stay healthy. For me - and for many people, I'm sure - Eight Belles' downfall brought back memories of Barbaro. A great occasion had gone horribly awry. A great athlete had succumbed. There is nothing sadder. posted by Sally in Indy |
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Brother Brother NICANOR NYT
Jamie Rose for The New York Times
Nicanor, Barbaro’s full brother, was recently transferred from Florida to Maryland, where he will be under the supervision of the trainer Michael Matz.
ELKTON, Md. — The bay colt Nicanor has never been tested and has never raced, but he is already special. His every start, even his every move, will be followed and scrutinized, and the expectations will be tremendous. Barbaro’s little brother is getting there, nearing a race, ready to answer the tantalizing question of whether he, too, has what it takes to be a star.
“Obviously, those are big shoes that he has to fill,” the trainer Michael Matz said as Nicanor and six other 2-year-olds jogged in front of his watchful eye at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland earlier this week.
There are none bigger. Barbaro won the 2006 Kentucky Derby before losing his fight for survival that began when broke his right hind leg in the Preakness. His story captivated the nation, which will no doubt gobble up this next chapter as well.
Now 2, the age at which many horses make their racing debuts, Nicanor was transferred to Matz’s stable from a Florida training center May 1. Under the care of John Stephens at Stephens Thoroughbreds in Morriston, Fla., he made the transformation from gawky yearling to racehorse. It is Matz’s job to turn him into a winner.
Nicanor is now preparing for his first race. Matz, who was also the trainer of Barbaro, is not the type of trainer to push his young horses. Nicanor has yet to do much in the way of serious training, but each day is a progression that will lead to his first start.
Barring any setbacks, he could make his debut as soon as the early fall. Barbaro made his debut on Oct. 4 of his 2-year-old year, winning a maiden special weight race on the grass at Delaware Park.
How good is Nicanor? That question is difficult to answer at this stage. Matz will know more when he starts to ask for speed in morning workouts, which he has yet to do. The real answers, however, will not come until Nicanor shows what he can do on the racetracks in the afternoon, in actual competition.
There are some hints, though. He appears to be athletic, is put together well and has a good disposition. He also seems curious and intelligent. Like Barbaro, he has a habit of taking in the scenery when he goes to the track in the mornings. He will peer at his surroundings before he tells his exercise rider that he is ready to go.
“He just seems like he has a very good attitude, and he’s very well balanced and very well made,” Matz said. “At this point, that’s all we can ask for. He gallops well and moves well. We haven’t worked him fast or anything like that, but everybody that rides him says he feels like he’s a very powerful horse.”
None of those attributes are guarantees. Neither are his bloodlines. With some 35,000 foals born in this country each year, the odds that brothers will both win the Kentucky Derby are astronomical. Far more often than not, the siblings of famous horses do not pan out.
The owner and trainer of a 3-year-old filly named Elusive Moment are reminded of that every time she races. Elusive Moment, a full sister to the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones, has never finished better than fourth in five career starts. In her most recent start, she finished last in an April 26 maiden race at Delaware Park, losing by 24 lengths.
“It’s just like with any family, you’ll have one child who turns out to be a big success and the others are just tagalongs,” said Ed Gaudet, the trainer of Elusive Moment. “This filly has perfect conformation and she’s shown us some brilliance at times. Sure, she’s been a disappointment. My dad told me when I was young, you control something that is mechanical. You can take a truck and put in the spark plugs, carburetor, fuel pump, and it will run great. It doesn’t work that way with horses. They are flesh and blood and you have no control over flesh and blood.”
Nicanor’s owners understand that.
“We have to tell ourselves that the chance of having another one that is equally as good as Barbaro is very rare,” said Gretchen Jackson, who, along with her husband, Roy, owned Barbaro and will also race Nicanor. “My hope is that he is a good racehorse. What exactly that means, I’m not quite sure yet.”
The Jacksons are ready to do everything they can to achieve a too-good-to-be-true story. Since Barbaro, they have continued to breed the mare La Ville Rouge back to Barbaro’s sire, Dynaformer. The mating has also produced another full brother to Barbaro, a yearling named Lentenor, and the mare is again in foal to the 23-year-old stallion.
The names come from a painting of foxhounds owned by the Jacksons. Barbaro is the name of one of the six foxhounds pictured; the others are Nicanor, Lentenor, Margano, Sereno and Calypso. As long as Barbaro’s siblings keep coming along, the Jacksons plan to continue to use names from the painting.
It is all part of the Barbaro legacy, which everyone involved seems happy to embrace. It brings back memories, joyful and otherwise.
“I’m always hoping Nicanor will be as good as Barbaro,” Gretchen Jackson said. “I’ve gone down twice to see him since he got to Fair Hill. It’s fun to be down there, fun to be around him. When I see him, there is a certain happiness and sadness combined. It’s a very emotional thing for me. When I see him, I like to rub my hands down his legs. It makes me feel like I’m back in touch with Barbaro.”
Horses Slaughter in Mexico
Year to date as of May 8th, 2008 - 17,346 equines exported to Mexico for slaughter.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICAN HORSE SLAUGHTER PREVENTION ACT
From John Holland
Dear friends,
To locate you legislators and learn where they stand on the AHSPA, please visit: http://www.compassionindex.org/index.htm
Please contact the following Congressional Leaders:
Speaker of the House - Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
United States House of Representatives
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0508
DC Phone: 202-225-4965
DC Fax: 202-225-4188
Email: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov
Senate Majority Leader - Harry Reid (D-NV)
The Honorable Harry Reid
United States Senate
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2803
DC Phone: 202-224-3542
DC Fax: 202-224-7327
Email: http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
GROUNDBREAKING HELD FOR THOROUGHBRED ADOPTION FACILITY
Please note another very good resource are the folks who have recently implemented the Thouroughbred Retirement Program at the Finger Lakes Racetrack in NY (FLTAP). These folks are dedicated to sharing what they have done with the other 70 racetracks in the US and drive TB adoption facilites at the tracks as a best practice. Here is an article from their open house at the facility a few weeks ago. Contacts are Dr. Margaret Ohlinger (track vet), Chris Riegle Track President, others are listed in the notes. Website is listed at the end of the article. 6.29.2007 - First facility to be built on grounds of a thoroughbred racetrack Officials break ground on the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program Purple Haze Center (L to R): Dr. Margaret Ohlinger, DVM, Executive Director, Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Program; New York State Senator Mike Nozzolio; Wanda Polisseni, Purple Haze Stable; Chris Riegle, President & General Manager, Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack; Dave Brown, President, Finger Lakes Horsemens Benevolent Protective Association; Ted Fafinski, Farmigton Town Supervisor; Stephanie Wojick, Program Manager, Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program. GROUNDBREAKING HELD FOR THOROUGHBRED ADOPTION FACILITY First facility to be built on grounds of a thoroughbred racetrack FARMINGTON, N.Y. _ Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack announced today that work has begun toward the construction of a stand alone thoroughbred adoption facility on the racetrack grounds; to serve as a central headquarters for the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (FLTAP). A groundbreaking ceremony for FLTAP’s Purple Haze Center was held this morning to officially begin construction. The new center marks the first thoroughbred adoption facility to ever be built on the grounds of a racetrack. It follows the trend set when FLTAP was first formed in late 2004 as the result of a combined funding effort between the racetrack and the Finger Lakes Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA), which also marked an industry first. "The building of Purple Haze Center marks a tremendous accomplishment in the young history of the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program," said Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack President, Chris Riegle. "It will continue to fuel the momentum FLTAP has gained in just under three short years and solidify Finger Lakes’ position as the pioneer in the industry in facilitating thoroughbred retirement." The Purple Haze Center, named in honor of the contributions toward construction given by Purple Haze Stable’s Wanda Polisseni, will allow FLTAP to showcase its adoptable horses to the public and serve as a central headquarters for the organization. In addition to other gifts and funding, New York State Senator, Michael F. Nozzolio (R – Fayette), secured $60,000 in funding from New York State to assist in the building of the center, with two acres of land for the facility being donated by Delaware North Companies, the parent company of Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack. A 10,000 square foot structure is designed to include 16 stalls as well as an indoor exercise area, horse wash bay and support and storage areas. Beyond that, it will also include 14,000 square feet of outdoor fenced paddock area. Construction is projected to take approximately 10 weeks, with an opening projected for mid-September. "It is our hope that this center will have a trendsetting effect on all racetracks and that many take our lead and join us in doing all we can to provide our retired equine athletes with comfortable homes in their life after the racetrack," said FLTAP Executive Director Dr. Margaret Ohlinger, DVM. FLTAP assists in the placement of former Finger Lakes race horses with equine adoption agencies or approved private individuals, giving these horses a second chance at productive lives. It was designed to provide horsemen with an onsite outlet for professional assistance in transitioning horses, and eliminate potential instances where horses could be sent down an uncertain path after their careers on the racetrack. Retired thoroughbreds are capable of going on to become productive trail riders, show horses, or even parts of mounted police units. FLTAP looks to facilitate a quick and smooth transition for horses in need of a second career and provides for transportation, board, feed, medication and treatment of horses in its care. Since its inception, over 200 horses have been placed through FLTAP and the efforts of Dr. Ohlinger, who also serves as Examining Veterinarian at Finger Lakes. Dr Ohlinger personally oversaw the successful placement of many retired Finger Lakes runners prior to the formation of FLTAP. About Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program: FLTAP, a non-profit 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) charitable organization was formed in 2004 as the result of a joint effort between Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and the Finger Lakes Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association (HBPA). Base funding is supplied by both organizations, also an industry first. Its mission is to assist in the placement of former Finger Lakes race horses with equine adoption agencies or approved private individuals, giving these horses a second chance at productive lives. Over 200 horses have been placed by the organization to date since its inception. For more information on FLTAP, visit www.fingerlakestap.org. |
UPDATE WISCONSIN HORSES
I want to let everyone know to also phone and email Tommy Schneider- who is head supervisor of Animal Control.
email him at: tschneider@publichealthmdc.com
phone # 608 243-0363
HBO's “REAL SPORTS” EXPOSES UNDERBELLY OF THOROUGHBRED RACING AGAIN !!
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) May 10, 2008 – On the heels of Eight Belles’ tragic death at the 2008 Kentucky Derby, HBO is exposing an unsavory side of the Thoroughbred racing industry. The network’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” will air a segment on May 12 revealing that thousands of unsuccessful horses are sent to a brutal death in the slaughterhouse every year.
As shown in the program, horses no longer winning on the track are often sold for profit by their owners to slaughterhouse “killer-buyers.” The animals are then transported to the foreign-owned plants across US borders, where they are brutally butchered and sold for human consumption in Europe and Asia. Many of the horses depicted in the HBO segment went from the track to a slaughterhouse in Mexico very quickly.
“It’s disturbing that anyone would sell a horse to slaughter, but to do so the moment a young horse stops earning the owner a big check seems particularly repugnant,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs with the Animal Welfare Institute. “This piece further demonstrates the clear need for passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.”
While the last three horse slaughterhouses operating on US soil were closed in 2007 under state laws, more than 100,000 American horses continue to be killed annually at plants located in Canada and Mexico. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, introduced in the US Congress as H.R. 503 and S. 311, would prohibit the domestic slaughter of horses for human consumption abroad, as well as their export for the same purpose.
“This is a black eye that the Thoroughbred racing world just can’t afford right now,” Heyde said. “We hope the industry will clean up its act.”
AWI encourages everyone to step up calls to their legislators and House and Senate leadership demanding a vote on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act immediatly to stop the slaughterhouses from exporting tens of thousands of American horses to Mexico and Canada.
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) May 10, 2008 – On the heels of Eight Belles’ tragic death at the 2008 Kentucky Derby, HBO is exposing an unsavory side of the Thoroughbred racing industry. The network’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” will air a segment on May 12 revealing that thousands of unsuccessful horses are sent to a brutal death in the slaughterhouse every year.
As shown in the program, horses no longer winning on the track are often sold for profit by their owners to slaughterhouse “killer-buyers.” The animals are then transported to the foreign-owned plants across US borders, where they are brutally butchered and sold for human consumption in Europe and Asia. Many of the horses depicted in the HBO segment went from the track to a slaughterhouse in Mexico very quickly.
“It’s disturbing that anyone would sell a horse to slaughter, but to do so the moment a young horse stops earning the owner a big check seems particularly repugnant,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs with the Animal Welfare Institute. “This piece further demonstrates the clear need for passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.”
While the last three horse slaughterhouses operating on US soil were closed in 2007 under state laws, more than 100,000 American horses continue to be killed annually at plants located in Canada and Mexico. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, introduced in the US Congress as H.R. 503 and S. 311, would prohibit the domestic slaughter of horses for human consumption abroad, as well as their export for the same purpose.
“This is a black eye that the Thoroughbred racing world just can’t afford right now,” Heyde said. “We hope the industry will clean up its act.”
AWI encourages everyone to step up calls to their legislators and House and Senate leadership demanding a vote on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act immediatly to stop the slaughterhouses from exporting tens of thousands of American horses to Mexico and Canada.
##30##
UPDATE: The updated AWI color broshure and action alert insert are now available to everyone working to end horse slaughter and protect our horses. It contains background on the issue, dispells myths spread by pro-horse slaughter organizations and provides contact information on how to take action. To request copies please email awi@awionline.org with the amount you would like, name, address and phone number.
CONTACT:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300
WISCONSIN HORSES UPDATE !!
Friends, There are 12 neglected/malnutritioned horses on a property leased by Mary Gehin (pronounced Jean) at 480 highway D in Brookland,WI. (just outside of Madison). 
Four of them are rated a "2" according to animal control. Another one was found dead last week. The vet thinks it died of colic but Andrea Loeffelholz(Mary's neighbor) said the field had 3 feet deep mud that she is pretty sure it got stuck in the mud and starved to death (that it just gave up-stuck helplessly there!). She said it was right by a spot that Mary drives by everyday and should've seen it. No one was able to get a photo of it b4 the renderer came to haul away the remains.She said they had to literally tear the fence down to get to the dead horse! Andrea used to be sis-in -law to Mary and said that she comes from a family of hoarders (which we all know is a sickness!)
Apparently her father had been cited years b4..... Andrea says this has been going on for years. I will be sending out photos (that Andrea took) to everyone later today -they are not as detailed as the ones Cheri Carr (animal control officer) has according to what Cheri tells me. She is saving those to file with her report. Andrea called Cheri-Protocol is different than in most counties we have dealt with. When the sheriff's dept. gets ANY call on animal abuse. They Automatically Dispatch animal control officer. The sheriff never gets directly involved unless an arrest has to be made. Cheri told me she used to work for the Dane Co. Humane Society until funding ran out, everyone lost their jobs and now she works as Dane Co. animal control. She reports to Patrick Comfort (lead worker in their dept.). He in turn files complaints to Leslie Hamilton (corp.counsel) which is their version of county attny. The animal control is under the county umbrella of Dane Co. Health Dept. Cheri is overwhelmed w/ so many cases (as u can imagine). She said Dr.Jean Elmer went out there and floated all their teeth and supposedly gave them hay. But Andrea told me today (Monday) that there was no hay out there for them at all (yesterday) and they were all huddled together shivering in the rain with their heads down looking at the mud!
Andrea said it looks like old straw on the days where there had been any hay at all. I don't know how much their water quality has actually improved (wait until u see the trough in one of the pics. Horrible! Andrea said she that Mary was "graining them". I am no horse feed expert but from what everyone is telling me -that is a big no-no! Mary knows that Cheri is keeping an eye on her now but she won't give the horses up to her willingly. Typical hoarder! These photos also don't show all the "fungus" on the horse's legs,either. Andrea is going out tonite to get some clearer pics of their legs and the rain rot they are experiencing and NOT getting treated for. As high as that mud is, you cannot see the legs in the first pics she took. Cheri tells me that she is filing her report -giving it to lead worker: Patrick Comfort-who in turn will file it with Leslie Hamilton (corp.counsel) who is not back into her office until tomorrow from vacation. Cheri tells me Leslie is pretty good to work with but Cheri is concerned about not being able to get a conviction. I ,frankly don't know why because there are 2 professional eyewitnesses (Cheri & Dr.Elmer ) and Andrea is also a witness to neglect plus detailed photos that Cheri has that don't show the horses while they are eating . I have spoken to Jenny Ashbacher (owner of second chance horse ranch in blue mounds/ph# 608 795-4668 ) she can foster some of the horses. Andrea and Jenny are also working on finding back up foster homes for the rest of them. Andrea knows her and has spoken in detail to her about this case. Note:Jenny's vet is also Dr.Elmer. The bottom line is: WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE HORSES AWAY FROM MARY. She has gotten away with this for far too many years and must be stopped! We need to impress upon Leslie Hamilton that we expect the custody of these horses to be relinquished from Mary immediately.Mary is in violation of the law and needs to be brought up on charges of neglect/abandonment. Plain and simple! You can contact Leslie Hamilton at 608 242-6416 or email her at :hamilton.leslie@co.dane.wi.us
There is a district attny (which I have all the contact info on) if Leslie doesn't go after a conviction.We would appreciate everyone's support to help out these poor horses.
Andi and she feels confident that she will now have a little more cooperation/respect from the local officials. They clearly told her that they didn't like all the "outside interference" . She told them that if she would have originally got their cooperation -she wouldn't have needed outside help.She thanks everyone for their help. You guys DEFINATELY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE- 1 horse at a time! I will keep you posted with Wisconsin developments. Thanks! Charise DeMao
Email:cdemao@parallax.ws
May 14 CALLTO ACTION
CALLTO ACTION…..Illinois Needs Our Help http://forums.prospero.com/alexbrown/messages?msg=23577.1
In addition to our call list, it’s time to call on the Senate and House leadership demanding a vote on s311 and Hr503 immediately to stop the slaughterhouses from exporting tens of thousands of American horses to Mexico and Canada.
Mario Diaz-Balart – FL
Phone: 202-225-2778
Fax: 202-226-0346
Henry C. Johnson – GA
Phone: 202-225-1605
Fax: 202-226-0691
David Scott- GA
Phone: 202-225-2939
Fax: 202-225-4628
Jerry Costello – IL
Phone: 202-225-5661
Fax: 202-225-0285
Timothy V. Johnson – IL
Phone: 202-225-2371
Fax: 202-226-0791
Peter J. Visclosky – IN
Phone: 202-225-2461
Fax: 202-225-2493
Please continue to gather information from your calls and pass that information on to us via email through the DB.
Finally, please mention Americans Against Horse Slaughter when making your calls and remind them that we are a non funded, grassroots group of people from across the country brought together for the sole purpose of passing this legislation. It is important that they know we have NO OTHER agenda.
We are BARBARO’S VOICE……Let it be heard!!
Shelley and Deb
http://americansagainsthorseslaughter.com
Retiring Horses
THE RAIL
May 10, 2008, 11:58 am
May 10, 2008, 11:58 am
While we are in the midst of the Triple Crown, the showcase of our best 3-year-olds, it is important to remain committed to all horses that perform at racetracks up and down North America, and those horses that can no longer perform. Racetracks are now starting to recognize the issue and do something positive for its retired stars.
LongRun, based at Woodbine, is the longest running of such programs. serves to help horses transition from bothLongRun Woodbine and Fort Erie to a second career or permanent retirement. The Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program does the same at Finger Lakes. Both programs are supported directly by their host racetracks.
The latest racetrack to commit to supporting its retired performers is Philadelphia Park with its newly established Turning for Home program.
Each program will have some excellent prospects for those seeking out Off Track Thoroughbreds, OTTBs!
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