Racehorses have a right to a good retirement and protections against slaughter and drugging
Unlike other sports, horse racing has no central regulatory body to provide oversight or to sanction those who flout rules. Each state’s racing commission determines what drugs are used and what penalties are meted out for violators, and the result is a patchwork of many different sets of rules. Photo by iStockphoto
The horse racing season concludes this weekend with the Belmont Stakes, the third and final race in the Triple Crown series. Racing enthusiasts will watch to see which horse takes home the big prize. But once the race ends and the tracks are empty again, the horse racing industry will find itself in a poor position, lagging behind in the popularity race.
The drugging of horses by certain veterinarians and trainers to boost race performance and the continuing scandals surrounding the sale of racehorses to slaughter houses where they are turned into meat, have cast a cloud over the sport. Today, at most races other than the Triple Crown, horses run at tracks with increasingly empty bleachers occupied by an aging and shrinking fan base.
The Humane Society of the United States has been working with key stakeholders in the horse racing industry, including members of our National Horse Racing Advisory Council, who want to prioritize animal welfare concerns, like widespread drugging, ending the slaughter of racehorses for human consumption overseas, and expanding second career opportunities.
The council’s current efforts center on the passage of the Horseracing Integrity Act H.R.2651, a federal bill that focuses on medication reform and includes a ban on race day medication. Despite its national and international scope, modern horse racing is still being conducted under outdated state-by-state drug and medication rules and this obsolete model is ripe for change. This bill, introduced by Reps. Andy Barr, R-Ky., and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., will make all of the difference.
There is a strong need for a federal law because unlike other sports, horse racing has no central regulatory body to provide oversight or to sanction those who flout rules. Each state’s racing commission determines what drugs are used and what penalties are meted out for violators, and the result is a patchwork of many different sets of rules. Many states have extremely permissive medication rules and a lax attitude toward those who break the laws.
The routine drugging of horses to give them a leg up in competition has to end. We would not approve of this in any other sport, and we should not turn a blind eye to this practice in the horse racing industry. Too many horses have died in recent years as a result of widespread drugging and Congress needs to pass the Horseracing Integrity Act to ensure these abuses are outlawed once and for all.
Related: American equines do not deserve the horrors of slaughter
There’s something else. Responsibly retiring and ensuring a happy and meaningful life for racehorses at the conclusion of their racing careers is an industry and owner responsibility. While too many horses still lack a sufficient safety net after their racing careers, we are encouraged by some of the industry initiatives for thoroughbred aftercare. And while there is still work to do, we are optimistic about the prospects for even better and more innovative programs for aftercare in the thoroughbred racing industry.
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, for example, inspects and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retire, retrain and rehome thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. The Jockey Club has also created several initiatives to support the aftercare and retraining of racehorses and one of its programs enables owners and breeders to financially support select charities that deal with aftercare and retraining. The Thoroughbred Charities of America raises and distributes money to approved charitable organizations assisting with thoroughbred rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming, backstretch and farm employee program, and equine-assisted therapy programs. Finally, the Retired Racehorse Project , founded in 2010 to facilitate placement of thoroughbred ex-racehorses in second careers by increasing demand for them in equestrian sports, sponsors the annual Thoroughbred Makeover. In 2017, the Makeover featured 385 off-the-track racehorses trained for 10 months competing in up to two of 10 equestrian sports. We applaud these efforts by the thoroughbred racing community to engage this important challenge and we would encourage both the standardbred and quarter horse communities to follow the thoroughbred racing industry’s valuable example in this regard.
One principle unites the issues of drugging abuse and aftercare. These incredible equine athletes deserve to participate on a level playing field where their welfare both during and after their racing careers is a priority. And we must work together with every willing partner to ensure this worthy outcome.
All racehorses worked to make others happy, now they deserve to be served well and kindly.
What about a cap on the number of horses bred each year? They have to be registered to race so would that control the numbers? I showed in the hunters and jumpers and sadly over the years the thoroughbreds were no longer bought from the tracks for a second life but replaced by warmbloods from Europe.
GREAT article….although much help is needed for the thousands of Standardbreds that are shipped (hauled) by the hundreds in trailers to slaughterhouses in Canada & Mexico!
These hard working precious horses deserve to live and roam in peace after putting them through harsh training over the years. Let them enjoy their life of leisure.
those horses did their duty and now it is time to retire to a sanctuary and they will be with their own kind.
When money is involved underhanded things take place.
God Bless America
I just want to know when horses walked up to humans and said yeah I want you to beat me on my ass with a stick and run me around a track until I almost drop dead.
I take issue with a number of comments in this blog. First, I would not call the horses “race” horses. The more appropriate term is “raced” horses. “Race horse” is a man-made term to appeal to society, in making the public believe that horses are racing machines. A little racing between friends, might be acceptable, however commercial racing is all about profit and gambling addiction. This commercial culture takes these animals, uses them like disposal objects, then puts them in the garbage when they do not produce profits. My heart goes out to those compassionate organizations who pick up as many pieces as they can manage. I’m sure their hearts are always mourning the fact that they can’t save them all.
Also,Kitty refers to the horses as “equine athletes.” Referring to the horses as “athletes” is part of the racing community’s mantra in its attempt to deceive the public about the nature of a horse, when being obedient is the nature of any animal that is controlled by its human warden.
“…the continuing scandals surrounding the sale of racehorses to slaughter houses where they are turned into meat, have cast a cloud over the sport. Today, at most races other than the Triple Crown, horses run at tracks with increasingly empty bleachers…”—I hope there is a lot of truth in this statement. After all, there wouldn’t be an animal racing industry if there was no audience. It is the addictive nature of the complicit human that fosters continuation of this man-made cruelty. I’m sure that most of the racing participants and the complicit audience are horrified at the dog-meat industry but turn-a-blind-eye to the fact that non-profiting horses are disposed of in horrifying ways.
Most humans want a kinder, more compassionate world, but not at the expense of denying me-myself-and-I.
I am shocked to learn how any horse, whether retired raced horses, pets, wild horses, & even those born with livable disabilities, are heartlessly killed or greedily sold for slaughter! How can any horse owner, who has been blessed to own one of these majestic beings, that has given all they could to please their owner, trainer, rider, be so cruelly & inhumanely slaughtered? Why can’t the owners stand up,”Do the right thing” & honor these horses sacrifices by giving them a wonderful “Gift of Life”, a well deserved second chance at a good, safe, loving future by either donating the, which they could deduct off taxes, or having private sales for pet owners, rescue or rehab/therapy farms, & where horses can help disabled children, Veterans, or anyone with mental or physical disabilities, even abuse. I volunteered for years with Theraputic Horseback riding for the Disabled & horses have an amazing gift of knowing those with disabilities. What a Blessing that was for me. I felt so honored to be a part of such a beautiful organization. We even entered horse shows & one of our kids had Spinabifitah but she rode a TN Walking horse, another young boy was blind but he drove a horse drawn wagon, and all our kids & a couple of Veterans “placed” and received Trophies. What a wonderful way to Give back, to help others. Why can’t these owners open their hearts & Give, Pay it forward and help instead of murdering all these magnificent horses? *God blessed me to save a horse, & although it had been a life-long dream to have a horse, being a single Mom I really couldn’t afford the luxury of one, but God made a way. I drove by a house oneday and saw a pitiful, hearbreaking site. A once beautiful horse, tied to a tree & his ribs showing & a For Sale sign. It broke my heart. I stopped, a young man came to the front door & I asked if his horse was sick, he said no, I lost my job can’t afford to feed him and I need the money to save my car. I bought the horse for $600. I had to post date the check for 3 days, had no idea where I was going to board the horse, much less pay for his food or a trailer! But, I got a 90 day unsecured loan from my Bank, I met a wonderful woman who had a barn close to my neighborhood that leased a stall to me for $25 month, if I helped her clean the other 5 stalls, plus she provided all the hay, oats/feed I needed & she let me use her truck & traler to transport Mr. T! She was elderly and needed help, as I did! It was a Divine Intervention. Many years later when Mr. T passed, needless to say I was devastated. I wasn’t going to cremate Mr. T! Mrs. J (barn owner) loved Mr. T too, as everyone did. She let me bury Mr. T in her lower field, which was a sacred burial area for all her beloved horses & dogs, they even had headstones! I had to hire a huge back hoe to dig his grave, I had never gone through burying an animal, my Daddy had always done it. While wrapping my sweet, beautiful boy’s head and body in sheets, I was consumed with grief & the back hoe owner even got upset & he donated his time & all the cost! Why did I share my story? In hopes to let you know that if you open your heart and help Save the life of one of God’s beautiful retired raced horses or abused, and take a step of faith, God will provide a way for you. As it is written, Give and it shall be given to you, pressed down and overflowing”. Please, Help Save these horses! And Please don’t forget to adopt and donate to ASPCA and the Humane Society to Help save other beloved animals rescued from abuse or thrown away, especially our precious elderly pets. Thank You for your time and may all Have a Blessed Life.
Stop das Grauen an Pferden in den Schlachthäusern … … human und Wertschätzung für die Tiere … was sind das für brutale Menschen, die Tiere misshandeln und bestialisch töten … irgendwann werden diese tierquäler ihre Strafe bekommen …