More jetsam than flotsam

Proving yet again his deserved stewardship of Arlington's card, VP of Racing, Kevin Greely, created a $1.3 million overnight stakes program.

Arlington also needs a new track superintendent. With the Magna situation and racing at Turfway soon to dwindle to an enlarged prostate-like trickle, plenty of people should be available for the job.

The TBA has lost the free PP's from Brisnet but has signed an agreement with DRF to offer a discount to TBA readers. 10 cards for $10; just enter the promo coupon found on the TBA homepage, in the DRF banner (tbablogs).

With the Derby preps starting to come fast and furiously, what better time to take advantage-but call within the next twenty minutes, operators are standing by...

Illinois needs everyone to step up and stop this bill proposal.
Released by: Illinois Equine Humane Center, NFP

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Gail Vacca (815) 476-5257

March 9, 2009

Illinois Equine Welfare Organizations Unite to Denounce Proposed Repeal of Horse Slaughter Ban

Wilmington, IL (March 9, 2009) – In a joint statement issued today to the Illinois General Assembly, Illinois-based equine rescue organizations announced their united opposition to pending legislation that would repeal the state ban on horse slaughter enacted in 2007.

The Illinois Equine Humane Center (Wilmington), C.A.N.T.E.R. (Northern Illinois), Field of Dreams Horse Rescue & Adoption (St. Charles), Hooved Animal Humane Society (Woodstock), Mid America Horse Rescue (Millstadt), and the Society for Hooved Animals Rescue and Emergency (Champaign) are united in our opposition to HB 583 or any other attempt to re-establish horse slaughter in Illinois,” said Gail Vacca, President of the Illinois Equine Humane Center.

“It is very disturbing that those seeking to profit from the sale of horsemeat are once again trying to bring this cruel industry back to our state, and even more disturbing is the proposed “blood-money” amendment that has been offered to this bill,” added Vacca.

The amendment calls for a fee of $25 to be charged to the slaughterhouse for each horse slaughtered. The results of which would then be placed into a fund for eventual distribution to equine rescues for use in expanding their operations or for use in providing care to rescued horses.

“I speak for all of us in stating that none of our equine rescue organizations would ever accept a single penny from this fund. This is blood money, pure and simple. We wish to let our legislators know that no legitimate organization dedicated to equine welfare would ever accept money to save horses that was derived from the pain and suffering of other less fortunate horses,” said veterinarian and Executive Director of the Hooved Animal Humane Society, Dr. Patti Klein-Manke.

Margo Sutter, President of the Mid America Horse Rescue in Millstadt added, “if Illinois legislators are truly interested in equine welfare, we could think of a million ways they could help Illinois horses, none of which would involve their suffering and slaughter. The proposed repeal of the horse slaughter ban and the blood-money amendment are as distasteful as they are disingenuous.”

In closing their letter sent to the Illinois General assembly, the leaders of Illinois’ equine welfare and rescue organizations urged Members to vote “NO” on HB 583 and Amendment #001.

Gail Vacca, President - Illinois Equine Humane Center, NFP - http://www.ilehc.org/
Denise Fillo, Executive Director - CANTER Northern Illinois - http://www.canterusa.org/
Sue Balla, President - Field of Dreams Horse Rescue & Adoption - http://www.fodhra.org/
Dr. Patti Klein-Manke, Executive Director - Hooved Animal Humane Society - http://www.hahs.org/
Margo Sutter, President - Mid America Horse Rescue, NFP - http://www.mahrnfp.org/
Linda Hewerdine, President - Society for Hooved Animal Rescue and Emergency - http://www.s-h-a-r-e.net/

If I die before I wake...

There are days when I am sickened by humanity and its detritus.

A few days ago the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by an Illinois based slaughterhouse to remain open. And there was much rejoicing.

I have nothing against eating horse meat, per se but the inhumane treatment of the animals and the callous disregard of the owners is an offense of leviathan proportions.

Every horse should have a home and someone to love them and rainbows and candy. Horses, thoroughbred or otherwise, deserve better than we give them and while the situation for them will never be ideal we at least owe it to them to make it DECENT. It is unconscionable that situations like this occur, and this is just one we know of.

How hard would it be to require breeders to be the home of last resort? They get a cut of any winnings that that horse accrues throughout its lifetime, whether they own it or not. Why would it be off the wall to require them to take the horse back if/when nobody else has a purpose for it. There could be a flat surcharge(tax), payable to the breeder whenever they sell any horse that would mitigate the financial hit they would incur if that horse does come back but it should not be large enough to create a breeding incentive. Make them responsible for their actions. Breeding for the sales are we? Breed this. We have too many horses every year? How quickly would we get the population under control if the breeders were responsible for their stock?

We have too few horses to fill races? Maybe most horses shouldn't be running. Maybe we have too many tracks and too many racing days. Maybe the quality of the product would go up if we cut back on production. Maybe I am talking out of my ass.

I love horse racing. It requires horses and those horses have to come from somewhere. I just think that there might be a better way to do all of this: the breeding, racing, training, betting and regulating.

The horses deserve a good run for their money, because every bloody time, whether we deserve it or not, they give us a good run for ours.