…but they shouldn’t be punished for it.
Yesterday on Facebook, I read that an idiot had written that, after California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid is over–whichever way it goes–his owners will sell him to slaughter.
Clearly, that person had been lobotomized. If Chrome wins the Belmont Stakes–ergo, the Triple Crown–he’ll become California Platinum.
If he doesn’t win–well, he’s still the winner of the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. We know how he’ll spend the rest of his life: whoopin’ it up on a stud farm, making oodles of babies and cash.
In fact, I’ll be shocked if we don’t get news by this time tomorrow, about which farm has inked a lucrative deal with his owners. Ain’t no way, no how, that California Chrome ever will be anything but rich.
But that’s not the point of this missive. And I won’t belabor the point. But it occurred to me today that…even in these days leading up to the Belmont Stakes…there are horses who aren’t on the good end of that stick…
Today I dropped a line on my Facebook wall, precisely because I started to think about the thousands of horses here in the U.S.–and around the world–who will not sleep tonight on nice, warm straw. No lovely bath, carrots or wholesome, delicious food.
Many, many horses will go to bed tonight–and every night between this evening and June 7th–hungry, abused, neglected. Knowing that they’re not loved. Heading to an auction house somewhere–thence to a slaughter house–the next morning.
Yes, there are Thoroughbreds like California Chrome–champions who are loved, valued–revered–by their connections. But, but sadly–horribly–there are Thoroughbreds who are in the hands of owners and trainers who have no conscience. (I thank God for NYRA, and their policies about trainers not sending horses to slaughter–and several other racing administrations that have the same policies.)
But still other racing entities turn a blind eye. And heart.
Oh, please–do not think for one golden moment that the Thoroughbred world is the chief offender here. In spite of what Joe Drape and the New York Times would have you believe–the majority of the people in horse racing genuinely love their horses. The Times’ motto is
“All the news that’s fit to print.”
Notice that it’s not
“All the Truth that’s fit to print.”
I don’t know if they’re motivated by anything other than filthy mammon (money), but a any rate–they’ve teamed up to put a bull’s-eye on the sport of horse racing.
Look, folks: I love this sport. My heart fairly beats out of my chest when I see a field of glorious Thoroughbreds, pounding for home. I pray the entire time, during every race that I see, for the safety and health of each horse.
I pray because, yes, I love the horses who make it happen.
Anyone who doubts my love of horses doesn’t know me, or never has read anything I’ve written.
So my love for horses isn’t in doubt. And I do love horse racing. But I know, as well as you, that between tonight and Belmont Stakes Day–thousands of horses are going to suffer. American Quarter Horses. Appaloosas. Paints. Wild Mustangs. Ponies of all stripes. Donkeys, burros, mules. Morgans. Tennessee Walking Horses. Standardbreds. Clydesdales, Percherons and other Draft Horses. Warmbloods. Coldbloods. Hot-Bloods, and everyone in-between.
Some people just don’t know how to care for their horses. Some people are crazy. Some are hoarders. Yet others feel crushed by the weight of the responsibility of caring for their equine. And yes, some humans are just plain useless. There are some evil human beings who get off on causing pain for another living being–and what being is a better candidate for abuse than a species that’s already a prey animal? A species that–while physically (and spiritually) larger, compared with humans–reacts with terror at the slightest sign of danger?
To an evil soul–horses are perfect victims.
So, yeah. As we in horse racing spend the next 16 days, itching to see if 2014 will be The Year–that in which the Triple Crown is achieved–every single day between today and June 7th–horses are going to slaughter.
Horses are being abused, and neglected.
Horses still need our intervention.
We can–and we should!–be excited about the Belmont Stakes. No doubt about it.
Go crazy–be a Chromeiac–or passionately argue in favor of one of his very worthy rivals. (It is NOT in the bag, in spite of what the manic media is feeding us.
Big Sandy has a way of crushing Triple Crown dreams. And of making dreams come true. So enjoy the rivalry–that’s a vital part of the sport, too.)
Just please don’t forget that horses who aren’t rock stars still need us, every day of the year, including these days when we’re giddy with delight and debating like Congress on meth.
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PostScript:
And here’s an idea: You know that you’re going to bet on most of the races on Belmont Stakes Day. How could you not? NYRA is providing over $8 million in purse money–and that means that handle will be up, as well. The possibilities are insane for bettors.
So you’ll bet–whether on just The Big Race, or on every race on the card.
And, there are millions of us who will participate in that betting.
And that means that millions of dollars will be won that day. Seriously.
You, yourself, may win a few hundred–or a few thousand.
Would you consider pledging to tithe–commit to giving 10%–of your winnings to a horse rescue, retirement or other equine welfare organization? There are many groups that do wonderful things for retired Thoroughbreds, and every other breed, as well. Many horses, many equines of all types, are saved, re-homed, re-trained and loved by good-hearted people who work slavishly every day for the welfare of horses.
Might you join me, and commit to tithing 10% of your winnings on Belmont Stakes Day to such an organization?
It’s an experiment. We say we love horses–that we adore them. We cry when we see videos on Facebook. We’re enraged when we hear of abuse, neglect and slaughter.
But are we willing to share our winnings with those horses whom we supposedly love so much–just on this one day?
(I’m not testing you–you don’t owe me anything. I don’t need or want to know how much you gave–you owe me no explanations. This is between each of us, and ourselves.)
Have a great 16 days–have an amazing Belmont Stakes Day. But remember. Tonight as you sleep, visions of shiny Chrome in your head…some beautiful, sweet horse needs your intervention. Our intervention.
We say that we’re a community–and that horses are the foundation, the reason, for our community. Let’s show ourselves and the naysayers that horse racing fans and industry insiders don’t match the ugly picture they’ve painted. NYRA, the horses, trainers and jockeys will put on The Best Show on Earth. We have the opportunity to participate in that show not just as fans, but as philanthropists, as well.
Thank you, horse people.
