Target: Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Goal: Support stronger regulations of horse racing industry to better protect active and retired racehorses.
The most recent Kentucky Derby will likely not be remembered for its winner and its roll call of racehorses but rather for its roll call of the dead: Wild On Ice, Code of Kings, Take Charge Briana, Chasing Artie, Chloe’s Dream, Freezing Point, and Parents Pride. Altogether, seven horses—all under five years of age–died in the run-up to or on the day of the Derby. Their causes of death ranged from injury to unknown causes. At least one suspension has resulted, but where is the greater accountability?
Young animals involved in horse racing have a notoriously high mortality rate, even as the average horse lifespan can reach 30 years. The horse that won the Kentucky Derby in 2021 was later stripped of the title due to suspected drugging, and that horse died suddenly a short time later. Suspicions about the treatment of racehorses have plagued venues from Churchill Downs to the notorious Santa Anita racetrack. And at least one Racing Hall of Fame inductee has been the subject of multiple suspensions and accusations stemming from a PETA investigation of abuse and drugging during training.
A stronger regulatory organization might begin setting things right for these vulnerable animals, as would passage of a bill to ban the slaughter of retired racehorses. Sign the petition below to advocate for these essential actions.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Schumer,
The gold standard of horse racing—the Kentucky Derby—is becoming more synonymous with tragedy and controversy than with Triple Crowns. This year, the roster of dead horses nearly outnumbered the starting lineup. When will this narrative change?
The development of the Horserace Integrity and Safety Authority by Congressional order was a step in the right direction, but this measure still has too many loopholes and a lack of real enforcement. For context, Churchill Downs—the site of this year’s spate of deaths—was said to be “in full compliance.” Congress needs to send this agency back to the drawing board so that it can be “in full compliance” with its own objectives. And legislators can enact another important safeguard for horses once they leave the racetrack by passing the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act, which would help prevent the needless slaughter of these prized animals for the sake of a few saved dollars.
The horse racing industry makes untold amounts of money off the backs of these animals. Please show Americans that you do not support profiteering from pain and cruelty by passing integral protections at once.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Kentucky Tourism
Animal abuse is NOT entertainment.
YOU EVIL BASTARDS!!!!! HORSERACING SHOULD BE BANNED!!!! A CRUEL CRUEL BLOODSPORT FOR GREEDY MONSTERS!!!!!
Tiffany
Do you actually think C. Shumer is going to help this problem? 8 horses have died, the last one a colt. Please keep fighting, these deaths have to at least be acknowledged by millions. Like every thing else, money is the reason behind cruelty.
He has NOTHING to do with Kentucky.
It’s not because Shumer has anything to do with the state – it is because he is the Senate Majority leader and has some say in the voting of the legislation mentioned in the above letter.
However, I don’t think Shumer is particularly an animal champion.
Tiffany
Do you actually think C. Shumer is going to help this problem? 8 horses have died, the last one a colt. Please keep fighting, these deaths have to at least be acknowledged by millions. Like every thing else, money is the reason behind cruelty.
It’s not because Shumer has anything to do with the state – it is because he is the Senate Majority leader and has some say in the voting of the legislation mentioned in the above letter.
However, I don’t think Shumer is particularly an animal champion.
This has to end.
Horse racing needs to end right away – this is one brutal sport – young horses not developed forced to race, doping, whipping, anything cruel you can imagine goes on at these race tracks. If only the general public had more of an insight into this brutality maybe they would forget about going and placing a lousy $2.00 bet that just increases the chance of more abuse for the next day. So many wonderful horses have been killed and the next day it starts all over – people wake up and see what the hell is happening here – shut the whole god damn shit show down. Stop killing these horses for what these bastards call entertainment.
Hear hear!!
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ANIMAL ABUSE ALL THE WAY NOT TO MENTION THE DRUGS!!!
Confused here. People in KENTUCKY should be doing something.NOT CHUCK SCHUMER.
It’s not because Shumer has anything to do with the state – it is because he is the Senate Majority leader and has some say in the voting of the NATIONAL legislation mentioned in the above letter.
However, I don’t think Shumer is particularly an animal champion.
The sensible and humane thing to do would be ban all horse racing forever, and immediately!
Better animal protection for race horses. Too many are dying at the track, seems like a pattern.
Stop relying on peta when they kill animals!
THANK YOU!!! PETA are animal killers. That vermin Newkirk said people like me put sick ferals out. I did tnr for nearly 15 years and never put a sick feral out and we have the proof in the paperwork. We, and other rescue groups who do tnr euthanize sick ferals. PETA says ferals should be killed.
Do any of the people involved in horse racing have a heart?
USE THEM AND ABUSE….ONCE THEY WIN SOME DIE!
HEARTLESS AND GREEDY TO THE CORE!!
Everyone that attends, places bets, watches on tv etc ARE ALL GUILTY!
Would the person(s) that have the power and soul to get this money GREEDY business of horse racing ended please SAVE THESE INNOCENT COMPASSIONATE BEINGS!! PUT THE WELFARE OF THE HORSES AHEAD OF THE BUCK FOR ONCE!!
AT THE VERY MINIMUM PUT IN PLACE PROTECTION, MAXIMUM ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES, FINES ETC. DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS TORTURE ANY LONGER!!!
Horse-racing needs to be banned!! It is cruel! Lets ride humans around a track until they die and see how it feels!
END THE CRUELTY!!!!
This horrific horse race must be shut down and ban all animals race around the world.
This is a very cruel sport. Anyone involved including the ones who bet are SICK a$$h$$$.
If the greedy people want to bet on a race for money ..get Human people to race against one another.
Horse racing needs to be banned; stopped all over the world. Their argument is that these beautiful horses are treated good for the money these assholes make on them. NOT TRUE!!! They may spend a lot to obtain a horse, then disgard them when they don’t win for them. This shit, along with the rest of dog racing needs to stop NOW. They drug these animals and other abuse. Take the trainers, owners, etc. and treat them the same fucking way; I bet they would not like it.
If you ban racing you will stop the needless deaths of these poor horses.
I strongly support this petition. Too many race horses are dying and are all young in age. This is unacceptable. The crowds at horse events are cheering at the starting line as if to be cheering the death of another horse that is yet to be announced. What kind of entertainment is this? Or is it that money is exchanging pockets between the wealthy horse owners, horse betters, and the Politicians, which would thus explain why Horse deaths continue.
This is horrifying abuse which must stop! Like the circuses that no longer torment animals for profit, horse racing needs to be banned.
STOP RUNNING ALL HORSES TO THEIR DEATHS!! There is NO GOID SENSE MAKING HORSES RUNNAROUND IN A HUGE RING WITH THEIR JOCKEYS HITTING THEM WITH ANYTHING THAT HURTS THEM WORSE!!! BAN ALL HORSE RACES ALL OVER THE WORLD ESPECIALLY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IMMEDIATELY!!! MAKE THESE STUPUD INHUMANE HUMANS RUN AROUND IN CIRCLES TRYING TO WIN A TROPHY OR TO THEIR DEATHS!!!!!! ANIMAL CRUELTY!!
end of this money-bringing hell on earth.
all these poor animals are the ultimate losers. no matter if dogs, horses or other animal creatures. Unfortunately.