Thursday, June 18, 2009

KEEP-ing it Real:  Putting the Cart Before the (Exsanguinated) Horse.

Observation: KEEP comes out for VLTs, while Kentucky-breds die painfully at the hands of people like Dale Baird.

I find it alternately fascinating and anger-inducing, that KEEP (Kentucky Equine Education Project) can convince 1,000 horsemen in the great Commonwealth of Kentucky to rally in Frankfort to speak up for VLTs, including those that feature pretty pictures of digital horses…but I've not heard of such a gathering to demand that horse slaughter in America be terminated.

Or even that Kentucky's killerbuyers be put out of business by means of boycott. (We at HRI have a vested interest in accurate reporting: if such a citizens' protest has taken place, please let us know.)

Honestly, I don't care a horsefeather whether or not Kentucky gets VLTs. I DO think that the potential to install racinos at American racetracks has clouded the thinking of horsepeople who are frantic to find ways to "save" the sport. I don't think that VLTs are the permanent solution, nor do I think that they're the devil incarnate. A group of very wealthy marketing wonks have convinced some otherwise intelligent people that VLTs are the way to build the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, a claim which has never—ever—proven to be true. The availability of VLTs at a racetrack—offering the public the opportunity to shove a quarter into a machine, then pray for three lemons—has never once convinced those same individuals to walk ten feet to watch our otherworldly horses defy the theories of physics and break hearts, all at once.

(The only ones I've seen become rich from VLTs at racetracks, so far—are the owners of the tracks and the builders of the digital bandits, themselves. Horsemen are, in large measure, still waiting to see those purses fatten up. Saratoga Raceway is one example of money getting lost between the VLT room and the backstretch: the barns, the homes of those who actually put on the show—are still a disgrace.)

But if I could be guaranteed that even 10% of that money would go to stop equicide (horse slaughter)—I'd be the first one standing at the state Capitol, waving a banner. I'd install a VLT in my living room, if a horse's life would be prolonged by that action.

What we in the Equicide Termination Business have so far is a lot of good hearts, with pure intentions—and some wonderfully obsessive writers, willing to put their reputations on the line in order to do what's right.

Actually, we're quite blessed by the number of humans, and strength of the words that are Out There, every day, fighting for the rights of equines to live fully, and then die a dignified, painless death.

And ample opportunities present themselves for turf writers and laypeople, alike, to write, speak out and proselytize on behalf of the horses. Not a day goes by that equicide, rescue or retirement aren't on the journalistic menu, somewhere in America.

A writer could spend at least 40 hours a week, and dedicate one's life, to the crusade to end equine slaughter in the United States. I'd be happy to make my living that way, and joyously go out of business the second we put an end, once-and-for-all, to the heinous practice. Putting the killerbuyers, slaughterhouse owners and the Governor of Montana out on the streets would be a very satisfying way to earn one's "KEEP," indeed.

Those Judases who happily earn money from the horse, one way or another, and then dispose of the animal as if it were a used tissue—ought to be condemned, roundly. Their names should come out of the darkness, and printed in newspapers. Splashed across banners at rallies. Denied membership in any honorary society—and certainly never, ever allowed access to the Racing Hall of Fame. Not even as a visitor to the Museum that houses the Hall.

Which finally brings us to Dale Baird. Another writer on this 'site wrote a beautifully-penned, thoroughly- researched piece about the history of Mountaineer Park this week. But his piece brought trainer Dale Baird's name to the top of the heap, and a discussion ensued about Baird's eligibility for Hall of Fame induction, based on his number of wins…and then how he got those wins.

Apparently the gentleman took horses who couldn't cut it anywhere else, ran them to death, then dumped them into slaughterhouses after he'd used them up. Many people in racing—including me—were not aware of this shameful situation until it was brought to light on HRI on Monday. (Another solid vote in favor of freedom of speech, and fora such as HRI, where voracious readers and crusading writers can come together to learn and better the sport.)

I'm not surprised that Dale Baird's status as Satan's Handmaid was little-known by most of us in racing: I, too, was ignorant of his role in the horses-as-dogfood industry.

That's the thing about those in the horse murder biz: they fly beneath the radar, because they know that their work is, indeed, evil and that they deserve no respect for anything else they may accomplish because of that association.

On the flip side, I am proud to be associated with John Pricci and the crew of HorseRaceInsider.com because of HRI's strong stand against horse slaughter.

For us, standing up against the murderous hordes is a matter of personal choice, an exercise of the dictates of our collective conscience. Equicide is unnecessary, disgusting and just plain wrong, and HRI firmly stands at the forefront of the movement to end it, tout de suite.

HRI features current and archived articles against slaughter, and is honoured to be the racing 'site that is willing to stand in front of the horses, shielding them from the killers.

Alex Brown, along with many others--including Madeleine Pickens; the Humane Society of the United States; Willie Nelson; Toby Keith; Americans Against Horse Slaughter and the Equine Protection Network--have come forth in public fora to speak out against the outrage that is the horse slaughter industry. Their websites are valuable resources for information, encouragement and intelligent argumentation against the sin of slaughter.

Yes, Dale Baird and others in his boots have taken the low road--which is precisely why many of us in racing are unaware of their actions. Those who work in the dark, and who travel in the shadows, can avoid the spotlight of Truth for just so long.

But the light, when shone upon their murderous deeds and blackened souls, eventually reveals their despicable actions to the world.

Dale Baird is not in the Racing Hall of Fame because he doesn't deserve it. He could have won 100,000 races, for all I care: the majority of his horses ran their hearts out, and were then thanked by being strung up, throats slit, exsanguinated. The only Hall to which Baird should be nominated is the Hall of Shame.

Everyone who participates in this sport on any level should speak out against such trainers (owners, etc.) who so willingly make money on the backs of these horses, only to send them to die an unconscionable death.

I urge everyone who reads this 'site--everyone who makes a single red cent on this sport, as a professional or as a professional gambler--to man- and woman-up. Take a stand for the horses who give you pleasure and income. Read the websites of the above groups, and work with us and them to end horse slaughter in 2009.

Have the guts to make your voice heard, and turn your backs on trainers like Dale Baird.

Collectively, we can end the evil practice.

But if we're splintered and uncommitted--the Dale Bairds and their killerbuyers will win. The blood of the victims is not only on the hands of those who actively participate: if we care, but do not speak up--we are guilty in our silence.

My fingers are crossed, that the next KEEP rally in Frankfort is called together to demand that the VLTs in Kentucky be installed with the proviso that a big percentage of that cash cow goes to end equine slaughter in America. If not, we can only assume that KEEP's mission statement, "… to promote jobs and economic opportunities for Kentuckians through the Commonwealth's world-class horse industry…." includes a passive acceptance of "killerbuyer" and "killertrainer" as viable employment options.

And the passive acceptance of horse slaughter by equine professionals—in Kentucky or anywhere else in the United States—is not just an oxymoronic phrase—it's a downright sin.



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Monday, April 06, 2009

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer:  the Ag Lobby’s Dirty Little Plan, Revealed

Cattle Grower Network

“It has been shown that horsemeat is low in fat, low in cholesterol and high in protein- overall a better quality of meat than beef. If horse meat were readily available in the U.S., would you be inclined to try it?�

It pays to be on enemy email lists: I received the above link this afternoon, to a website promoting horse slaughter. A faux poll, and several misled people who are contemplating dining on "lowfat" horsemeat. The Ag lobbyists have convinced cattle "growers" that, hmmm, horsemeat might be a yummy thing--I'm thinking that it's a significant part of Ag lobby's push for horse slaughter plants--that if horse slaughter is brought back into the United States, cattle "growers" can get into the biz of "growing" horses specifically for slaughter.

This disgusts me. But I'd rather know what they're up to than not. Ignorance is NOT bliss.

Ah, every now and then, the Good Guys catch a break.

Just when you thought that the battle to keep equines safe from slaughter was a losing effort—an email drops into your Inbox that qualifies as a gift from Heaven. A miracle. Hundred-dollar bills dropping from the sky.

Today was just such a day.

Allow me to elucidate. I am a member of American Horse Publications, a terrific organization that brings together every equine publication, website and freelancer in the country. I cannot stress strongly enough how much I enjoy being a member of AHP.

But today I appreciate it perhaps more than ever before, for I got an email from a website that turned the horse slaughter thing around for me. Refreshed me. Renewed my resolve.

[AHP regularly sends out press releases for its members: some days I get upward of 20 press releases. This is a great service that the organization provides to members. Most days I hear from Missy Wryn, or The Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Times—the ones I’d expect.]

But, ah, today. Today I was frustrated. Today I had a headache, from beating my brains against a post. I’ve been trying for several days to write a follow-up to Montana’s Big, Bloody Sky, but have been stumped. Not that I’ve run out of words—I’ll be yammering on my way to the grave. I’ve run out of patience with the system, a system that allows Governors to play footsie with Ag lobbyists and to disguise death sentences for horses as concern for their welfare.

You see, Friday was a day of jubilation for we anti-slaughter people. Well, it was a minute of jubilation.
We’d heard, first, that Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer had vetoed the horse slaughter bill.

Friends and colleagues emailed me to send up the first flares. Start the bonfire, we’re havin’ a weenie roast!

That ecstasy lasted about three seconds. I read Schweitzer’s letter to The Butcher (Ed Butcher, that is: the most appropriately-named politician in America.) The letter of “veto� was really a letter filled with amendments. IF the bill is amended in ways that Governor Schweitzer find to be appropriate—he will sign the bill into law.

And the reasons for his amendments are to write in protections for those who would build the slaughterhouses—NOT because he’s concerned about the horses’ welfare. Sure, his letter of amendment is filled with language that sounds like he’s concerned for equine welfare—all the “unwanted horses� ya-ya.

But the bottom line of it is that he’ll be delighted to sign the bill into law, as long as the amendments are written in—and those magnanimous Belgians are protected. Schweitzer wants to make sure that, once the slaughterhouse is built in Montana—no one can step up to the plate (or courthouse) and close it down.

So I’ve spent several days trying to write about something that is on the surface so vague that anti-slaughter folks were tempted to think we’d won. But knowing that we’ve not won, the battle continues, and—if anything—is more frustrating than ever. At this point, it’s out of our hands. Phone calls to Schweitzer’s office will not change a thing. Now we sit and wait to see if/when the Montana State Legislature tosses it back to him.

If they do, he’ll sign it.

If he signs it, Montana license plates can read, “The Slaughter State.�

So today I felt stumped. Defeated. Not sure what to write.

Now I know. Today we were given a gift, that of insider knowledge. This is a valuable tool—knowledge. The Truth shall set you free. The light of Truth, shining in the darkness—can turn it all around for the horses.

We have the ammo we need now: the email I received via AHP today carried the subject line, “Would You Eat Horse Meat?�

I turned on my mental heel. They had my attention. I had to peek inside, and see behind the curtain.

This email was from a website that identified itself as http://www.CheyenneOutlaw.com.

I’d never heard of them before. I thought it might be a group of cowboys, perhaps a newsletter of cowboy poets.

Not quite. Cheyenne Outlaw Ranch is—you guessed it—a cattle ranch in Wyoming.

Their mission is to “grow� and sell—beef.

Why, you might ask yourself, would they wish to contact those of us who work in publishing in equine industries? Hmmmmm…tap yourself on the chin. Think about this a minute.

It all became wildly clear the minute I read the email: supposedly, The Cattle Grower Network had conducted a poll. Uh, yeah. And in that poll, they asked if readers would eat horsemeat if it were available to them.

Uh-huh. A rigged poll. People who are members of Cattle Grower Network, answering a question that, on its surface, seems simple.

Disgusting, but simple.

The underlying implication is enormous.

Finally--the Truth behind the push for horse slaughter plants.

The Truth, that those who are proponents are no more concerned about “unwanted horses� than a bald man is about unwanted hair.

The Truth is that the Ag lobby is working with the “cattle growers� not only to re-introduce horse slaughter into the United States—the underlying reason for doing so is that the next step after reintroduction is to create a market for horsemeat IN the United States.

The beef industry has been hurting lately. Too many people actually concerned about silly things like, oh, I don’t know—cholesterol. Fat. Colon cancer.

What, oh, what, can a “cattle grower� whose profit margin is flagging do? Hmmm…got land. Got grass. Got fields fenced in. Beef, fatty. HORSE…not so fat.

Horsemeat = a marketing strategy that could save the necks of the ranchers who’ve invested millions of dollars into an industry that is threatened by a growing American concern for health.

Read the link above, to the “poll� and those who agree with the results of the poll—that, supposedly, horsemeat just may be an acceptable addition to the American diet. Read the words, then let them set in.

Realize that this is a well-calculated campaign. This is NOT random people who happen to think that horse slaughter is a good thing.

This, my friends, is every bit as insidious a campaign as the tobacco industry creating chocolate cigarettes for children.

This campaign was hatched in the boardrooms of The Beef Council. This plan is being executed by the Ag lobbyists and the ranchers. This, they believe, will be the plan that saves the ranchers.

All this time, we anti-slaughter people thought they were merely executing the “slippery slope� argument, that, if horse slaughter is taboo in America—they’ll come for the beef industry next.

That passive-aggressive approach—that’s what we thought they were up to.

But today’s email revealed the Truth—Hallelujah, the Truth will set the horses free.

The real motivation of the Ag lobby and the Beef People is not to prevent beef slaughter from being outlawed—for that would never happen. The real motivation is to open wide the door to horse slaughter so that RANCHING HORSES for meat will not only become acceptable—it will become an exciting, viable new market for the cattle ranchers. “Branching out,� as it were. Creating a new market, and giving it the old hard-sell.

Once horse slaughter plants are put in Montana and the Dakotas—it’s all downhill from there. They think that we anti-slaughter people will just give up, and go away with a whimper. That we’ll shrug our withers, and give in.

No doubt they even aspire to converting Willie Nelson: their clever marketing wonks envision Willie as a potential ally, the face of The American Horsemeat Council. Once that door to slaughter is flung wide-open—the possibilities are endless.

I am not arguing in slippery slope here, friends. All you need do is read this nonsense from the cattle “growers,� this email they sent to their allies, to see through their transparent motive.

If we open that door—if we let Governor Schweitzer amend so vile a bill as to make it palatable, and pass it into law—then the Ag lobby and beef “growers� can institute Phase II: the cultural and governmental acceptance of horse ranches.

If you don’t want to see billboards for “Secretariat: the Other Red Meat�—you must work with us. You don’t need my vivid imagination to see that this is the real motivation for the push for slaughter: all you need is eyes to read; a brain to comprehend and a heart to give a damn.

Ag lobby—we are finally on to you. We’ve got you in our scopes. You’re goin’ down. No Alydar Alpo for me—and no Filly Filet at Peter Luger’s.

Not now. Not ever.


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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Triple Crown 2009 = Open Season on Horses.  And on Racing.  Unless We Act TODAY.

Ah, The First Saturday in May: The day that separates the proverbial sheep from the goats. The title of a great documentary film. The day when PETA dons its orange vests, sets the scope on Louisville and, like a starving weasel lurking outside a chicken coop—takes aim and fires at an industry it doesn't understand.

The day that, after over a century of successes, has morphed into an event that sets an entire industry on edge. Every year henceforth, we must tread gingerly and pray that nothing goes wrong.

God help us if a Derby horse has a hangnail—PETA will be on it like an elephant on a bag of peanuts.

PETA and some others have convinced a lot of people that our sport is rife with hard-hearted horsehaters. Not only do we force horses to run—we may actually pray that one of them goes down. We get a sadistic thrill out of seeing a horse writhing in pain, and then euthanized. PETA has done a great job of convincing a lot of lonely, ill-informed, ignorant people that we are The Bad Guys. But we who love Thoroughbreds—genuinely love them—and the sport of racing them, have before us a Golden Apple. The chance to band together and make a difference. This plum opportunity has been handed to us on a silver platter. We can resurrect the reputation of the sport—a reputation that has been decided by PETA's spin doctors—simply by making a few phone calls.

Amazing, this opportunity for resurrection: Spring truly brings with it the promise of New Life.

We need not fear Kentucky Derby Day simply because we know that PETA will be watching and waiting. We can take action, one horseperson at a time, and change not only the world's perception of ourselves—we can actually do something of huge merit.

We can save the lives of horses.

We have before us two opportunities to save horses' lives AND, a nice side benefit—prove to ourselves and the outside world that we're not the demon-possessed trolls we've been painted to be. Sweet: being rewarded for Doing the Right Thing.

Opportunity #1: The 33,000

Last week, Madeleine Pickens trekked to Washington, D.C. to speak on behalf of The 33,000 (as I'm calling them)—the beautiful Wild Horses who should be allowed to live out their lives on the 1,000,000-acre Sanctuary that Mrs. Pickens wants to create for them. A gift to the horses; the people of the United States and to the government—this proposed Sanctuary is running into opposition. Go figure.

In fact, as I began to write this, I received an email from James Magill of the BLM. He thanked me for emailing the BLM about the Sanctuary, and he provided a link to the BLM's official stand on the issue. I read this statement as being a government-sanctioned tap dance, all smoke and mirrors. Reading between the proverbial lines isn't so hard—the BLM is reporting their take on Mrs. Pickens' proposal. And, like the Six Blind Men and the Elephant—they're seeing the thing from only one perspective: that of the Ag lobbyists.

A-HA! You thought I was going to say that they see it only through the BLM's eyes, didn't you? Hell to the no: the missive reeks of Ag lobby influence. (You know the Ag lobbyists, those fun-loving, high-living drones whose pockets are lined in the blood of dead horses. They represent ranchers who've been sold the bill of goods that, if the Wild Horses are allowed to live their lives peacefully on the Sanctuary, or if horse slaughter becomes fully illegal—somehow this is going to take down the entire meat industry. No more Triple Whoppers for Bubba—all because of those damned horses.)

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around how the Bureau of Land Management and the State of Nevada can think that the horses are a threat—to the cattle industry, or to anyone else. Maybe because they eat grass? Take up space? Breathe air that steers need? Whatever the imagined threat, it's all propaganda for the sake of greed.

The hot pursuit of Filthy Mammon once again dictates that innocent horses must die. Just in case their existence is a threat to wealthy ranchers.

We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mrs. Pickens: her goals are noble, her love for the horses, real. She encourages us to contact Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, to voice our support of the Sanctuary.

Please do so, and let Mrs. Pickens know that you're a conscientious member of the Thoroughbred industry who's behind her efforts 1,000%.

Washington Update & Wild Horse Sanctuary Plan Details - MadeleinePickens.com

Opportunity #2: Banning Horse Slaughter in the United States, Once-and-For-All:

This was quite the morning: I also received an email with the link to the Animal Welfare Institute's latest press release. The AWI today bears great tidings: a bill has been introduced onto the floor of the Senate, a bill which will make it illegal for several reasons for horse slaughter to occur in the United States.

This is grand news: passage of this bill into law will effectively nuke all efforts by wannabe Slaughter States like Montana and Illinois—even if they give the proverbial finger to the will of the people, and create horse slaughterhouses—they'll do so in violation of federal law. The slaughterhouses, themselves, will be illegal. It's already illegal for USDA inspectors to inspect the meat from said proposed slaughterhouses—this new law will make it illegal, period, to even build—never mind use—such a facility.

The bill will also dovetail with H.R. 503, and make it illegal to ship outside the country for slaughter.

This bill can get it done.

We know that President Obama will sign the bill once it's passed onto his desk. All we have to do—all we need do is contact our Representatives, and let them know that we want the bill to pass. Call/email/fax/carrier pigeon your Representative, and tell them that you're involved with Thoroughbred racing. Tell them that you're a fan, a hotwalker, the President of CDI. Whatever your role—we need your voice. We need three minutes of your time—that's all the time it takes to call your members of the Senate, and tell them that you want the slaughter stopped, once-and-for-all.

The link to the Animal Welfare Institute's press release will lead you to the link to your Representative.:

Senate Introduces Horse Slaughter Ban - Awionline.com

Three minutes of your time will help change the course of history.

Horse racing sits at a crossroads: we have myriad problems within the industry that must be fixed, immediately, if our sport is to continue into the 21st Century. We have to get healthy, then stay healthy.

There's a lot of bad PR out there. Some of it is justified. The majority of it is the result of hate campaigns by PETA and others who would deep-six our beloved sport simply because they don't understand it. They've created a culture of hatred: they benefit financially from the public's misunderstanding of the sport and of those of us who live, love and work in it.

Whether the criticisms are justified or not—it falls onto our withers to change the public perception of Thoroughbred racing. We are the ones who must do the work to show the world that Americans in horse racing are good people, people who weep when a horse breaks a leg and must be put down. We are the victims of the smear campaigns—so we must be the ones who clean up the mess.

And the only way—the only way—to clean up the reputation of horse racing before Triple Crown Season descends fully upon us—is to stand toe-to-toe with Madeleine Pickens, the Animal Welfare Institute, American Against Horse Slaughter, the Humane Society of the United States and all the other groups which are striving to save the lives of our horses. Madeleine Pickens and AAHS are horsepeople: the people who run AWI and HSUS are not—but we're all on the same page. (Interestingly enough—those last two groups are doing a better, more effective job at rallying people for the horses than others of us within Thoroughbred racing.)

If we're guilty of any sin here, it's the sin of omission. We go about our days knowing that Mrs. Pickens and those three groups are working on behalf of the horses. So we don't have to.

No more. Today is the day. Today is the day that you—we—I—must pick up the phone and make two calls. Two simple calls, to Ken Salazar on behalf of The 33,000, and to your US Representative in favor of the new anti-slaughter bill on the floor of the Senate.

Two calls that will change the future for all horses—wild, Thoroughbred and burros alike.

If we can't each commit to making two calls for the horses—then PETA is right. We don't care about anything but money. We don't care about horses. We care only about cash, baby, the Almighty Dollar.

But if PETA is wrong about us—speak up, for God's Sake. If we don't make those calls for the horses, if the Sanctuary doesn't come into being—and horse slaughter continues as an issue in the United States—then the Thoroughbred industry deserves to die.

Either we love horses and care about their welfare—or we don't.

If you care, act.

If you don't care—get another job, and make room for someone who does.


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