Slaughterhouses: Where Racehorses Go to Retire? June 5, 2009
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Horse-racing is a dirty industry. Horses are routinely beaten, drugged and sometimes even euthanized right on the track after crippling and deadly injuries—what makes it worse is that so many so called horse lovers continue to pay for this industry to continue.
Each year in Japan, more than 20,000 horses, including many horses once used for racing, are slaughtered for dog and human food. Our footage taken inside a Japanese slaughterhouse shows exactly what happens to these sensitive animals as they are prepared for slaughter. As stated in the New York Times, "The video is disturbing. It shows in graphic terms what happens to the unfortunate thoroughbreds who become spare parts in a contracting industry."
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You can blame the U.S. horse-racing industry for the carnage. It routinely breeds tens of thousands of "surplus" thoroughbreds every year, then sells thousands of them to breeding facilities in Japan. More than 2,000 U.S. thoroughbred horses and breeding mares have been shipped to Japan since 2002.
Right now, Two more horses, Charismatic and War Emblem—Kentucky Derby champs from 1999 and 2002 respectively—may also face slaughter as their usefulness to breeders comes to an end. Both of them are currently in Japan at breeding farms—and War Emblem, who was sold for $17 million dollars and shipped off to Japan, has refused to breed with most mares, despite the use of hormones and steroids. Just a few years ago, horse-racing fans cheered as Charismatic and War Emblem ran away with top prizes at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Now, PETA's most recent undercover investigation shows what could be in store for these once-celebrated stallions and thousands of other horses sold into the Japanese thoroughbred industry.
Last year, Americans watched in horror as racing filly Eight Belles suffered fractures to both her front ankles and was euthanized just moments after running the Kentucky Derby. How can anyone not be disgusted by the shuffling of thousands of horses off to Japan and into slaughterhouses?
Join us in defending former Derby and Preakness champs Charismatic and War Emblem—and thousands of other thoroughbreds. Demand limits on breeding and a ban on the export of horses to Japan.
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Comments
This is so disgusting.
I'm crying after that video. What kind of sick people..
Horses are such beautiful animals, with so much to teach humans about themselves. How can people do this?
I cringe for my horse and all the horses at my stables that could've ended up there.
Just disgusting.
What is wrong with these people. Are they that greedy! Does this make them feel strong or give them some kind of power. Sick, sick people. There is a thing called carma. Read the bible just once.
We as humanes are not to eat horses. So what makes it right to send it some where else for them to slaughter thus way and eat!
It is a shameful practice!! Horse racing should be banned!!! It is a profligate, greedy industry that does not have the equine athlete's welfare paramount. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi
Posted by: Pamela Harp Gentry at June 6, 2009 10:12 AMI am particularly worried about the fate of War Emblem because I have personally cared for some of his offspring and they are some of the most beautiful and talented horses I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. I guess I had always assumed that these former champions lived out the rest of their lives at places like the Kentucky Horse Park after their breeding careers were over. Many a famous gelding has retired there as well, horses such John Henry and Funny Cide.
I long for the day that all horse racing is banned.
Posted by: Little_Lotte at June 6, 2009 2:05 PM"There's no use for them." Yeah, right. They make people so happy. Every time I am around my horses I feel so carefree. They help me cope with my stress, and they are so sweet.
They shouldn't even race them.
Also to the horse slaughterers...karma's a bitch.
Posted by: Erika at June 8, 2009 2:19 PMThis makes me so sad I mean why would you slaughter an innocent horse just for your bellies
Posted by: at June 8, 2009 7:07 PMthis is so sad...
horses are such beautiful animals
and they are being slaughtered
just because they are of no "use"?!
wtf?!!!
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wow. they slaughter them because "theres no use for them" animals aren't here for us to "use". They're here to live.
Posted by: taylor at June 5, 2009 11:54 PM