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Animal Defenders of Westchester |
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Home Page We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts. Animal Defenders of Westchester |
Letters Racing is bad for horses and humans Published in THE JOURNAL NEWS - November 6, 2006: A number of excellent recent articles point up the problems at Yonkers
Raceway. Of particular interest was the report that the new slot machines
were more popular than the horse races. After Barbaro's tragic accident on May 7, renewed attention was given to
the problems surrounding this exploitative sport - such as over breeding,
young horses raced before their legs were strong enough, and discarded
horses with broken spirits being shipped to auctions and slaughterhouses;
along with the prevalent horse-drugging and money scandals that have plagued
the horse racing industry for years. And despite knowing that facilities like it were facing public scrutiny,
Yonkers Raceway was recently caught dumping animal and human feces into the
Bronx River and were fined over $9 million as a result (Oct. 13 story.)
Exposure to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in water can cause
gastrointestinal illness, hepatitis, skin and eye infections and can damage
fish and wildlife habitats. Previous articles mentioned raceway neighborhood
inhabitants complaining about the smells wafting from the racetrack - all
the more reason to forsake horse racing for slot machines. Horse racing is a business; animals are whipped to make them run fast.
When the animals can generate no more profit, when they get sick, go blind,
become lame, they are sold at auction. These beautiful, sensitive souls
deserve better. And since people are happy to gamble without equine
involvement, now is the time Yonkers Raceway should bet on compassion as the
winning ticket.
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061106/OPINION/611060310/1016/OPINION02
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