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We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

Animal Defenders of Westchester
P.O. Box 205
Yonkers, NY 10704

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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