Is attempting to make itself a governing body for racing reform.
We need national standards, instead of the state by state standards, that allow those ruled off off in one state to quietly head for another. But absolutely not administered by HSUS.
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/humane-society-forms-new-racing-advisory-council/
This may just be the obituary of horse racing.
Here is more:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/377...ign=06-23-2016
To have animal rights extremists representing any we do with animals is like having the Pope determine what abortion clinics need to qualify to stay open.
Who’s bright idea was that?
The one saving grace for the industry is that it is primarily regulated by the states. Not all will come on board because not only will this impact racing but state handling of animal welfare in general. The HSUS is always looking for fish to fry and throwing racing in the pan is a way to put states bill of fares at the top best eating list. KY is rated at the bottom of animal welfare enforcement. Think it will roll over to allow HSUS to get involved in its business? The legislation in Congress is going nowhere. The list of supporters is replete with well known individuals, but not substantial enough to influence this issue. That’s why, imho, this gang now is getting cozy with HSUS.
BREXIT is a good example. The UK bookies were saying the UK stays. Yea, right. This HSUS alliance is only mouthing off for the slim few in horseracing that want federal control and this slim few is willing to sink the ship so they can finally use the life boats.
Don’t know where these characters have been for the last few decades but most of the industry has it lifeboats in the water now. Life vests maybe the only things left for them.
I freaking hate when I agree with those asshats. Racing does need to rid itself of dopers who shop races based upon regulations in the various jurisdictions. It has often been said if we didn’t find a way to get uniform standards, someone else would do it for us so it’s not like we haven’t been warned. Fortunately HSUS has no jurisdiction over anything other than to make themselves a pain in the ass so hopefully this is nothing besides a wake up call.
I am part of a group who is creating a Maryland Equine Sanctuary and was horrified when I saw there were two members of the HSUS at our meeting. I almost bailed because I didn’t want to be involved in anything they were involved in but was told we couldn’t legally tell them they couldn’t come to our public planning sessions but that they didn’t have anything to do with it directly. You never would know that from listening to them though. They acted like they were the the creator of the whole thing as opposed to essentially eavesdroppers.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8718871]
I freaking hate when I agree with those asshats. Racing does need to rid itself of dopers who shop races based upon regulations in the various jurisdictions. It has often been said if we didn’t find a way to get uniform standards, someone else would do it for us so it’s not like we haven’t been warned. Fortunately HSUS has no jurisdiction over anything other than to make themselves a pain in the ass so hopefully this is nothing besides a wake up call.
I am part of a group who is creating a Maryland Equine Sanctuary and was horrified when I saw there were two members of the HSUS at our meeting. I almost bailed because I didn’t want to be involved in anything they were involved in but was told we couldn’t legally tell them they couldn’t come to our public planning sessions but that they didn’t have anything to do with it directly. You never would know that from listening to them though. They acted like they were the the creator of the whole thing as opposed to essentially eavesdroppers.[/QUOTE]
Real rescues, farmers and state politicians that have tried to work with them tell horror stories, how they infiltrate the meetings and act like they are oh so helpful and agree to everything and promise help with their gazillons, but then in the end don’t.
They are there to disrupt and divide, promise this to this one, that to that one, not to work with anyone, is what they do best, cause trouble.
Obama put a bunch of them in regulatory situations and it is a wreck.
The idiocy and wishy-washy of the regulatory changes and proposals, I am sure on purpose to disrupt, is incredible.
Agriculture has been living with that for some years now, pity the racing industry if, as it looks, is now also a target.
Why now a target they can openly work in?
Because it is an industry in trouble, so easy pickings to tumble.
Remember horse slaughter?
One way or another, I am afraid you got the fox in the henhouse and are on the way out.
[QUOTE=Bluey;8718794]
This may just be the obituary of horse racing.
Here is more:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/377...ign=06-23-2016
To have animal rights extremists representing any we do with animals is like having the Pope determine what abortion clinics need to qualify to stay open.
Who’s bright idea was that?[/QUOTE]
Comparing religion with animal welfare? A new low.
We NEED to protect these horses. The fact that HSUS is the one stepping in tells you just how bad it has gotten. However, as with the TWHs, when they show up, things tend to get better for the horses. There will still be a serious need for enforcement, but it’s time to have the Racing world do a better job of policing themselves.
And, IMO, another place where the Feds want to stick their nose in and it doesn’t belong.
States should regulate and enforce racing as they see fit in their state.
Yes, there are problem children in the racing industry but I don’t think it is as bad as some make it out to be. If HSUS was really serious, why don’t they tackle the QH industry that, I am sure, has far more problem children in many more disciplines, breeds far more horses and ends up with, I suspect, more unwanted QHs that the TB industry. Just TBs are easy pickings because of their visibility and the general public’s ignorance on many things animal related.
[QUOTE=ASB Stars;8718978]
We NEED to protect these horses. The fact that HSUS is the one stepping in tells you just how bad it has gotten.[/QUOTE]
HSUS gets involved to line their own pockets, not because they really care (IMO). I’ve seen too many scary stories of the negative backside of their animal “protection” BS to think they really care about animals.
For the most part, TBs are protected and cared for. Some are not, true but there is slime in every aspect of animal ownership. If HSUS could wave their magic wand all horses would run free like the wind. Racing would tumble and riding in general would follow. Be careful what you ask for as you may just get it.
“States should regulate and enforce racing as they see fit in their state.” Although this would be ideal, there are too many different models in play and we need consistency. There is also a group they all belong to called the Association of Racing Commissions International, which basically has a Tony Soprano wanna-be telling them what to do. And they do it.
HSUS lobbies well. But, unlike their ads with the sad and cute animals suggest, they don’t actually run shelters, and only about 1% of all that money they raise helps shelter animals. What it pays for is Wayne Pacelle’s really big salary and an impressive fundraising/marketing effort. Now add horses that that fundraising and an entirely new groups of donors appears. Which means less going to the local rescues actually doing the work out there and rehoming horses off the tracks.
The Jockey Club tried to step in a create the Racing Medication Testing Consortium a few years back as a way to show they are doing something. They haven’t passed one uniform rule and no one in Washington knows about them. They hired to vet to change the world and she hasn’t been to one meeting in the Congress.
Consistent rules are needed to protect horses and ensure that racing is fair to the public. The racers should also have guaranteed proper retirements. No matter what. It really comes down to the FTC that has jurisdiction over intrastate gambling. Basically, if a state doesn’t comply, they lose their interstate gambling privileges. Which means they lose their gamblers and folks go elsewhere for racing. This happens to be on the FTC radar now. Stay tuned.
The legislation referenced in the article above isn’t going anywhere. But HSUS is getting some great PR.
[QUOTE=ASB Stars;8718978]
Comparing religion with animal welfare? A new low.
We NEED to protect these horses. The fact that HSUS is the one stepping in tells you just how bad it has gotten. However, as with the TWHs, when they show up, things tend to get better for the horses. There will still be a serious need for enforcement, but it’s time to have the Racing world do a better job of policing themselves.[/QUOTE]
I agree. Without HSUS and others pointing out the horrible things that go on in racing, the horses will keep dying on the track, not from accidents, but from being run on drugs. There is a need for all sides to get together to help the horses. Where is the Dick Hertz thread on horse racing? The whole idea is to protect the horses and return racing to what it was in the 50s and 60s, not what it has become as a killing field for horses.
I think it’s ironic that those who have zero involvement with the racing industry are more up in arms about this situation that those it is intended to directly affect…
They formed an advisory counsel. That’s it. The way HSUS operates, I don’t see it going far… I still think the racing industry is the bigger juggernaut. But to me, their message is on point. I trust those they name in their corner. Maybe they’ll accomplish something the dinky advisory councils before them could not.
[QUOTE=ASB Stars;8718978]
The fact that HSUS is the one stepping in tells you just how bad it has gotten. [/QUOTE]
Just how “bad” has it gotten? Do tell…
Personally, I think the state of racing and thoroughbred welfare has done nothing but improve in my lifetime. Yes, it still has a long way to go… but so does every other part of the horse world. Racing takes a hundred times the flack of any other equestrian discipline because it is 100% in the public eye and there are HUGE sums of money at stake.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;8719425]
I think it’s ironic that those who have zero involvement with the racing industry are more up in arms about this situation that those it is intended to directly affect…[/QUOTE]
My involvement in the TB industry may have been awhile ago- my concern for the welfare of the horses is not.
ASB Stars, I’m really not trying to attack you. We all have concerns for animal welfare. I just think a lot of things are being blown out of proportion.
To imply things have gotten “so bad” the HSUS stepped in does not accurately describe the situation at hand IMO. Things have improved a lot. Drug testing has never been more sophisticated. Our horses no longer run with a lot of the crap that was standard practice even a decade ago. We keep data on breakdowns, injuries, etc. There has been increased interest in the implication of racing surfaces and footing. And the biggest improvement, in my opinion, has been the advent of anti-slaughter awareness and rehoming organizations.
Drugs are going to be a problem for a long, long time-- it’s not like we can ask the pharmaceutical companies to stop developing new products. And as long as there is money to be had and egos to be inflated, there will always be those bad eggs who will do anything to win. We need uniform rules so these bad eggs can’t keep exploiting the system. If HSUS can make enough noise for this to become a priority, then I am all for it.
HSUS sees a fundraising opportunity and they’re jumping on it.
[QUOTE=cloudyandcallie;8719345]
I agree. Without HSUS and others pointing out the horrible things that go on in racing, the horses will keep dying on the track, not from accidents, but from being run on drugs. There is a need for all sides to get together to help the horses. Where is the Dick Hertz thread on horse racing? The whole idea is to protect the horses and return racing to what it was in the 50s and 60s, not what it has become as a killing field for horses.[/QUOTE]
I probably shouldn’t respond to this, but anyone who expresses a desire return racing to the 50’s and 60’s doesn’t know anything about horse racing in the 50’s and 60’s in my opinion.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;8719456]
Just how “bad” has it gotten? Do tell…
Personally, I think the state of racing and thoroughbred welfare has done nothing but improve in my lifetime. Yes, it still has a long way to go… but so does every other part of the horse world. Racing takes a hundred times the flack of any other equestrian discipline because it is 100% in the public eye and there are HUGE sums of money at stake.[/QUOTE]
Very well said. The health and welfare of the racehorse is exponentially better than at the turn of the 20th century and the entire equine industry has benefited from its presence.
Clearly it is management of the parimutuel and institutional side of the racing industry that is the most troublesome and problematic.
I have said this before, the list of horsemen and women who have currently aligned themselves with HSUS and federal legislation have all been in positions of influence in the racing industry and have failed miserably to change either the problems or the bad perception of racing. Now they want to align themselves with HSUS that provides no place in its agenda for activities, sport, or entertainment that includes animals.
The issue of drugs will be resolved. Illegal racing activities are being enforced. Horse racing does have to improve, but if you really fear for the welfare of the horse and your state is listed at the bottom of the animal welfare enforcement list maybe your state legislature is the place to correct the problem not in some useless collusion of animal rights activists and failed horsemen leadership that didn’t ever get it right unless results benefited each personally.
Even Secretariat’s owner spoke out against racing after numerous breakdowns on the track. I saw Native Dancer and Needles and even Nail over the years when I was a child. And remember, one of the race horse owners on this thread denied all the breakdowns and argued with me years ago, then when the stats came out, just in races, not in daily training, said poster claimed to not know about all the breakdowns. Although she claimed to be a trainer.
Said poster must be deaf, dumb and blind to not have seen what has happened on the track each day since the 70s and afterward. But just keep denying it.
The idea is to try to take care of the horses while enjoying the sport of racing. Instead, many people just use up the horses and if they don’t die on the track in racing or in training, they are shipped off to slaughter. I’ve owned 3 ottb mares who had good breeding but were not successful on the track and did not produce good foals. They were wonderful horses who were great in the ring and on trails.
[QUOTE=cloudyandcallie;8719345]
I agree. Without HSUS and others pointing out the horrible things that go on in racing, the horses will keep dying on the track, not from accidents, but from being run on drugs. There is a need for all sides to get together to help the horses. Where is the Dick Hertz thread on horse racing? The whole idea is to protect the horses and return racing to what it was in the 50s and 60s, not what it has become as a killing field for horses.[/QUOTE]
You do realize that there were far more illegal drugs used in the 50s and 60s than there are now, right? Maybe one day you will get thru your thick head that things are so much better for thoroughbreds now than it was for them back in them “good old days”. There was no hi tech diagnostics then, no surgeries to save broken bones. Horses ran until their legs broke, then were sent to slaughter. It was done all the time, and considered status quo.
You talk about horses dying from being on drugs? They didnt have the testing they have now. The rumors are rampant on famous horses back then that were “hop” horses. The drugs they used then were KILLING horses. The drugs everyone is concerned with now is mostly therapeutic drugs being used. I know a trainer who has dozens and dozens and dozens of overages, yet he still got his license renewed. He’s not using cocaine, he’s using legal drugs, he’s just pushing the limit.
You need to learn a lot more before spouting off about things you know nothing about.
I worked for a Vet yrs ago and I will never forget while we were in surgery, a racing buddy came in to visit and they talkled about a new drug that made his horses run better than ever. The Vet I worked for was completely on board with this and said he would try to get him some.
You might be surprised at how many Vets are NOT on the side of animal welfare. They pay lobbists to fight humane legislation.
IMO - that is worse than hsus trying to fight Inhumane treatment to animals.
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