The death of Ferdinand

[Glimmerglass]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JumpJockey:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glimmerglass:
Simply REPUGNANT!!

I suppose these sob’s would have had all the KHP retirement horses - like Cigar - as dinner long ago. The Brits aren’t perfect but I would bet my last dollar this wouldn’t happen in England by comparison!

I concur that thankfully someone wrote this story as I can only hope that JS Company (the Japanese group that started the spiral downward) will be shunned from any public events and stubbed at any Kentucky stable.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I’m at a loss about the comment on the Brits-- can you elaborate? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was drawing a comparison to another horse racing nation and its values which I stand by. From a culture perspective the British (who are equal if not even more passionate about racing then the Japanese) are not caught up in this “saving face” business. If a champion horse of camparable races [to Ferdinand] didn’t work out in the breeding shed it is almost unfathomable that it would be simply sent to slaughter in the UK.

In the same sense racing is racing and the Brits, as I suggested, aren’t without the same woes that are simply part of racing - yet can you think of anything as egregious having occurred there? Snuffing a former Grand National horse because his off-spring were weak?

The UK has been the most vocal hold-out of the European nations to the consumption of horses for food. Unlike France and Italy who are passionate about horses but still think eating one isn’t a problem.

I’m sure that many Japanese may grumble about the poor press this story will cause, but its a fraction of what heat from the public & press generated if it had been done by a stable in Great Britain. London’s Fleet Street press would crucify those final owners. Think this is front page news in Tokyo?

[Tiramit]

This saddens me. Not only for Ferdinand, but for all mistreated horses.

Two Toofs and others,

As an “industry” outsider (jumper rider) but long-time lover of the TB breed, I would like to know how you hope other horse sport participants can help support this cause?

Obviously this would go beyond just taking in and working with OTTBs, which is something I have done for the last 20 years. I’d like to do more. What do you suggest?

[BLBGP]

Why do so many top TB racing sires seem to be sold overseas?

[Wonder]

From bloodhorse.com

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=17051

Sad fate for a champion

Wonder

“What made her great destroyed her”

[Lauruffian]

Oh. My. God.

Ferdinand’s 1986 Derby was the first I watched, taped, and studied. When I first moved to California in 1987, I went to Santa Anita and watched Ferdinand win the Goodwood Handicap. A few months later, I watched him defeat Alysheba in the San Bernadino handicap. He was a gorgeous horse, and my mom (the decidedly nonhorsey type) still talks about him and how lovely he was, the best looking horse she’d ever seen.

I have nice close-up photos of Ferdinand in my albums from the races. I have Bill Shoemaker’s autograph on one of them.

I adored this horse.

I think I’m going to be sick.

I used to think the world was against me. Now I know better…some of the smaller countries are neutral.

[TKR]

The owners, farms and syndicates KNOW the risks of sending horses to places like Japan, Hong Kong, Singapour and other countries with limited space! They also know the ones that don’t make it racing or breeding will be slaughtered. The almighty dollar generates the entire thing and even though there are efforts to help the ex-racers here, as long as they make big bucks selling to foreign countries that have no qualms about slaughtering them or concept of what their accomplishments mean, the story won’t change. They are all over the globe at risk and as far as I’m concerned the owners, et al who sell them to those “third world” thinking environments share the blame and the guilt and the blood is on their hands and money.
Penny Garzarek
The Krugerrand Run Thoroughbred Farm
Columbiana, AL

[Flashy_Gray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> We still are considered the evil of the horse industry so often on these boards. Gets old. I could sit here and list examples of horses from other disciplines being treated horrifically and sent to slaughter after prominent careers as well, but I’m taking care of my house and not trying to make myself feel better by tearing down someone elses. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Toofs, I am a casual racing fan, had some exposure to the racing industry as a teen (although after being in Saratoga a few days ago I am harboring wild unrealistic fantasies of ditching the desk career and getting a job at the track. NOT. Guess Saratoga will do that to you).

I come over to this board to read posts from those who are in the industry who can give the real scoop. I appreciate your irritation at those who bash the industry. I know I hate it when the h/j industry is bashed and accused of all sorts of crap.

I will delicately say that what is so shocking about this story is that Ferdinand reached the pinnacle of success in the sport and yet he still met this fate.

Is it unfair to single out one horse when there are so many out there, little red mares who haven’t won but $500? Yes, perhaps. But you have to start somewhere.

Can anyone here discuss some of the details of these high-end stallion sales? Are “retirement clauses” the norm, or the exception?

[NMS]

Fernie, I can say that no, CANTER Ohio is not funded by Thoroughbred Breeders. Our “donations” are from other support groups such as the Thoroughbred Charities of America and Blue Horse Charities. Most other donations come from caring trainer/owners that give us what they can when they can, and from the owners of these horses in their new careers. Our funding comes mostly from the “sale” of our CANTER owned horses. We could do more if we had more $$$. It’s a constant struggle.

Nancy

www.canterohio.org

[fernie_fox]

This is absolutely digusting.

Why does’nt the racing industry sell these horses to Japan with return to US.clauses when they are of no further use.

I would not send my worst enemy there.They just don’t think the same way that most of us here do.

Please don’t tell me these big farms do not know the fate of horses they send to Japan.It has been common knowledge for years that these poor animals end up pulling carts and being starved,or slaughtered in terrible conditions.

They need to clean their act up.

I am glad this story was brought out for all to see.

It is time these owners that export their horses there, are outed.

It’s all down to the almighty dollar.

fernie fox
“I have lived my life-it is nearly done-.I have played the game all round;But I freely admit that the best of my fun I owe it to Horse and Hound”.

[fernie_fox]

Actually ,I did read the whole story.

The owners did too little too late.

Tb industry saying, they back trying to prevent Slaughter is ridiculous.
What do they intend to do with all their horses that can’t make it on the track?.

I am not against humane slaughter.

Why not put their money[I dont think they are too hard up],into building,an American owned,humane slaughter house?.

I’m fed up with hearing the two slaughter houses here in the US. are foreign owned.

There are so many unwanted horses out there,and many people breeding more.They all have to end up somewhere.

Time for them[TB breeders] to take more responsibility for the unfortunate by-products of their “SPORT”.In fact I think all breeders should take more responsibility for there animals.

On Aug.2nd,I am going to another auction that will have TBs there.They are racing throw-outs,donated to a place that sells them off to whoever has a few hundred bucks.It makes me sick when I see 20 year old horses sold as barrel racers ect.

This is why I believe in humane slaughter.

If they ban slaughter here,they will make “The Last Ride” of these noble animals far worse than what is happening now.

Slaughter ships to France ,Japan where ever.

Live shipping to slaughter[and I mean packed on ships,alive to be slaughtered elsewhere]is horrific.

I don’t think the trip to Mexico would be much better.

I wish to god I knew the answers to these problems.

Seabiscuit being released this week will be a great booster to horse racing.I hope they put the good PR.from this movie to good use.

fernie fox
“I have lived my life-it is nearly done-.I have played the game all round;But I freely admit that the best of my fun I owe it to Horse and Hound”.

[Rye]

Why don’t we flood the Japan Association of International Racing with our sentiments on someone’s callous disregard for a champion???

Here’s the link to their website and an email address too.

http://www.jair.jrao.ne.jp/index2.html

Email: jair@jair.jrao.ne.jp

[Flashy_Gray]

Posted on the Off Course thread on this as well, but of course there are more “industry folks” over here and the posts are interesting.

Toofs makes some good points, and the pro- v. anti-slaughter issue has been hashed out here before.

That said, I know that racing is a business. I know that tough decisions have to be made and that I personally get sentimental.

But HONEST TO GOD, Ferdinand won the DERBY. He was HORSE OF THE YEAR. He was Shoemaker’s last DERBY WINNER.

Are those accomplishments MEANINGLESS???

I’m sorry. It seems to me that the reputation of the Japanese racing industry regarding “retiring” horses is fairly well-known. Why wasn’t there a buy-back clause or a retirement clause? It just seems to me that the inquiry into his whereabouts was too little too late.

Dammit, I’m just sick at the thought of this.

[Las_Olas]

Just something I thought was worth mentioning:

Claiborne Farm did not own Ferdinand. He was owned by Howard Keck and was not syndicated upon his retirement. Howard Keck was in ill health and the horse was sold. Mr. Keck died less than two years later.

[Las_Olas]

To NMS:

You state: “Fernie, I can say that no, CANTER Ohio is not funded by Thoroughbred Breeders. Our “donations” are from other support groups such as the Thoroughbred Charities of America and Blue Horse Charities. Most other donations come from caring trainer/owners that give us what they can when they can, and from the owners of these horses in their new careers. Our funding comes mostly from the “sale” of our CANTER owned horses. We could do more if we had more $$$. It’s a constant struggle.”

TCA gets a major portion of their funding from their annual Stallion Season Auction. Those seasons are donated by BREEDERS and syndicate share owners (such as myself). BREEDERS also purchase those seasons. Blue Horse Charities funding comes from the sale of horses through the Fasig-Tipton Auctions. Where BREEDERS donate a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of their horses. I’m sure that Bill Graves at FT would be happy to know that you hold their donations in such low regard.

You should get your facts straight.

[JumpJockey]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glimmerglass:
Simply REPUGNANT!!

I suppose these sob’s would have had all the KHP retirement horses - like Cigar - as dinner long ago. The Brits aren’t perfect but I would bet my last dollar this wouldn’t happen in England by comparison!

I concur that thankfully someone wrote this story as I can only hope that JS Company (the Japanese group that started the spiral downward) will be shunned from any public events and stubbed at any Kentucky stable.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I’m at a loss about the comment on the Brits-- can you elaborate?

[Jaguar]

I fully agree with what has already been stated on this topic,
He won nearly 4 million dollars for his owners and all they could do to thank him was sell him to a country that has long been known to abuse and slaughter animals when their money making use for them is complete? That hardly seems fair and seems quite selfish on the owners behalf.

Mabey this is comming from the fact that no amount of money is worth my horse if i know he is not going to be going to good hands (possibly with a buy-back clause). I just could never imagine sending my horse off somewhere known for such animal cruelty after all he has taught me.

Disgusting in my opinion

“I hope you will grow up to be gentle and good, and never learn bad ways, do your work with good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play.”
-Duchess, Black Beauty, Anna Sewell

[Loose_Horse_No_Halte]

By Glimmerglass- “In the same sense racing is racing and the Brits, as I suggested, aren’t without the same woes that are simply part of racing - yet can you think of anything as egregious having occurred there? Snuffing a former Grand National horse because his off-spring were weak?”

Yes, I can think of a few very public reports of top show horses being snuffed…for insurance purposes. Remember that whole thing on the Chicago 11 (it was 11 wasn’t it? I can’t remember). Tom Burns admitted to several horse murders (Charisma for $250,000., Henry the Hawk for $150,000., Condino for $200,000. etc…) all top jumpers. I think it was Richard Bailey of that group that prosecutors thought killed Hellen Brach (candy fame, racehorse owner). Barney Ward (former Olympic rider) was also accused of killing 4 show horses for insurance.
Sheese, people are ruthless no matter where they come from.

Mark Twain-
If he is useless on top of the ground; he ought to be under it, inspiring the cabbages.

[Alagirl]

Many thoughts…

It is not the bad Japanese People, or Turks…at least they are honest about it!

It is not the little guys who bust their humbs to better the situation.

It is not the foreign owned Slaughter houses - to my information they have higher standarts in animal wellfare and cleanliness than domestic cattle slaughter operations - where we all get our Burgers from.

To a high degree we have to point the fingers at the big guys, laughing all the way to the bank, putting the millions in their account…

I could be wrong, but after one season of covering - say - twenty mares for 30-35 grands a pop, one should figure the stallion has earned enough money for a 401K account! In his name!

Why the Japanese breed horses is beyond me - I would guess they’d better put up a golf course where the farm is and buy some property in Australia…or better yet, just lease the critters for a few seasons!

Time to kick the double standart and face the facts.

[Jane]

After reading the news on bloodhorse monday night, I’ve had a knot in my stomach that I still can’t really discuss how I feel.

In the meantime, here are two articles I thought you guys might be interested:

Business Decisions

Not in Vain

[JER]

The real shame is that a horse who earned about $4 million for his owners couldn’t earn himself a good retirement.