tb3

At the finish line our hearts pound and our adrenaline races; we wait to blink because so not to miss anything...Ah yes, the fun... the excitement..... it is horse racing at it’s finest...The Kentucky Derby, something all horse owners, trainers and riders strive for but most only dream of... To us, the layman, it is sheer recreation, we enjoy the promos and the pomp and circumstance that not only leads up to it but follows as the Belmont and Preakness approach. The thought of maybe once again we will have a triple crown winner to boast and reminisce about, making each and every one of us feeling like a race horse owner, trainer or jockey... Young and old, rich or poor...the horses provide entertainment that tops all.

After the excitement has waned, these great champion of horses will stay in our conversation as “remember when” and “oh what a horse so and so was”....They will live on in our memories through books, stories told by others who were there, trainers, jockeys, movies and other memorabilia that we will collect and revere. We will smile each time we think of that horse and for some reason that horse will become part of us. We may never have owned, ridden or even placed a $2 bet on the horse but somehow in our hearts we will think of it fondly and wonder which green pasture this amazing steed is grazing in now.

I can speak first hand about this because it has happened to me with a horse named Seattle Slew I remember because I was in Junior High and I went to my first Kentucky Derby party at my friend’s house. Her parents always threw big Derby parties and this year we were old enough to go. Her older brother had all his friends over so we thought hanging out with the older kids was the greatest thing since sliced bread, that is up until the race came on... It was unlike anything I had ever experienced, I felt like that horse was mine and he was running just for me.. I remember cheering him on and the happiness after he won... and that was at age14. When I came home and told my mother she smiled a very soft smile as she looked up at me; I saw something in her eyes...she told me a story about a horse she loved who was in the Kentucky Derby when I was a year old... In comparison to the others, he was a smaller horse but she had always remembered his win and she always held him in her heart....even though she to had never met him face to face. That horse was Northern Dancer. I am sure as you read this, you are thinking back to a race that you watched and thinking ahhh yes I remember a horse and every time I think of horse racing I think of him.

There is much to be said about the wonderful moments those horses etched out for us in the history of racing, but there are nasty facts people do not know. Thousands of horses are slaughtered each week in the US. Most people think it is the old, the sick and the lame that are slaughtered. That is simply untrue. Imagine your shock, as you read this to find out that a son of Seattle Slew at the age of 17, ( horses generally can live 35 years) has been slated to go to slaughter this week. His name is Honor Boy. Also imagine, a granddaughter of Northern Dancer and a descendant of Native Dancer and War Admiral also going to slaughter this week. And did I forget to mention that the mares are pregnant?

Yes, this is the reward we give to the horses that have provided us years and years of recreation, entertainment, love and lest not forget the billions of dollars that is generated through the horse industry. As Americans we are allowing this to happen to our horses....

These three beautiful thoroughbreds are going to slaughter for human consumption... to be brutally slaughtered in one of the three foreign owned slaughterhouses in our country. A group of 4 horse rescue organizations and caring individuals have stepped in quickly and right now are racing against the clock to save these two mares and this Stallion from a horrendous death. As I write this piece calls are being made, pictures are being emailed and pleas are being sent to people everywhere to help these horses....and others. I ask that you do what you can to help.... these horses and many more need your help, there is so much you can do................