Jun11
ESPN Features PETA's Undercover Investigation of Horse Slaughter in Japan
Posted at 04:40 PM | Permalink
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Comments (18)
Our recent undercover investigation, which revealed exactly what happens to horses abandoned by the coldhearted racing industry, has been picked up by a variety of news outlets, but we were particularly glad to see this piece featured on ESPN's Outside the Lines:
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Maybe now more sports fans will recognize that horse racing is anything but sporting—especially for the thousands of horses who meet tragic ends every year—and perhaps they'll join us in calling for an end to these abuses.
Posted by Jeff Mackey
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Comments
High five ESPN! Horse racing is not a sport it is Animal abuse... plain and simple. People who go to horse shows or bet on races are all just as guilty as those who end the lives of these beautiful animals. Wake up world!
Posted by: carla | June 11, 2009 06:01 PM
There is nothing positive about horse racing. It's an outmoded travesty.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | June 11, 2009 07:58 PM
When will PETA do a story on the many organizations, many of whom are sponsered by the horseracing industry, that work to ensure retired runners find homes and not slaughtered? After all, HSUS estimated that only 10% of slaughtered horses are retired runners, so common sense should dictate that more attention should be paid to the sources of the other 90 percent.
Posted by: B R Manshack | June 11, 2009 08:05 PM
Good for ESPN!
Posted by: Aneliese | June 11, 2009 08:43 PM
Saving the horses from slaughter one by one is all well and good, but how about preventing the greedy practice of surplus/in/overbreeding more horses than the racing industry takes responsibility for, which causes their sale to, and eventual slaughter in, Japan and elsewhere?
Posted by: Elphaba | June 11, 2009 09:43 PM
That is great news. Thank you once again, Peta!
Posted by: lynda downie | June 12, 2009 01:23 AM
I am very happy to see that ESPN had the guts to show this piece and reveal the ugly truth behind horse racing.
Posted by: Phil | June 12, 2009 08:16 AM
Does Peta not realize that many, many people are trying to save horses from slaughter and that racing isnt totally responsible? Quater Horses are the main breed sluaghtered.
Posted by: Majella, Ireland | June 12, 2009 03:20 PM
What do you suppose will happen to the rest of the race horses if you ban racing?
Posted by: Don | June 12, 2009 04:37 PM
Horse racing is horse abuse!
Kudos to PETA for conducting this tragic investigation and kudos to ESPN for bringing it to the attention of their viewers. Abusing animals is not sportsman-like conduct and I will never watch horse racing as long as it still goes on.
Posted by: Tahler | June 12, 2009 05:18 PM
Japan really has an animal abuse problem. Japanese "Noise Musician" Merzbow is a vegan who has dedicated dozens of his CDS to the animal rights movement. They include "Peace For Animals" and "Animal Magnetism." The music is very harsh but it is cathartic.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | June 12, 2009 07:40 PM
As far as I saw, the horse in the video was killed with a captive bolt gun, a humane and painless death.
Perhaps the icky words used sways opinions, but they do not sway me.
Posted by: SQ | June 12, 2009 11:21 PM
SQ. It is still wrong to kill a horse. Period. Humane and painless? Let's try it out on you and see how painless it is. Fool!!!!!!!
Posted by: carla | June 15, 2009 07:13 PM
I have been to many horse races, but had no idea that some of these magnificent animals meet their demise in this manner! I will never look at horse racing the same way again. I cant even look at some parts of the video without getting nauseated. To be blunt here, Japan has a real problem with how they treat animals...ANY animal! Just look at what they are doing to the humpback whales! They make me sick!
Posted by: cynthiaj.gauthier | June 15, 2009 08:06 PM
THANKS ESPN
will send you a thankyou letter.
Posted by: Dave | June 16, 2009 02:29 PM
Carla,
thank you for that well researched and logical response. I am sure convinced now.
Posted by: SQ | June 16, 2009 07:49 PM
I'll have to agree with SQ; ex-race horses are often sold for meat. In Japan, China, Mexico, etc., horse is a common food and used for animal feed too. In fact, horse meat is healthier than beef (and tastier too). So, as long as they are killed humanely, which it looks like they are, then IMO it's not any less terrible than slaughtering and eating cattle.
Posted by: DB | July 24, 2009 05:44 AM
If race horses were trained the PROPER way from the start, before they race, it would be easier to find them a home after they're done racing. It's hard to break a horse from it's old habits, and people ethire don't have the knowledge or don't want to deal with it. I have an ex- race horse and he's a great horse, but it took me and my trainer a couple of years to get him to the point where he is now. If they are trained the proper way (taught manners, the basics of pleasure riding and are given love), more people would buy them when they're done racing.
Posted by: Sarah | August 18, 2009 02:31 AM