More Positive Racing News From Mountaineer

[richard burch]

Since nobody has any suggestions I'll throw one out there to get the ball rolling. Feel free to tell me what a dumb idea it is and how it will never work because I expect it.

How about...

In each state where horse racing exists, there is one business, entity, company (whatever) that handles all bodies of any horse that has to be put down in their state. The business will have one headquarters who handles all the individual states. I think having a governing body is better than having everyone playing by different rules. This will be funded by the state tracks and would include thoroughbreds, harness, quarters. If a horse needs to go, they call one place.

Any deaths would include racing, works, sickness and any other reason that a horse has to be put down at a track. That facility can euthanize and take the body for proper burial or cremation. They handle it from beginning to end and record everything including the connections, the reason, the condition of the animal, where it was buried, etc... Careful record keeping can be used so there is not an abuse of this service by shady owners. It may also be informative and this may help in keeping injured horses out of slaughter houses. This isn't going to be a glamorous job but someone will do it.

I'm one who believes in saving horses, not killing them. However if it has to happen then lets do it. People need to step up and stop bullshitting and treat these animals with the respect they deserve.