Racing Industry Controversy: Horse Deaths Prompt Closure of California Track

Lillian Ghorbani Horse Racing Track in California Is closed Breaking News: Racetrack Closed Following Death Of 21st Horse https://www.peta.org/blog/19-horse-deaths-santa-anita/ Published March 1st 2019 By PETA Author: Zachary Toliver

After the 20th horse died at the Santa Anita racetrack on March 2nd 2019 PETA called the governor to close the track. Three days later when another horse died, the track announced that it would be closing until further notice. On the track many illegal drugs were used. They also used legal medication to mask the soreness of injured horses, which doesn t make the injury go away. This isn t something that is exclusive to this track. Almost every track in the racing industry partakes in these illegal activities to try and win races. Drugged up horses, racing baby horses and racing injured horses are some of the reasons why the casualties at such tracks are so high. Horses need to be checked by vets before they are allowed to race so things like this don t happen. However, vets are easily bribed by rich racehorse owners that want to win some money. Almost everyone in the equestrian industry knows how abusive horse racing is. But to the average non equestrian person it is seen as way to bid on horses and win money. The constant bids raise standards for how fast horses should gallop and to meet these expectations greedy owners drug their horses to make them perform better. When a horse gets injured they need to take time to heal and recover. They should NEVER under any circumstances be put back on the track. But the owners don t have that kind of time if they want to win the next race. So, they put their horses on painkillers to try and numb the pain. They continue to race the injured horses, which make the injuries worse and lead to permanent damage or death. Not to mention that they race horses as young as two years old. This results in terrible development for the young horses, injuries, and death.

This is important to me because I have a horse that I care very much about. She means everything to me and I can t imagine putting her through what those horses have to deal with. I think it is completely unfair that some people treat these horses terribly because they are just animals . If this isn t something you would do to a person I don t think that it should be something you'd do to an animal. In cases where things like this do happen to people someone is always arrested. But in the racing industry that doesn t happen often if at all because of the constant bribing and because they are just horses . So what? This issue is important because animals like humans can feel pain and their abuse should not be profitable. To help we can educate people on the abuse that goes on in not only the equestrian industry but all abuse against animals. Another very easy way to help is by donating to your local animal shelter or horse rescue and rehab facility. Innocent animals are hurt every single day so even if its just a little bit of money its better than nothing. So What?

Is There Bias In This Article And Can We Trust This Source? This article is biased towards animal rights advocates. It mentions that the facility shutting down was the right decision and talks about 20 horses being dead is 20 too many . The source (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world with over 5 million members and supporters. They don t have any major past scandals. They are known for being very one-sided animal advocates so they are very biased but that doesn t alter the facts and information they include in their articles, only the narrative at which it is presented.

CRITICAL QUESTIONS Would you hurt animals because you would financially benefit from it if you did? 1. 2. Should animals be given the same rights as humans? Why or why not? 3. What do you think that race horse owners should change about the way they treat their horses? Or, why should it stay the same?

Thank You! https://www.peta.org/blog/19-horse-deaths-santa-anita/ https://spca.bc.ca/?nab=1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co m%2F http://www.newstride.com/