Barbaro & Peter Brette at Fair Hills Training Center Exercise Track 2006
"And it's all Barbaro, Undefeated Barbaro on the turn pulls out ahead of Sinister Minister Barbaro turns it on...crossing the finish line by 7 lengths...crowds yelling run barbaro go barbaro run go barbaro...He gives us a surprise performance in a 'no doubt about it' win for the 132d Kentucky Derby." (Kentucky Derby announcer) Saturday May 6, 2006 First Leg of Triple Crown with Preakness and Belmont Stakes to come.
Edgar and barbaro enjoy a cooling off after incredible win. Prior to the Kentucky Derby, Barbaro remained "undefeated 6 for 6." He is the 6th fastest horse in Kentucky Derby History. Webmaster for www.campaigningforbarbaro.com Debra Lopez
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PLEASE READ ALL WISCONSIN CITIZENS & HORSE SUPPORTERS
FROM: Carole, Debra's CoChair http://www.campaigningforbarbaro.com/
ATTN: TO ALL, WE NEED TO CONTACT ALL STATE SENATORS, NOT JUST OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL STATES but those SENATORS on the COMMISSION FOR Commerce, Science, and Transportation where the three related HORSE PROTECTION Acts/Bills/ H. RES 981, S.1915, and HR 503 now reside for upcoming discussion on the Senate Legislative Calendar No. 603 as of September 11, 2006 this was posted but still awaiting when it all goes to the Senate floor to vote. TO SEE THE ENTIRE SENATORS LIST with names, EMAIL ADDRESSES and WEBSITES you can directly write your letters to: CLICK ON THIS LINK PLEASE -
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*NOTE: http://www.saplonline.org/ has created a very unique NEW FEATURE called :
COMPASSION INDEX which will tell you how your SENATORS have voted on pertinent ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES (S.1915) and if they are COSPONSORS; CLICK ON BELOW LINK:
http://capwiz.com/compassionindex/dbq/vote_info
Also can be accessed in MESSAGE 14 and 15 at TIM WOOLEY's DISCUSSION FORUM "ORGANIZING THE STATES FOR THIS MISSION"
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http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
***NOTE: THE ENTIRE LIST is fully displayed (item 16 & 17 at TIM WOOLLEY's DISCUSSION FORUM UNDER ANTISLAUGHTER ISSUES - "ORGANIZING STATES FOR THIS MISSION" (click on the title link)
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TO CONTACT WISCONSIN's STATE SENATORS: Or Above****
You can start by calling and sending your letters from this link below.
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2006_horses_senate
"Until We Can Make A Difference, We'll Continue Campaigning For Barbaro!" campaigningforbarbaro.com "Fans of Barbaro"
Debra
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UPDATE 16: Thursday, September 21, 2006
SENATOR FEINGOLDS RESPONSE
September 13, 2006
Dear Ms. Lopez,
Thank you for contacting me to reiterate your support for S. 1915, the Virgie S. Arden American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. I understand you recently spoke with Erin Meade, a member of my staff, to share your continued support for this legislation.
As you know, the House passed H.R. 503 on September 7, 2006, by a vote of 263 - 146. As I mentioned in my last letter to you, it is unclear if the Senate will take up S. 1915 before the end of the 109th Congress (2005-2006). The bill remains in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which must pass the bill before the full Senate may vote on it. Though I am not a member of this Committee, I have made a note of your thoughts on this issue, and will keep them in mind should the Senate consider this or similar legislation in the future.
I look forward to hearing from you again on this or other issues of concern to you. Thanks again for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Russell D. FeingoldUnited States Senator
"Until We Can Make A Difference, We'll Continue Campaigning For Barbaro!" campaigningforbarbaro.com "Fans of Barbaro"
Debra
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UPDATE 15: Wednesday, September 20, 2006
You can start by calling and sending your letters from this link below.
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2006_horses_senate
"Until We Can Make A Difference, We'll Continue Campaigning For Barbaro!" campaigningforbarbaro.com "Fans of Barbaro"
Debra
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UPDATE 14: Tuesday, September 19, 2006
PLEASE POST A LINK ON YOUR BLOG PAGES http://www.hsus.org/ SO THAT ALL TRAFFIC THAT HITS YOUR BLOG PAGE FROM YOUR STATE CAN EASILY FIND THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO CONTACT THE SENATORS IN YOUR STATE.
I WILL BE CALLING/FAXING/EMAILING, NOT ONLY OUR SENATORS HERE IN WISCONSIN BUT WILL ALSO BE HOUNDING THE MEDIA TO GET THIS STORY TOLD IN OUR AREA SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN LOG ON AND GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.
ANYONE ELSE HERE ON THE TIM WOOLLEY SITE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SET UP THEIR OWN BLOG PAGE IN THEIR STATE AND AND HELP US OUT, DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US. REMEMBER, WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THE SAME REASON. GOD BLESS AND GOD SPEED.
"Until We Can Make A Difference, We'll Continue Campaigning For Barbaro!" campaigningforbarbaro.com
Debra
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UPDATE 13 Friday, September 15, 2006
Debra, WI (DebraWI)
10:51 am
To:
ALL
(102 of 106)
1099.102 in reply to 1099.101
Posted for my Sister in Illinois who has joined our campaign:
Dear Lori:Thank you for relaying your strong opposition to the commercial slaughter of horses and support for S.1915, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (House version H.R. 503). This is a legitimate concern that deserves the attention of the nation's lawmakers. Late last year, Congress made it clear that it does not support the commercial sale of horse meat abroad. During Senate consideration of the annual appropriations bill funding the operations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Robert Byrd (D-WV) offered an amendment to prohibit federal funding of food safety inspections at horse slaughterhouses in the United States, thereby effectively blocking the export of horse meat abroad. The amendment, which I voted for, passed the Senate by a vote of 68 to 29 and was eventually enacted into law. In response, however, the USDA recently announced that it will continue performing inspections at horse slaughterhouses by charging the slaughterhouse companies a fee-for-service beginning March 10, 2006. I view this initiative by the Administration as nothing more than a brazen maneuver to circumvent the clear intent of Congress. In my view, we have two objectives to pursue this session of Congress. First, I stand ready to support Senator Ensign and Byrd in their ongoing effort to insist that USDA stop the inspection of horse meat for export. Second, Congress should also turn its attention to the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S.1915), a bill authored by Senator Ensign that would prohibit the shipping, transporting, purchasing, selling or donation of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption, and S. 576, a bill authored by Senator Byrd, that would restore the prohibition on the commercial sale and slaughter of wild free-roaming horses and burros. S. 1915 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. S. 576, of which I am a cosponsor, was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Resources. While I am not a member of either panel, I will continue to encourage my colleagues who do serve on these committees to undertake timely consideration of these proposals. Again, thank you for contacting me about the need for federal action on the horse slaughter issue. Please stay in touch.
Sincerely, Barack ObamaUnited States Senator
"Until We Can Make A Difference, We'll Continue Campaigning For Barbaro!" campaigningforbarbaro.com "Fans of Barbaro"
Debra
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UPDATE 12: Wednesday, September 13, 2006
MEMO: Made several phone calls to Aides of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska who is Chairman for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. He is already a cosponsor of S.1915 and is trying to get that and HR 503 off the table and onto the Senate floor for voting on both Bills. Will be speaking to him soon and relay additional information as it becomes available.
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UPDATE 11: Tuesday, September 12, 2006
From: http://forums.prospero.com/timwoolley/messages/?msg=1099.1
Debra, WI (DebraWI)
8:57 pm
To: ALL YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE*****************
1099.1 OK ALL OF YOU "FANS OF BARBARO" (BARBARO AMBASSADORS) FOR CAMPAIGNINGFORBARBARO.COM - WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW MORE THAN EVER TO HELP WIN THE WAR AGAINST HORSE SLAUGHTER IN AMERICA!!!!!!
AS YOU ALL NOW KNOW, THE JACKSONS WILL BE LEADING THE WAY AND WILL BE PROVIDING US WITH MORE INFORMATION VIA THE TIM WOOLLEY SITE. THE JACKSON'S WOULD LIKE US TO USE "FANS OF BARBARO" OR "BARBARO FANS" VS. BARBAROMANIACS.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE FROM EACH STATE CALLING/FAXING/EMAILING THEIR SENATORS.
PLEASE POST A LINK ON YOUR BLOG PAGES http://www.hsus.org/ SO THAT ALL TRAFFIC THAT HITS YOUR BLOG PAGE FROM YOUR STATE CAN EASILY FIND THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO CONTACT THE SENATORS IN YOUR STATE.
I WILL BE CALLING/FAXING/EMAILING, NOT ONLY OUR SENATORS HERE IN WISCONSIN BUT WILL ALSO BE HOUNDING THE MEDIA TO GET THIS STORY TOLD IN OUR AREA SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN LOG ON AND GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.
ANYONE ELSE HERE ON THE TIM WOOLLEY SITE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SET UP THEIR OWN BLOG PAGE IN THEIR STATE AND AND HELP US OUT, DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US. REMEMBER, WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THE SAME REASON. GOD BLESS AND GOD SPEED.
"Until We Can Make A Difference, We'll Continue Campaigning For Barbaro!" campaigningforbarbaro.com
Debra
REMINDER MEMO: TO ALL BARBARO FANS
WE HAVE A SPECIAL SPOT TO HELP KEEP STATE SENATORS LETTERS SO WE KNOW WHO ELSE NEEDS TO BE CONTACTED
1099.3 in reply to 1099.1
News/views/success from all "Fans of Barbaro"
http://barbaro-ambassador-news.blogspot.com/
"Until We Can Make A Difference, We'll Continue Campaigning For Barbaro!" campaigningforbarbaro.com
Debra
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UPDATE 10: Thursday, September 7, 2006There is a new Video Tribute to Tim Woolley Racing in our TEAM LINKS specifically dedicated to Tim and Alex for all their efforts and hard work in allowing their DISCUSSION FORUM to be a focal point in our combined efforts as ONE BARBARO TEAM with many different Barbaro groups coming together to work hard on the HR503 and HR1615 bills. THANK YOU BOTH FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE -- FROM ALL OUR USA TEAM BARBARO AMBASSADORS -- we could not have done it without you!!!
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UPDATE 9: Thursday, September 7, 2006
Today is the big day! Know how hard everyone has been working behind the scenes to help make a difference for Barbaro and all American Horses. Let's pray that Washington LISTENS!!! "We the people are for the people and our horses! We come together as Barbaro Ambassadors all of us, be it Barbaromaniacs, Barbaro Nation, Barbaro fans, Barbaro Forum supporters, and concerned groups. We are all citizens supporting ONE CAUSE that will protect our American Heritage for future generations! God Bless -Debra; as we all campaign for Barbaro "until we make a difference" THANK YOU ALL!!! Next it will be onto US RACING TRACK issues this upcoming week...www.campaigningforbarbaro.com
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UPDATE 8: Thursday, September 7, 2006
BELOW IS HSUS UPDATE ON PHOTOS TAKEN YESTERDAY at Washington D.C. rally where hundreds lined the streets and walks supporting the preservation of our American Horses...more can be found by clicking on the link below:
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/rally_for_horses.html
*****Additional statistics for HSUS can also be viewed at New Hampshire's Barbaro Ambassadors Web Page (Click on left side posts link for NH)
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UPDATE 7: Thursday, September 7, 2006
From Debra:
Spoke with Paul Ryan for at least 30 minutes early yesterday 7:30 am. He has been sitting on the fence regarding the Anti-slaughter Bill HR503 issue. Hopefully, I have made an impact for today's review and voting on the bill.
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UPDATE 6 Wednesday, September 6, 2006
FROM CHRISTIAN:
*** HR 503 Press Conference, Jacksons will speak***Lead cosponsors of the bill, Reps. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY), Rep. John Spratt (D-NC) and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) will hold a press conference Tuesday, September 5th at 11:30 pm in room 121 of the Cannon House Office Building. Please note that this is a change from the original announcement that the press conference would be held at 1:30 in room HC-8 of the Capitol.Several owners of Kentucky Derby winners, including the owner of Barbaro, will speak. Respected Texas oilman Boone Pickens and his wife Madeleine, a longtime horsewoman, will also be heard.The bill, in one form or another, has been bottled up in the House Agriculture Committee at least nine years. The bill has over 200 bipartisan cosponsors, with scores of other members committed to vote for its passage.(I suspect it's a.m., not p.m.)
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UPDATE 5 Tuesday, September 5, 2006
From Debra TO ALL : Posted the following link below for Shelley's comments at Tim Woolley's Discussion Forum
http://forums.delphiforums.com/timwoolley/messages/?msg=822.1
Hi Everyone,
We had a great seminar on how to meet with out legislators. Got a lot of good information on how to follow through with this. If it passes on Thursday, I'll be a real pro to handle the senate!!
They separated us into states. Only 4 people from PA!!! They want us to combine our meetings tomorrow with everyone from that state instead of individual meetings. So I have a meeting with Senator Spector at noon and Senator Santoum's office at 2PM. I've already met with my congressman.
There are people here from Florida and Texas as well as many other states and they will be "walking the halls" tomorrow afternoon also.
The information that you are all waiting for won't be available until tomorrow. The buses are picking us up for the rally at 8:45AM. After the rally, we are meeting in a room at the Capital and will be given packets of information that will include who is co-sponsoring and who is against this bill.
In the meantime, keep those e-mails and faxes going. I probably won't be home until tomorrow night and I'll try to get those names out to you as soon as I can. Call in day is not until Wednesday so it should be fine.
Here's the suggestion......ask your congressman to vote yes on Thursday. But ask your senators to be co-sponsors cause there's still time for that. Also, ask the senators to make sure, if it is passed on Thursday, that the senate will bring it to a vote BEFORE their next recess in October. That's very important.
Also, ask them all to vote on the original bill WITHOUT the amendments. Be polite, not threatening, and make it a little personal if you can.
We even had role playing in the class tonight with the instuctor being the congressman and senator!! There were about 100 people there tonight.
That's about it for now from DC......I'll have my computer on for a while so if you have any questions, let me know.
(Posted by Shelley.)
UPDATE 4: Monday, September 4, 2006
WISCONSIN AMBASSADOR & TIM WOOLLEY's FORUM JOIN FORCES
Shelley A. (Barbaromaniac/Barbaro Nation) has agreed to assist USA TEAM BARBARO AMBASSADORS in keeping everyone uptodate on the lobbying efforts for passing bill HR 503 to save our American Horses from Slaughter. As mentioned earlier she will relay to Christian who will act as backup and forward information as it becomes available to Alex at Tim Woolley's who has done a tremendous amount of work to protect horses in the anti-slaughter campaign. Sincerest Thanks to Alex for everything he is doing and allowing networking through his special Discussion Forum at www.timwoolleyracing.com.
Tonight we should see Shelley safely there in DC.
From:
ShelleyA1551
Sep-3 11:27 pm
To:
Debra, WI (DebraWI)
Debra,
I'm taking my computer and will start subject "Information from DC"on this forum tomorrow night to pass on any relevant information after meeting with the lobbyists. They are having a workshop at 5:15 so I'll be leaving in the morning to get there in time.
I've already notified Alex asking him to keep an eye out for my post and to please put a link on updates for people not familiar with navigating the forum.
Even have it covered in case of computer problems. Will call Christian to post if I am unable to do so.
This is all new to me.....have never gone to a rally in my life and don't know DC. This should be quite an adventure on my own!!
I seem quite organized, huh? The key word here is SEEM!
Shelley
From:
Debra, WI (DebraWI)
Sep-3 11:37 pm
To:
ShelleyA1551
Awesome Shelley!
Good Luck and God Speed. Wish I could be there as well.
"Until We Can Make A Difference, We'll Continue Campaigning For Barbaro!" campaigningforbarbaro.com
Debra
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UPDATE3: Saturday, September 2, 2006
From Tim Woolley Forum Area:
From GinernHoney:
"We are so happy to report that as of tonight, all 230+ congressmen/women who are not sponsors of HR 503have been contacted regarding the anti-horse slaughter bill, which we anticipate is scheduled for a vote on September 7.
This undertaking began approximately two weeks ago, and consisted of calling and faxing / e-mailing/ writing each congressperson. The FAQ / Fact sheet we included seems to have made a positive impact, if the comments of some of the legislative aides are any indication.
Those of us involved in this campaign wish to thank Alex for providing the forum which has enabled us to network with so many helpful people and their great ideas. It is our hope that the efforts of everyone who have come together because of Barbaro, will contribute to the House passing this humane legislation, bringing us one step closer to our goal of abolishing horse slaughter in the U.S. (Look out Senate here we come!)"
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UPDATE 2: Friday, September 1, 2006
To everyone,
www.campaigningforbarbaro.com is seeking Barbaro Ambassadors and other Volunteers to help campaign for Barbaro.
Barbaro has set his example as he never quits. We can't quit on Barbaro. We are stronger in numbers.
Please visit campaigningforbarbaro.com and send us your contact information saying "YES! I WANT TO HELP."
Currently, we are looking for Volunteers from all fifty states to gather every track name and report the President/GM contact information including their email.
***(MEMO: Please keep in mind there are now 27 fatal breakdowns at Arlington Park as of August 24, 2006)
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***As of August 31, 2006 there is a change to location link for Daily Herald article recently archived dated August 11, 2006 titled:
"Horseman, Track Executives Speak Out on Highly
Publicized Breakdowns...(at Arlington Park)"...by Mike
Spellman & John Leusch
"It's the question everyone's been asking. What the heck is going on at Arlington Park this year?...An increase in breakdowns - 16 of them during races in the first 2 months of the season (& 22 overall, including training workouts) - put officials at Arlington on the defensive as they tried to answer. Despite 3 separate track inspections, noone has come up with a definitive explanation.
Since July 2, however, there have been only 2 breakdowns during competition covering 23 racing days.
The Daily Herald sat down with a panel of 11 horsemen to discuss the situation, the impact it has on their industry, and what might be done to improve things as Arlington heads into its biggest weekend of the season.
Q: All right, here we go. What's your view of the breakdowns? And are they being overplayed by the media?
BLOCK: Yes, Absolutely.
CAMPBELL: But you've still got to deal with the numbers. I agree with Chris. It's a shame that we have this. It's always going to be a part of racing.
There is no sadder thing to a horse trainer to look up at the racetrack and see that your horse has broken down or another person's horse has broken down. At the same time, I think it's astonished all of us who are part of this, and I don't think anyone has the answer.
If the future proves that synthetic tracks reduce the number of catastrophic breakdowns or injuries to horses, and given the fact that the owners are forced to constantly pay more for the horses and the upkeep and the training, I think that it's only prudent that every racetrack in the country take a look at this and install it if it proves to be that way.
Q: What are the reasons for the breakdowns? Is it just bad luck? Is it track surface? Is it running horses too often?
GREELY: I don't think it's running horses too often because you look back at the numbers - the days inbetween races for these horses. No horse ran less than 14 days prior to that, so that's not an issue.
MELLON: We're not running them any more often than we've done, an average every 3 weeks to a month.
BLOCK: On a daily basis, I'll talk to different jockeys, and not one of them will tell you there's anything wrong with this track. To say that there is something, I don't think anybody here at this table can tell you that. I've said this in the press and I'll say it again, (track superintendent) Javier (Barajas) - you're not going to find a harder working guy out there. He does the best he can possibly do. And, I believe Arlington has taken a proactive role in trying to reassure us that the track is safe.
Is there something wrong with it? Boy, you'd sure want to think so by watching what's happened. But you can't get anybody here to tell you what is wrong with the track. Other than the same words you hear - it's too hard, it's too fast. That goes on at practically every track in the country.
CAMPBELL: My son (Jesse) is a fourth-leading race rider here, and he said in his estimation there is nothing wrong with the dirt course.
He wanted me to point this out. He said if he as a criticism about any part of the racetrack out here, it would be the grass is maybe cut too short and it's not watered frequently enough, but other than that he said the track is flawless.
His colleagues say the same thing, and they're adamant about that point of view.
Q: Anyone else?
LITTLE: I'm a practicing veterinarian, and there's been a lot of issues about whether it's a horsemanship problem or a veterinary regulatory problem.
We've seen a lot more breakdowns at this racetrack than we do at, say, Fairmount Park (in Collinsville, IL near St. Louis, MO). I would generally say that the horsemanship would be higher here, with professional trainers, here - people who've got more years of experience. You've got a lot of people there at Fairmount who train horses in the morning and go to a different job. I don't think you can pin it on poor horsemanship.
And, I think it's a general consensus you could bring in 50 top veterinarians in the country and have them see the horses every day here and you wouldn't reduce the number of breakdowns by one horse...
All this talk about being short veterinarians is crap. There are actually more veterinary inspections going on now. But you cannot get a horse out of the stall in the morning, take a cursory glance at him, do all the exams you want on him - physical exams - we can't find the sort of problems that cause catastrophic breakdowns.
Q: Does the breeding of horses nowadays lead to this more because they're bred for speed?
BLOCK: The industry seems to be breeding what I would term a softer horse. They don't seem to be as tough and durable as they used to be.
The 2-year-old colts in training sales have really put a real spin on the industry. Those horses are pushed to a limit they shoul not be pushed to - to achieve a fast, fast time to bring a large price. And to me, it's just ridiculous going to those sales to see those horses. First, it used to be if they breezed in 12 seconds it was OK. Then it was 11, now it's 10. And, now it's 9 and change out in California.
It's ridiculous! It's pushing these horses to a point where they're near the end of the gene pool, and then they come into the racing industry to the racetracks as 2-year-olds and they've already been beaten up.
I believe if you did the research and looked into it, the amount of corrective surgeries done to those young horses just to get them to the sales would be astronomical.
Q: How many horses on any given day are out there racing that shouldn't be on the track?
BLOCK: None.
ELY: None.
Q: None?
ELY: What do you think we are, morons? Who's going to lead a horse there that's not coming back?
Not even the guys that you put in the category of having disproportionate number of breakdowns don't intentionally lead them over there not coming back.
CASSITY: You've got to remember one thing. Everybody that owns a horse, every horse that runs at any racetrack in America is owned by somebody that's put up a captital investment for that animal. Do you personally know anybody that walks outside of their house and takes $10,000.00 and sets it on fire or sets it into the wind?
BERMAN: I'll say one thing that bothers me as an owner. I do this because I enjoy it and I love the sport. I've got friends and neighbors and family who have no interest in horse racing at all. And, the only time I ever hear about horse racing from them is when the Kentucky Derby is coming up.
What do I like in the Derby? - something like that. Now, I've got neighbors and friends who know nothing about horse racing, don't even care about it, and they come up to me and ask, "What's going on with the horses. what's going on with these breakdowns, what are they doing to these poor horses?
Q: What do you tell them?
BERMAN: I tell them our horses are treated better than probably any animal you can imagine. They get the best care; they enjoy what they're doing. We would never do anything to abuse these horses, and I tell them it's probably just a statistical anomoly here. A certain percentage are going to break down. It happens. It's just a bad year.
But it troubles me that the public, who may be somebody that the legislators are trying to appease when they're deciding whether to pass laws to help the industry - people who maybe never had an interest in this or never would have said anything - now might have negative feelings about the horse racing industry. Hopefully, that doesn't affect future legislation that is aimed to help the industry.
FEDRO: But that does affect future owners and people that could get interested in the sport.
BLOCK: Absolutely.
BERMAN: People look at me and say. "You're involved in this sport that abuses these animals." I say, "No, these animals are taken care of beyond what you can imagine."
I'd like to see Arlington be a little more aggressive in promoting the sport and in controlling the situation instead of reacting to what's going on. I'd like to see them make the news rather than become the news.
I'm seeing horse racing on TV and the news all the time and it's negative. You look at papers from the 40's and 50's and horse racing was on the front page of the sports section. Now, you get a little tiny column and in some of the papers you don't get a column at all.
CASSITY: But that's not the racetrack's control.
GREELY: That's what the media chooses to print. There's plenty of good stuff...
BERMAN: I saw a TV news story the other night and they interviewed a racing fan, an owner who was disgruntled. I didn't see anybody from the racetrack on there saying"this is what we're doing and this is what we're planning."
CASSITY: But sir, to be honest with you, the media has put individual horseman, the ITHA, the Illinois Racing Board, Arlington Park in a defensive posture.
If it hadn't been for BARBARO (seriously injured in the Preakness), you would not have one reporter here this year about any horse breaking down. We had this anomoly in 2003 and not one time did anybody from the Daily Herald or the Tribune come out here and say "What is wrong with the racetrack?"
Where racing is popular in the media - even the press in Southern California has been proactive with Del Mar - and they've killed 9 in eight racing days.
Q: How have they been pro-active?
CASSITY: They're not knocking what they're doing. Let me tell you something. In the past five years, the Daily Herald is the only newspaper in Chicago that has remotely tried to cover horse racing in a favorable light or give it the attention that it's due.
The Trib and the Sun Times? They don't care about racing. What they care about is just like what Rick Telander did as a columnist on July 19th - to slam and brutalize...
BLOCK: I've been asked "Why is this happening?" I don't know how many times, and I've told them every time: "We're never going to know," and it's getting more press than you could possibly imagine as BARBARO stands out in the stall, New Bolton Center, with a leg that's got multiple fractures in it.
We're never going to know why that horse broke his leg. Never, ever going to know. I know why: It's horse racing and it happens, unfortunately.
LITTLE: The story though, too, is that horse is still alive. I get that from people every day. They ask me how can you put those animals down?Gosh, I hardly ever do that. And, we have 2 surgical facilities here within 20 - 25 minutes of the racetrack where we do, and they're both pretty full. We do surgeries every week, and there's major referral centers just a few hours away where surgeries are done every day on race horses right here that get little injuries here and there - big injuries - where they go through arthroscopic and other types of surgeries, the horses get rest. And, they come back and they have long, successful racing careers after that.
CAMPBELL: I think as an industry, when we get these situations - that are very negative situations from the public's point of view - that we learn to be extremely pro-active immediately.
What Arlington's stand should hve been is "We're going to do whatever it takes. We're going to stop horse racing if necessary. We're going to peel back this track in its entirety and lay it back down even though there is nothing wrong with the track." And, there is nothing wrong with the track. I will make that statement.
Now, we're in the grips of something that looks like it's getting worse every day. And I don't believe it is. It is some sort of occurrence that is for whatever reason taking place.
GREELY: Well, it's not getting worse every day. Because there were 8 horses breaking down in May, 10 in June, and 4 in July.
CAMPBELL: But anything now gives that appearance. When really, in fact, it's not.
Q: Did the track itself get peeled back on the inspection?
GREELY: We peeled back between the half mile pole and the quarter pole. If you did the whole track, then you would lose racing dates and you would lose more money.
CAMPBELL: Whatever it takes to protect the integrity of racing.
GREELY: If it was horses going down in every race and a big, big problem, of course we would have done that immediately.
Q: Would Hawthorne have done that?
MILLER: We have a little bit different capability than Arlington does because we do strip it down every yeaer for a harness meet. So, we get all the way down to that limestone base and are able to inspect it. At the same time, our track is smaller than Arlington's so the time to do it - strip it back - isn't lengthy.
I agree with Kevin. When you're in the midst of a meet, if that's something where that's the issue at hand and that's what needs to be done. Of course, the tracks are going to step up and do what's best. But like everybody here has said, you haven't had a single rider say this is pat of where it's bad, or this is what's wrong with the track.
It could be one of a million of things that could be happening. So until you can pinpoint it to one thing, you have to kind of go off what's happening.
Q: What do your jockeys say about all this stuff?
FITCH-HAYES: I work with Jesse (Campbell) and he doesn't have a problem with the track.
But everybody's talking about Polytrack and I don't think that's the answer either because a lot of horses at Turfway go there and train on it and they don't want to run on it. I don't think Polytrack is the answer everywhere.
I know some people that shipped to Kentucky and hated the surface. The Turfway surface is going to be a little different at Keeneland. I'll be interested to see what Keeneland does with only 6 weeks of racing a year.
BLOCK: I think there's such a thing that if it's implemented correctly and taken care of properly, it's probably safer.
But the concern I have is you won't have the bias, and I'm afraid it's going to push bettors in the wrong direction. I've heard that through different people that played Turfway this past winter.
We have to keep those guys in mind, because they're the ones that are putting the purse money up.
CASSITY: Twice in this country we've tried alternative surfaces and it failed miserably both times. The tartan surface in South Florida and when Remington was built they used a thing called Equitrack and they both bombed huge.
I visited Turfway, but until we have more data, I don't think it's fair to ask somebody to make...in a conservative estimate here at Arlington Park, with a mile and an eighth race track, 80 feet wide all the way around, plus you have to do the bridle paths. You're looking at somewhere between $10 million to $12 million to do it.
Listen, if it works and it continues to work, then you have a discussion like this and you say why aren't we doing it? Until that time, there needs to be further study done on it.
CAMPBELL: The plain fact of the matter is, 3 catastrophic injuries this year at Turfway Park.
CASSITY: I understand that, but guess what? Fairmont Park is the bottom of the barrel and they've had, through Saturday, 3 catastrophic breakdowns. And that's the worst horses imaginable.
CAMPBELL: But at Turfway the year before, there was something like 100, and with lesser fields. So you really have to take a look at it.
Q: Regardless, if you've gone a month or two without injury, the next time you do it's going to be all over the newspapers again. What do you do?
BLOCK & CAMPBELL: That's the problem...
GREELY: That's the paper's problem...
BLOCK: It's going to happen. I hope it doesn't, but that's racing. And, the next morning it's going to be everywhere. It's going to be on the TV...It's gotten so far out of control.
You guys have got a job to do and the press has a job to do. I understand that, but some of the TV stations I've listened to , boy, it's just brutal listening to what they have to say.
CAMPBELL: We're trying to stop the sensationalism...because that is what is amounts to."
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New Breakdowns at Arlington Park: UPDATE AUGUST 31, 2006
As of August 27, 2006 THERE ARE NOW 27 FATAL BREAKDOWNS At ARLINGTON PARK in CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THE 3 NEW ONES now include OUR MOMENTO, BIG ATTLET, and GRINGA HUG on Arlington's reportedly 'SAFE TRACK.' (Updated August 31, 2006)
TO VIEW ARTICLE in its entirety: CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:
CBS NEWS VIDEO ON ARLINGTON BREAKDOWN
(Please Click on VIDEO TITLE BELOW TO SEE IT)
A Summer of Death & Injury At Arlington Racetrack
EXCERPT: Jim and Joanne Patten have had 3 horses seriously injured at Arlington Park Racetrack with Just Ducky having to be put down. They claim the racetrack has ruined their family horse business...Lorna Propes, Illinois Horseracing Commissioner is conducting a new investigation into a continuing rash series of horse fatalities now up to 27 as of this past weekend (August 27, 2006). Please keep in mind, the video with gruesome footage was done July 31, 2006. (written & edited by Debra & Cle)
May contact Debra directly in contact section for additional information @www.campaigningforbarbaro.com (Contact section)
UPDATE 1: Monday, August 28, 2006
Matching contribution of $100.00 will be donated to The Barbaro Fund by Wisconsin Volunteers in form of gift certificate...
"I had an employee leaving to become a screenwriter (his dream). So, we took him out for dinner to bid him fairwell and good luck. I wished him so much success. As we were having our dinner, one of the employees bought a couple of scratch tickets and CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, THE TICKET HAD A PRIZE OF $100.00...Here's the best part...the winner was me and I said, 'Let's give this to the Barbaro Fund. Wasn't that wonderful?'" (by Debra).
UPDATE 2: Sunday, August 27, 2006
Hello everyone,
On the campaign trail working very hard today and Tammy Baldwins press secretary gave me a heads up on an easier way for us to find out who Cosponsors H.R. 503.
Please keep in mind that there were some state reps/senators who also are going to support however, their names were'nt on this list as this list was last updated (I believe) on 7/26/06. At least you can see who already will be cosponsoring which helps so that you can go on to the next reps who are not on this list.
Good Luck and God Speed. Here it is:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00503:@@@P
Also, check out the response from REP MARK GREEN'S PRESS SECRETARY BELOW:
Here is a statement from Congressman Green. Thanks for the chance to respond and let me know if you need anything else from me.
"For hundreds of years, horses have been an important part of the American range. They are symbolic of our heritage and deserve a place in our nation's vast wilderness lands. Coming from northeastern Wisconsin, home to an array of beautiful wildlife and wilderness, I realize how important it is to protect our precious natural resources. In order to restore the ban on slaughtering horses, it is imperative that Congress enact H.R. 503, the "American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act," legislation I've cosponsored and avidly support."
Kirsten A. Kukowski
Press Secretary
Congressman Mark Green (WI-8)
Phone: 202-225-5665
Pager: 800-759-8888 PIN 1754041
UPDATE 1: Sunday, AUGUST 27, 2006
From today's Daily Racing Form:
"Two more horses euthanized The number of horses euthanized at Del Mar this summer because of injuries while racing or training has risen to 16. On Tuesday, Ojai Summer was euthanized after suffering a hock injury in Monday's fourth race, trainer Lewis Cenicola said. On Wednesday, Kedington was euthanized after sustaining an ankle injury during a workout, trainer Rafael Becerra said. Cenicola said an effort was made to save Ojai Summer overnight on Monday before she was put down. A 3-year-old, she was making her career debut in a sprint for maiden claimers and finished last. Kedington won 7 of 32 starts and $269,312. A 7-year-old gelding, Kedington had not started since finishing fifth in a $20,000 claimer at Santa Anita last March. He was second in the $250,000 California Cup Classic in 2003. In recent months, Kedington had been trained by Doug O'Neill and Becerra, who resumed training Kedington last month. Kedington was three furlongs into a workout when the injury occurred, Becerra said. Injuries have plagued this meeting since it opened on July 19. On July 22, track officials and horsemen met to discuss the injuries that occurred in the first week. At the meeting, officials said that track superintendent Steve Wood would be adding sand to the track regularly. The application of sand has continued, according to director of racing Tom Robbins. "He's been doing that on a nightly basis," Robbins said. Since the meeting opened, Robbins said that approximately 100 horses have been shipped out of the barn area. The stable area has a capacity of 2,200. Robbins said the injuries are a major concern to track officials. "We all know this is the worst thing that can happen," Robbins said. "We all know that there are many contributing factors." ************************************************************* Note: Del Mar still HAS NOT POSTED the Vet's List on its website.
UPDATE: Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Barbaro Ambassador News, Views, & Successes
3 Comments:
Debra, WI said...
Have contaced some of our state Reps in regard to HR503.
Here's some responses thus far;
Dear Ms. Lopez:Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I value the correspondence I get from people back home in Wisconsin and would like to take this opportunity to address your concerns. Senator John Ensign (R-NV) introduced S.1915, the "Virgie S. Arden American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act," on October 25, 2005.
The Act would amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.
You will be pleased to know that Senator Ensign offered a version of this legislation last year during consideration of the Fiscal Year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill. After considerable back-and-forth with opponents, we were successful in including a horse slaughter prohibition in the final bill and I was pleased to play a role in that effort.None of us likes to hear about the mistreatment of animals.
I believe that the government has a responsibility to protect animals from being subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering and I will continue to support legislative efforts to prevent animals from being exposed to such cruelty. Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I appreciate knowing your thoughts on this very important issue.
Sincerely,
Herb Kohl
U.S. Senator
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Debra, WI said...
Here's another Response from one of our State Reps;
Dear Ms. Lopez,
Thank you for contacting me to reiterate your support for legislation to ban the slaughter of horses. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.As you know, I supported an amendment to the fiscal year 2006 agriculture appropriations bill that prohibited the use of federal funds for the inspection of horses being slaughtered for human consumption. This amendment was passed and was included in the final agriculture appropriations bill.
You mentioned your support for H.R. 503, a bill to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption. This bill was recently reported out with a favorable recommendation by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
It was also reported out by the House Committee on Agriculture, though with an unfavorable recommendation. Like you, I have heard that the House is expecting to vote on H.R. 503 sometime in September. It remains unclear, however, if the Senate will take up the companion bill, S. 1915, before the end of the 109th Congress (2005-2006).
I will certainly keep your support for this legislation in mind should either bill come before the full Senate. Thanks again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to do so in the future about any issue of importance to you.
Sincerely,
Russell D. Feingold
United States Senator
***********************
Debra, WI said...
One more response, not so favorable;
Debra,
Below is a comment from Congressman Paul Ryan regarding H.R. 503.
This was in response to your inquiry last week about his views on this legislation.
Thank you, again, for contacting us about this issue. Best wishes,Kate Matus Press Secretary Office of Congressman Paul RyanFirst District, Wisconsin 202-226-7326.
The statement from Congressman Ryan is as follows:
"While I share your disgust at the idea of horses being slaughtered, I am also mindful of the fact that this bill (H.R. 503) could set a troubling precedent when it comes to government taking away citizens' private property rights. I am still reviewing the details of the legislation, but at this point I don't think that I could support it because of its potential to have a broader impact on citizens' property rights," Ryan said. "I believe there must be better ways to discourage the sale of horses for their meat and to promote respectful treatment of these animals."
