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Monday, March 29, 2010

Penn National announces anti-horse slaughter policy

Seeking to prevent retired racehorses from ending up on dinner plates overseas, North America's largest racetrack operator announced Monday that it will revoke stall privileges for any owner or trainer who knowingly sells a horse for slaughter.

Christopher McErlean, vice president of racing for Penn National Gaming Inc., said the policy will take effect immediately and that the company may also bar individuals entirely from racing at any of the five tracks it owns.

“Penn National Gaming has a long-term commitment to the humane treatment of animals and is opposed to the slaughter of racehorses,” said McErlean. “We need horsemen to become educated and use best efforts and practices in how they manage their equine charges and to act in a responsible way when those athletes no longer are able to race."

McErlean went on to say that the company will assist horsemen’s organizations in promoting and advertising available options for retired thoroughbreds.

Philadelphia Park race track  - the focus of a story I wrote for the Inquirer last week - has had a similar policy in place for the past year.

While it is legal to sell horses for slaughter, there are currently no horse slaughter houses in operation in the United States. Instead, horses are trucked by brokers from auctions to plants in Canada and Mexico. Many unwanted horses from this region - including untold numbers of ex-racehorses and Amish buggy and plow horses - are sold to "kill buyers" at New Holland livestock auction in Lancaster every week and shipped to a slaughter plant in Quebec.

While many in the horse industry support slaughter as an alternative to the fate of unwanted horses who are abandoned or otherwise suffer from neglect and abuse, anti-slaughter advocates are focusing on federal legislation, now under consideration in Congress, that would ban the sale of U.S. horses for slaughter.

Here's the Penn National policy statement: 

 “Any horsemen stabled at a Penn National Gaming, Inc. owned or operated horse racing facility who knowingly, or without conducting proper due diligence, sells a horse for slaughter, directly or indirectly, will have his or her stalls revoked and may, in addition, be barred from all of our racing properties. Penn National Gaming, Inc. requires that horsemen participating at the Company’s racetracks conduct proper due diligence on those buying horses and encourages horsemen participating at Penn National facilities and industry-wide to support rescue and adoption efforts and to seek humane means of dealing with horses unable to continue racing.”

The policy will take immediate effect at Penn National Gaming’s five wholly owned and operated horse racing facilities – Black Gold Casino at Zia Park (Hobbs, NM), Charles Town Races and Slots (Charles Town, WV), Hollywood Casino, Hotel and Raceway (Bangor, ME), Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (Grantville, PA) and Raceway Park (Toledo, OH.) Penn National Gaming also owns Sanford Orlando Kennel Club in Longwood, FL and recently announced plans to acquire Beulah Park in Grove City, OH.


 
Posted by Amy Worden @ 4:04 PM  Permalink | 3 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:57 PM, 03/30/2010
    Thank You for saving these noble animals from slaughter after they worked a good life for you.
    — moneywort
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:11 AM, 04/30/2010
    Dear Ms. Worden, Just wanted to thank you for your article regarding ban on exporting horses for slaughter. It's Derby-season here in KY. And, though I grew up, miles from Lex. track Keeneland… beyond the thrill of the race and some extra money in your pocket it always seemed to me a way of getting broke quick and watching the rich parade. And now, more than ever…as I tsk tsk my husband who's very anti-Derby…and I think of my years (former) years as a vegetarian— I don't think I can abide by racing. Even for sentimentality. Is it that our society doesn't KNOW what to do with these fine animals if we don't have pulling a plow or cart? Why, must we use them for our entertainment…to their own detriment. I pray that the rain that is forecasted doesn't yield injured horses…and that, one day we'll see this sport for the disgraceful parade of wealth and frivolity that it is. It's tough to hold that stance in KY…but I will try. Thanks again.
    — liltruthie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:43 AM, 04/30/2010
    The distraction the slaughter debate offers to the racing industry is one that they have been able to capitalize on successfully. Appearing to be in the best interest of equine welfare is a laudable pursuit but one must ask what their motive? No, I am not one that advocates for the abolishment of racing, but do wonder if the buisness model the industry is based on is a model that reflects the true interests of the horse. I make my living in the equine world and notice disturbing truths regarding the breeding practices of a lot of different breeds and the financial structure that drive this unsustainable model. If the desire for the horse after racing is to find another career, then why are race horses pushed to achieve at such young ages. The resulting injuries, both physical and emotional, have life long reprecusions that make the future viability of almost all ex-racehorses doubtful. The amount of joint damage is probably one of the most severe and limiting of all injouries that is irreversible. An unsound horse is a horse that has very few if any options for living out its life in a productive and qaulitative fashion. Horses are animals that need a purpose. Useful horses are horses that have a vested interest by their owners. The racing industry has no vested interest in most horses after they break their maiden race. All of the financial insentives is to keep the policy over breeding going forward. All one needs to see is the number of stallions that are available for the one purpose. The incentive is for breeders to collect revenue sources from the many different avenues made available to them. Rewards for breeding in certain states, rewards for owning the stallion, rewards for ownng the broodmare, rewards for foaling- all contribute to the push for quick and early financial gains. This short sited buisness model is the primary motive for the overproduction of equine athletes.
    — Peshwar10


3 comments
About Amy Worden
Amy Worden is a politics and government reporter for the Inquirer. In that capacity she has explored a range of animal issues from dog kennel law improvements and horse slaughter to the comeback of peregrine falcons and pigeon hunts. From hamsters to horses, animals have always been part of her life. To pass along a tip or contact Amy, click here.
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