HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — 150 years of the Kentucky Derby will be celebrated at Churchill Downs. Animal rights advocates are arguing what’s viewed as the “most exciting 2 minutes in sports” decreases the quality of life for the animals. A Tri-State woman is helping a national nonprofit give a voice to the horses.
Thousands of people will put their best attire on and head down to the track to place their bets on which horse will cross the line first.
Horseracing Wrongs, a national nonprofit, says while seemingly entertaining, the race is costing horses their lives.
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“We have confirmed and documented with names, dates, locations and details, 10,425 kills at U.S. racks over the past ten years,” says Patrick Battuello, Founder and President of the nonprofit.
He says statistics show 6 race horses lose their lives daily, and in Kentucky, 87 horses died last year.
“These animals are torn from their mothers and herds as mere babies. They’re broken, which is an industry term, meaning to be made pliant and submissive. They are then thrust into an intensive, grinding training regimen years before their bodies are fully mature, leaving many of them with osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease as mere adolescents,” says the founder.