ESPN will air a special segment of E:60, Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 7 pm, on the slaughter of racehorses taking place in the Miami area of Florida to supply the black market demand for horse meat for human consumption.
“Inside the Horse Meat Black Market” airs the week of the Kentucky Derby to draw attention to the plight of the percentage of racehorses who end their days illegally slaughtered.
The E:60 special will highlight the dramatic rescue of Freedom’s Flight by Richard “Kudo” Couto during undercover operations that exposed these horrific crimes, eventually leading to a state law criminalizing the slaughter of horses in this manner. Freedom’s Flight is a Thoroughbred racehorse and grandson of the legendary Secretariat.
Still largely unknown to the public and described as racing’s “dirty secret”, a portion of Thoroughbreds too slow or no longer fit to race are cast off by their owners and trainers and sent to slaughter in licensed plants to supply horse meat to gourmet diners in Europe and Japan.
Kudo is the founder and president of ARM, the Animal Recovery Mission, and a volunteer for the South Florida SPCA. As of September 1, 2010, Kudo has been instrumental in shutting down more than 75 farms illegally butchering horses for human consumption. The fight continues with 150 known farms remaining, according to ARM’s website.
E:60 is ESPN’s prime-time newsmagazine featuring profiles, investigations and cutting-edge stories on emerging and established sports. E:60 airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN through May 10.
horses are wonderful companions ,and do NOT deserve to be sent to slaughter in vile places ,something needs to be done ,to stop this ,end the murder of these beautiful animals,no checks if they are stolen ,had drugs,missing ,its disgusting!!!!!! stabbing them to death in mexico ,i have seen the videos of the sick men who seem to enjoy murdering these horses ,they need to be locked up ,end it now ,shut down mexico slaughter plant !!!!!!
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It will be repeated. However, you will have to check your local listings. The video is not up on the ESPN E:60 site.
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I was in a restaurant and they had this show on – but no sound. It was NOT dinner table fodder, but I’d like to see it and hear it at another time – when I’m not eating. Does anyone know if or when it will be on again?
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Alright, so this video really doesn’t look legit and I have this question for you…..What else would you rather do with unwanted horses? Have you looked at the horse market right now? For the most part, its down the drain because of the ban on horse slaughter. In other countries, horses are another protein source, just like beef and pork are in the US. Its just another source of protein. Horses aren’t seen as companion animals like they are here. I know this is bad and what not, and if this video is legit, it should be regulated, like it used to be before it was banned in the US. If slaughter is regulated the same as USDA plants for cattle and pigs, what is the problem? Its humane and quiet and is over quickly without suffering. That’s my two cents.
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Please read the many alternatives to horse slaughter at https://tuesdayshorse.wordpress.com/resources/alternatives-to-horse-slaughter/. Investigations have shown that no matter how regulated, the conditions remain cruel and inhumane. There are too many horrors to recount here. Please see Horse Slaughter Fact Sheet at http://www.horsefund.org/horse-slaughter-fact-sheet.php and FAQs at http://www.horsefund.org/horse-slaughter-faq.php. For images with descriptions plus links to video investigations please see http://www.horsefund.org/horse-slaughter-images.php.
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I think if a humane method is used, horse slaughter is fine. There are too many unwanted/unneeded horses, and it’s just too hard to find homes for all of them. IMO, it’s better to put them down. And if the meat is used for human consumption, that doesn’t bother me any more than eating chicken, pork, beef, etc. I personally would probably not eat horse, but I won’t put down the people who do.
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Please read the many alternatives to horse slaughter at https://tuesdayshorse.wordpress.com/resources/alternatives-to-horse-slaughter/. Investigations have shown that no matter how regulated, the conditions remain cruel and inhumane. There are too many horrors to recount here. Please see Horse Slaughter Fact Sheet at http://www.horsefund.org/horse-slaughter-fact-sheet.php and FAQs at http://www.horsefund.org/horse-slaughter-faq.php. For images with descriptions plus links to video investigations please see http://www.horsefund.org/horse-slaughter-images.php.
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This jus makes me sick. A proud donor to ASPCA, PETA and the Humane Society of the US makes me want to put all people involved in prison. This is sooo inhumane.
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I would like to see “All” “Horses” “Wild Mustangs” and “Domestic Horses” and Race Horses” protected from Kill Buyers at Auction Houses on US soil to be sold only to private parties (families) or rescue groups…it is not legal in the US to Slaughter Horses, so why do we have a loophole that lets our horses be sold and to be shipped live across the border into Mexico or Canada for slaughter and ship over seas as meat for human consumption?…These slaughterhouses are barbaric and torture to a horse in a bloody chute and strung up alive from one leg…simply barbaric…please stand up for the horses by calling Congress and State legislature to end the practice of selling horses to Kill Buyers at Auction Houses…Thank you…C. L. Dallas, Texas…
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thanks for posting info on the special. The ESPN crew on this stoty are horse riders, lovers and just great people….i’m sure it will be one of the better horse specials done to date….
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Great job everyone, and special thanks to you Kudo.
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GREAT NEWS, WAY TO GO ESPN!!!!!!!
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The video may shock you and you may not want children to watch it but it truly hits home about the slaughter of horses for human consumption in foreign countries. And it is most predominant in the horse racing industry. There was another famous racehorse named Ferdinand who was sol and shipped to Japan and served as a gourmet dinner to some wealthy people. It is illegal in the US but still goes on. Just like the slaughter of harp seals it is still legal in Canada and animal/horse advocates are working diligently to stop it.
Please comment and pass on. We must educate the public to this illegal, unnecessary and horrific activity. We must raise out children to know that this is wrong and we must teach them to love and respect animals, not for their fur or a “gourmet” meal or for the “sport” that hurts, injures or kills.
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