Animal welfare activists say horse racing industry needs reform

CHUCK CONDER AND CASEY WIAN writing for CNN report:

Like many spent and injured racehorses, Nitro Active was destined for euthanasia or a Mexican slaughterhouse supplying horse meat to restaurants in Europe and Japan. He sold at auction for $190. John Torigoe / CNN.

Nitro Active was breaking down. Because of injuries to his tendons and leg joints Nitro Active could barely stand, let alone race.

His fate seemed clear. Like many spent and injured racehorses, Nitro Active was destined for euthanasia or a Mexican slaughterhouse supplying horse meat to restaurants in Europe and Japan. He sold at auction for $190.

It was at that point that Monika Kerber came into Nitro Active’s life. Kerber runs Villa Chardonnay, a horse rescue operation in Temecula, California.

“He deserves another chance,” said Kerber.

Most days, he would simply lay in his stall, in pain and misery, Kerber said. After months of expensive veterinary care, today Nitro Active is slowly healing. But for hundreds of other racehorses, there is no happy ending.

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FROM THE EDITOR

Quote of the Day comes from this article.

“They are literally running for their lives,” said Nancy Perry of the ASPCA. “If they run too fast they break down on the track and die. And if they don’t run fast enough, they are discarded.”

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