Gamblers, winners, and losers

Another Derby Day, a big upset, an uncertain future
Like circus animals, racehorses are trained to perform. Running the Kentucky Derby is the racetrack equivalent of a tiger jumping through a fiery hoop: These horses know the drill, and they're running for their lives. Mine That Bird, a 50-1 shot, pulled off a runaway victory in the 2009 Derby, no doubt leaving owners and bettors ecstatic.
I wonder how many Derby Day "losers" have been, or will soon be, shipped off to auction and a grim fate. From carriage horses to thoroughbreds, being dumped at auction is a common scenario for any horse who isn't a good money-maker.
Seen in the photo to the right is Colin, a lucky horse in this post-Derby tale from 2008. The blogger of this tale names names, thankfully.
Also: Tribute to some lost souls from 2008: Miss Fancy Gold and All Be At Once (near end of post).
Photo: FHOTD

He's pushing for horse slaughter

Ed Butcher and the showdown in Montana
The man who is pushing for a horse slaughter plant in Montana doesn't want any "harassment by two-bit hippies," a reference to the predictable protests at other horse slaughter plants over the documented discharges, dumping, foul odors, and utterly inhumane methods of slaughter.
Photo: Saskatchewan plant operated by the Velda Group/Cavel
Rep. Ed Butcher, sponsor of Montana House Bill 418 that is intended to attract a horse-slaughter facility to the state, seeks to portray assure his colleagues and constituents that a proposed horse slaughter plant will be clean, modern, and humane (all evidence to the contrary with former US horse slaughter facilities). In fact, the now-shuttered Cavel plant in Illinois had accumulated $100,000 in fines for sewer discharge violations. Importantly, Cavel was operated by the Belgium-owned Velda Group--the same company that is interested in setting up a slaughterhouse in Montana. The picture was even more dismal at the Cavel-operated Canadian plant in Saskatchewan, where mountains of horse entrails littered the landscape and the company is alleged to have dumped tankers full of horse blood into fields that allow runoff into the Qu'Appelle River. As for the much-touted economic boost that Butcher is promising, keep in mind that the Saskatchewan plant was placed in receivership last fall with debts of $25 million.
Read "Showdown at Horse Slaughter Pass," by John Holland of Equine Welfare Alliance
Read a CBC News investigation of horse slaughter in Canada

Urgent Action Alert: Both houses of the state legislature have returned this bill. Call Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and ask him to veto HB418 - the bill that would allow the creation of horse slaughter facilities in Montana. Please use the word "VETO."
Phone: 406-444-3111
Fax number: 406-444-5529