Horse Rescue – Illegal Horse Racing?

Today we tried to save a 4 yr old, Standardbred Stallion from the New Holland Auction.  ERN volunteers ran his Freeze brand through Standardbred Association and learned he had last raced on Oct. 2cd.  During this race, he must have bowed a tendon, because 18 days later, he was dropped off at the auction.

ERN began working on securing funds and a home offer for this horse.  If raising money is hard; finding a home is harder.  Especially for a young Stallion with an active bowed tendon.  ERN has a strict policy, we do not bid on any horse until we have a pre-approved home lined up.  Unfortunately, a home offer did not surface until 11:35 and the stallion was sold at auction at 10:45 for $375.  We were told he was sold to “Mexicans.”

Although I hate when that happens, yet admit in the chaos of auctions, this scenario has happened many times before.  Typically, we approach the killbuyer with a generous cash incentive, usually between $100-160.  I hate hate giving the killbuyers anything, but recognize this is the only way to save a horse.  It usually is a seamless transaction.

However, today was different.  It turned out that the “Mexicans” were not killbuyers.  Instead they were involved with a group that illegally races horses on streets and backyard racetracks.  Illegal gambling that involves animals is never aligned with the welfare of the animal.  Whether its dog fighting, cock fighting, dog racing or horse racing, animals suffer when an industry is not regulated or is illegal.

Our volunteers worked the crowd a the auction to find the “Mexicans.”   The auction was crowded with killbuyers of similar appearance, but still the “Mexicans” were easy to find.  ERN tried our best to purchase the Stallion.  We offered up to $775 in cash.  They refused.  They seemed to think that this Stallion was their lottery ticket to cash winnings in the illegal racing circuit.  They would nurse him back to health, and he will race again.

AND, we will see this stallion again at New Holland when his illegal racing career ends, next time we hopefully deliver a much happier ending for him.

The interesting to note – The Thoroughbred “Moose” ERN saved last week was also part of  an illegal racing circuit…

There are six major “meat auctions” in the United States.  The biggest meat auction on the East Coast is the New Holland Horse Auction, every Monday in New Holland, PA.

Today is a typically Monday.  ERN raises money to maintain an Auction Fund.  This fund is used to outbid killbuyers at auction.  Once our bid is won, the horses are sent to ERN pre-approved “Micro Rescuers” for rehab and rehoming.  Sounds simple, yet can be amazingly complex and stressful.  Learn more about auctions at www.EquineRescueNetwork.com