Heat Forces Tracks to Close, Except for Saratoga, Says NYRA

As record heat and high humidity make life unbearable for North-easterners,....some  racetrack  managers, realising the danger of running horses in high-heat, have wisely chosen to cancel all races today;http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64120/heat-forces-tracks-to-cancel-racing

However, on the other hand, we have "managers" like the NYRA (and the equine vets that support them) attempting to justify their decsion NOT to cancel the races at Saratoga Racetrack tomorrow which also happens to be Opening Day (when record monies are made)http://capitalregion.ynn.com/content/at_the_track/550660/track-officials-prepare-for-a-hot-opening-day/?ap=1&MP4
I was disgusted (but not suprized) to see one of our own equine veternarians in this vid,...also trying to justify running horses in this heat. Sorry Doc,...there is just NO WAY you can MINIMIZE THE DANGER OF or Justify the Forcing of the Horses to Run in this heat...It just cant be done and is INHUMANE! As a veternarian who has taken an oath to put the welfare of animals first, what you SHOULD have done on a professional level was to see to it that races were cancelled tomorrow,... opening day or not.

New York Thoroughbed Racing Association, St. Clemmens, Promote Gambling Sport to Children on Opening Day of Saratoga Track

If we are to promote the horse-racing industry to our children,...we should teach them also about what happens to most of the loosers and some of the winners too. 

http://capitalregion.ynn.com/content/550236/sneak-preview-at-the-track/?r=5313591340

Click here to learn more about race-horse slaughter; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04mvw6tTHrs

Preakness Mascot "Kagasus" Brews Controversy

Article; http://www.kveo.com/news/kegasus-kicks-off-controversy
I wonder how "Kagasus" feels about race-horses going to slaughter - WE KNOW what the racing industrys'position is, in fact, the whole of most organized "Equine Industries," the American Horse Counsel and ALL of its state branches, many of the breed registries particularly the AQHA, which of course, none of these orgs have any real love of the horse except through what profits and other exploitations can be gained through their "love of the horse." With them, "Horse-Loving" is a Business and slaughter, they claim, is a "necessary evil" of that business,...which anyone of rational mind knows it aint "necessary" at all, but it sure is evil, particularly when there are so many other alternatives & workable solutions that they dont want to recognize or even talk about, simple ones too.Once they're "beloved equines"  become a liability, its sold off to slaughter they go. Exploited for profit even in death.

AMERICANS DO NOT EAT HORSES - WE HAVE SHUT ALL OF THE HORSE SLAUGHTER HOUSES DOWN IN THE USA YEARS AGO - STOP KILL-SELLING OUR AMERICAN HORSES SO THEY CAN BE SHIPPED ABROAD AND SLAUGHTERED FOR FOREIGNERS TO EAT.

Thank you.

US Against Horse Slaughter
http://unnecessaryevils.blogspot.com/













Keep Our Horses in the Stables and Off of Dinner Tables!

END AMERICAN HORSE SLAUGHTER NOW! ITS AN AMERICAN DISGRACE!

PETA Exposes Race Horse Breeding Industry - Saves Eight Belles Cousin from Slaughter

Click on link to read article and see vid;
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3699

EQUINE HERPESVIRUS, EQUINE - USA / NJ

EQUINE HERPESVIRUS, EQUINE - USA (06): (NEW JERSEY)
***************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Fri 15 Apr 2011
Source: newjerseynewsroom.com [edited]



2nd Monmouth County horse farm quarantined amid equine herpes
outbreak
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tourelay Farm and Overbrook Farm see activity restricted for 3
weeks.

A 2nd horse farm in Colts Neck, Monmouth County, has been quarantined
as part of a state Department of Agriculture [NJDA] investigation into
an outbreak of the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus, type 1
(EHV-1) that has led to the death of 1 horse and sickened 5 others.

The disease was discovered on Wednesday [13 Apr 2011) by a private
veterinarian treating a sick horse at the 1st farm, Overbrook Farm.
The filly was euthanized by the veterinarian after it failed to
respond to treatment. 5 other Overbrook Farm horses are recovering
from the illnesses.

The Agriculture Department's tracing activities at Overbrook Farm to
determine the extent of the outbreak led to Friday's [15 Apr 2011]
quarantine of Tourelay Farm but no sick horses have been reported
there.

Overbrook Farm was quarantined Thursday (14 Apr 2011), meaning horse
movement on and off the property has ceased and only essential farm
personnel are allowed access to limit the spread of the virus. While
the disease is not dangerous to humans, personnel must utilize
biosecurity measures, such as disinfectant foot baths, coveralls,
disposable gloves, hand washing and disinfectant hand gels, and
non-sharing of tack between horses.

The Overbrook Farm and Tourelay Farm quarantines are expected to last
21 days, unless more horses become ill. All quarantines are based on
risk assessment.

The Agriculture Department has been in contact with Colts Neck
Township officials to keep them informed of the efforts to contain the
virus and protect animals.

The EHV-1 virus spreads quickly from horse to horse, has a high
morbidity, and can cause a wide range of clinical signs, from a
complete lack of clinical signs to respiratory problems, especially in
young horses, and spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares. The
neurologic form of EHV-1, additionally, can cause an acute paralytic
syndrome, which results in a high mortality. The incubation period of
EHV-1 is typically 2 to 10 days. The virus spreads readily through
direct contact with infected materials.

The virus does not affect other domestic animals, with the exception
of llamas and alpacas.

Concerned owners should consult their veterinarian prior to taking
any action as the clinical signs of infection with the neurological
form of EHV-1 are common to many other diseases. The neurologic form
of EHV is a reportable disease in New Jersey.

More information about the disease, in PDF format, is available at
.

If an owner has a horse that is exhibiting neurologic signs or
suspects equine herpes, they are directed to call their veterinarian
immediately.

The NJDA Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory provides testing for the
neurologic form of EHV-1. For more information for to
.

[byline: Tom Hester Sr]

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[The websites provided within the article are very helpful and
thorough. - Mod.TG

New Jersey can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive
map at . Monmouth County can be seen on
the map at
. -
Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

[see also:
Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (05): (NY) quarantine lifted
20110417.1201
Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (04): (NY) Cornell U 20110407.1083
Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (03): (NY) Cornell U 20110405.1057
Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (02): (NY) Cornell U, RFI
20110403.1038
Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA: (NY) Cornell University
20110402.1021
2010
---
Equine herpesvirus - USA (04): (NY) 20101129.4286
Equine herpesvirus - USA (03): (NJ) 20100408.1131
Equine herpesvirus - USA (02): (NJ) susp. 20100403.1071
Equine herpesvirus - USA: (LA) 20100101.0016]
.................................................tg/mj/sh
*##########################################################*
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are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
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Paragallo Looses Appeal: Banned from Racing for Life

Convicted thoroughbred abuser Ernest Paragallo is out of the horse racing business for good http://saratogian.com/articles/2011/04/02/news/doc4d94f5617f226892355146.txt?viewmode=default Published: Saturday, April 02, 2011 By PAUL POST The Saratogian SARATOGA SPRINGS — Convicted former thoroughbred owner Ernest Paragallo is out of the racing business for good. The Appellate Division of state Supreme Court on Thursday rejected his legal appeal, meaning he must serve the remainder of his two-year jail term. In addition, the state Racing and Wagering Board ruled that Paragallo can never again hold an owner’s or agent’s license and permanently banned him from New York racetracks, even as a spectator. Paragallo was convicted last March on 33 counts of animal cruelty following the shocking April 2009 raid of his Greene County farm where 177 diseased, neglected horses were found, several of which had to be euthanized. "I wish there was more we could do to him," racing commissioner Daniel Hogan said. "I hope he spends the rest of his life paying for what he did. It’s a black eye on the sport of racing." Fellow board member Charles Diamond said, "The Legislature, in my opinion, should consider treatment of horses in this manner a felony." At present, equine animal cruelty is a misdemeanor in New York. State Sen. Roy J. McDonald, R-Saratoga, has co-sponsored a bill that would make it a felony with more severe penalties. Lawmakers have been tied up hammering out a state budget that was approved early Thursday morning. However, McDonald said his bill will be voted on before the legislature concludes business on June 20. Mike and Mary Anne Macica of Saratoga Springs adopted three of Paragallo’s horses and several more went to the Saratoga Springs-based Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Greene County District Attorney Terry Wilhelm said Paragallo, who is free on bail, must appear in court soon although a date hasn’t been set. From there, barring an appeal, he would go straight to jail. Wilhelm said he doubts the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, would allow an appeal, but that it’s up the judges’ discretion. Continued... Last May, County Court Judge George Pulver sentenced Paragallo to the maximum penalty — two years in jail and $33,000 in fines, $1,000 for each count. Paragallo has already served one month. Prisoners are typically given one month off for every two months served, so Paragallo might only serve 16 months total, or 15 more. Neither he nor his attorney were present at Thursday’s racing board meeting in Schenectady. The criminal case dealt strictly with Paragallo’s charges of animal cruelty. His appeal didn’t challenge his conviction, but said the court’s pre-sentencing report was inflammatory and prejudicial, a claim justices rejected. "We are unpersuaded that the report improperly advocated for the maximum sentence," justices said in their decision. The racing board considered Paragallo’s animal cruelty charges. However, they were more concerned with Paragallo’s continued ownership of horses that were racing after he lost his owner’s license in March 2005. Such evidence came to light following an in-depth review of his operations following the April 2009 raid. Board Chairman John Sabini said he hopes other states follow New York’s lead and prohibit him from any future racing involvement. "The racing industry is better off without the likes of Mr. Paragallo," he said. --------

Wild Horses Couldnt Drag Me Back to Life as a Jockey

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/wild-horses-couldnt-drag-me-back-to-life-as-a-jockey-15115553.html

Retired Racehorses Starve as Charity Established to Care for Them Fails

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/sports/18horses.html?_r=2

Ok. Commission OK's Rule to Help Retired Horses

Its a start;
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/article/Okla-commission-OK-s-rule-to-help-retired-horses-1020280.php

Standardbred "Full Circle" Re-Homing Plan

In November of 2010, the US Trotting Association (USTA), registry for Standardbred horses, instituted a program designed to provide a safety net for Standardbreds who are no longer commercially viable and are no longer wanted by their current owners.

The program, “Full Circle,” is modeled after a similar program started by the American Quarter Horse Association. Anyone who has formerly owned, bred, trained, driven or simply had an interest in a horse can, at no cost or obligation, record their name and contact information in that horse’s USTA data file and enroll them in Full Circle.

If that horse should lose commercial value and a future owner no longer wants the horse, that owner, or in your case, that a rescue or adoption group, has the option to call the USTA (877-800-8782 x 3) to see if the horse is enrolled in Full Circle.

If so, a USTA representative will contact the person or persons who provided their contact information and inform them that a horse enrolled by them is in need. The USTA representative will provide the enrolling individual with the contact information for the person with custody of the horse, or in your case, the organization that has custody of the horse.

Those two individuals then make contact and make whatever arrangement they like regarding the horse in question. The USTA will urge due diligence by the party that enrolled the horse in Full Circle and provided their contact information. However, we have no stake or involvement in the outcome.

The types of action that may be taken between the enrolling person and the custodian of the horse may include but not be limited to: taking the horse back, facilitating placement with another individual or adoption program, providing some form of assistance, cash or in kind, to train the horse for pleasure use, provide veterinary or rehabilitation assistance.

The aim of the program is to facilitate assistance for a horse that needs it with an individual who wants to provide it. We are pleased that over 1,000 horses have already been enrolled and that number is growing each day.

As the database of enrolled horses grows, I believe that checking a horse’s status with Full Circle will yield options that are beneficial to the horse and your program. Horses may be diverted to a past connection that very much wants to care for the horse, but was unaware of their status. Those who cannot care for a horse may wish to provide a donation or other service to help with their care until adoption can be arranged.

Horses enrolled in Full Circle will soon be sporting a logo in our database indicating that they are enrolled and thus, there may be options for the horse beyond your facility. I urge you to add “Check Full Circle Status” to your intake process to see if there are additional possibilities for the horse. You will soon be able to email us at fullcircle@ustrotting.com to let us know that you have the horse and we will contact the person who enrolled the horse.

For now, however, please call our customer service department at 877-800-8782 extension 3 to ask if a horse is enrolled. If you do not know the horse’s registered name, but believe they are a Standardbred, please have their tattoo or freeze brand (5 digits, right side of neck under the mane) ready, along with markings, so that we can positively identify the horse.

I also attach a flyer about our “SOS” (Support Our Standardbreds) program, for Standardbreds that have been seized or otherwise taken in to custody by some legal authority, such as an animal control or humane officer. If we can identify that horse as a registered Standardbred, we can provide assistance for their care. If you have such a horse or know of one, I am the contact at 732-780-3700 or ellen.harvey@ustrotting.com. If you do not know the horse’s registered name, have their tattoo or freeze brand (5 digits under the mane on the right side) available, along with their markings.

Thank you for the work you do to help “our” horses. I know that there is much to be done for their welfare and we believe Full Circle provides an important piece of the puzzle.

Yours truly,

Ellen Harvey
732-780-3700