Colin Woodard’s thorough and balanced reporting on the lack of aftercare for Maine’s retired racehorses was eyeopening. And the Maine Voices column by Joy Cutrone in support of allocated funding for a retraining center for these animals for new jobs like trail riding or therapy riding was clear and well reasoned.
Unbelievably, there isn’t already racing industry funding to help pay for lifetime care for “nondistressed” retired racehorses. Whether Scarborough Downs closes or not, some casino subsidies diverted to the harness racing industry should be designated for the care of the horses the industry is deliberately breeding, exploiting and then discarding. These animals live much longer than the 3 to 14 years they’ll be raced; so when they no longer win they can go to the slaughterhouse or to whoever will take them, good home or no?
Apparently this is OK with Rep. Don Marean, who got legislation passed that ensures that any money that would have gone to Scarborough Downs if it closes will go to the Maine Harness Racing Commission. He calls the retraining center idea a “pipe dream.” And as often happens when people object to animals being treated badly or neglectfully, he trots out the “emotion” card, painting the objectors as irrational and hysterical. Really lame.
But hey, he helped create a fig leaf program whereby the Maine Harness Horseman’s Association donates $5000 a year to the nonprofits that care for racehorses that were seized by law enforcement due to the severity of their mistreatment. As Woodard’s article says, that’s a drop in the bucket, and does nothing to help support the nearly 200 healthy, unwanted racehorses who are retired each year. The nonprofits are largely on their own. It’s time for the racehorse industry to pony up.
Sue Avery
Westport Island
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