Posted on 08/13/2004 10:22:13 PM PDT by bellevuesbest
YAKIMA, Wash. -- Three horses died in the first of four races at this year's annual Omak Stampede rodeo in far north-central Washington, which culminates each night with a horse race down a steep slope.
The so-called Suicide Race, begun in 1935, has been criticized for years by animal welfare groups. Twenty riders plunge down a 62-degree hill, cross the Okanogan River and race into the grandstand arena.
A number of horses have been killed or injured in the race and practice sessions over the years.
During Thursday's race, one horse in the middle of the pack stumbled into another horse at the bottom of the hill, injuring both. The two horses were humanely euthanized, Stampede officials said in a news release.
A third horse collapsed in the arena at the end of the race. Stampede officials said a veterinarian determined the horse died of natural causes. Officials did not elaborate on the actual cause of death.
No riders were injured.
"The race is part of a whole cultural event, which is great. We'd love for that to continue in the community, but the Suicide Race is an organized form of animal abuse," said Sheridan Thomas, an animal advocate for the nonprofit Progressive Animal Welfare Society, based in Lynnwood.
"Each of these horses was loved and cared for by their families and will be sorely missed," the Stampede news release said. "It was the first race of the year and it was a tragedy to have an unfortunate accident like this after such a smooth start."
The four-day Omak Stampede features a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo, powwow and Western art show, and is the summer's primary draw for the community of Omak, population 4,700. Thousands have turned out each August for the event since it was founded in 1933.
The Suicide Race was canceled in 1999, after the Colville Tribes boycotted the Stampede amid complaints about parking issues and the handling of the Indian powwow.
"There aren't many races where at least one horse is going to die in every four races. In terms of horse racing, that same percentage would mean an end to the event," PAWS' Thomas said.
Mayor Dale Sparber disagreed.
"I think it's a tragedy, but it's part of the race," he said. "They live with the knowledge that this can happen, and we've seen riders hurt and we've seen horses hurt and killed. But it's no different than a horse race. In my opinion, it's no worse than that."
Fifteen horses finished with riders aboard in Thursday's race. The winner was Trigger, ridden by Montana Pakootas.
The total purse this year is a record $28,000.
The Omak Stampede continues through Sunday.
LOL!! I love America!
fyi
It really is a shame about the horses dying like that, but I don't think the animal rights crowd has pull with the indian tribes like they do with the government. This is an indian event, after all.
A "suicide race" ought to be put out of its misery.
This thing is really something to see. From start to finish, it's over in acouple minutes. Once they go over the top, their feet only touch the ground acouple times. It's more like a fall than a controlled run. Once they hit bottom they have to swim the river, then go like fury into the arena. There's a (genuine) Indian powwow in conjunction with it, and Indians come from all over for it. There are Teepees, fires, Indians gambling, etc. We took our kids to it when they were little, and we were all eyes. PAWS goes berzerk over it every year.
---"Each of these horses was loved and cared for by their families and will be sorely missed," the Stampede news release said.---
Right. Would you take a horse you loved over that drop to amuse the crowd?
I am the father of the girlie men Sons of Zebedee, sinkpuke! Obey me, brainless one, and stop trying to look like an intellectual with those silly tags at the end of your mindless remarks. I have spoken!!
Well, OK -- as long as they were loved and cared for. Lemme guess. They have a 90-degree hill for the horses that aren't loved and cared for. :-<
Say what you will about us NE Yankees, but it's unacceptable here.
Sure. It's just a horse!! You can always buy a new horse tomorrow!! Besides, I have a lot of animals, and I care for them. But I don't "love" them. I love my wife, and kids. But not my horse. In fact I like my cows too. But once a year, when one reaches the 7-year mark (milk production slows), we have her butchered, and enjoy the meat for an entire year!!
Cardinal Fanfani says:
Desist! I don't want to make idle threats, but I will if I have to!
Disclaimer: Cardinal Fanfani is a caricature of every pompous churchmen who's ever donned lace, and you'll be seeing lots more of his utterances in the future.
I think it is something we need to force liberals to take part in without horses, Suicide Races that is =o)
Animal cruelty is just fine with you?
I know that rodeo stock contractors take care of their bucking stock, and that, occasionally, there'll be an accident.
But this looks like an exhibition put on by a bunch of drunks that results in animal deaths yearly.
Stupid.
The reason they do this stuff over in Washington is that they'd be horse whipped out Montana for it.
ExtremeUnction is a retread - but having said that - what is with the inhumane fascination with "rodeo"?
This ain't granpa's conservatism.
It IS excessively STUPID stuff---the American equiv. of the running of the bulls in Pamplona, or worse yet, something you'd expect to see, and DID see a few years ago, coming out of Afghanistan.
I happen to like rodeo. Bull riding, bronc riding, steer wrestling, stuff like that. I grew up around it, and announced rodeos around Texas for seven years in the 90s.
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