Posted on 07/25/2006 8:06:02 PM PDT by carlo3b
Ferdinand, 'Death Of A Derby Champ'
A push to end horse slaughter in the U.S. continues to be fueled by a former Kentucky Derby winner whose life came to an end four years ago in a Japanese slaughterhouse.
Ferdinand won the 1986 Kentucky Derby as a 17-1 longshot. He was slaughtered after being deemed worthless as a stud by the farm in Japan (Arrow Stud Farm) that had owned him for the final years of his life. Ferdinand was originally owned by the Howard Keck family, but was sold to Arrow Stud in 1994.
Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield has taken the death of Ferdinand and used it as motivation to try to end the slaughter of horses in the U.S.
The video presentation attached to this story includes an interview with Congressman Whitfield, as well as excerpts from Ferdinand's racing career and other information about the tragic death of the chestnut racehorse. See Link for video.. http://www.keyt.com/news/sports/local/2756626.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1672251/posts
A horse is a cow, is a chicken, is a pig, is a fish,...is a commodity.
This is just more shameless grandstanding.
Odd story, though I don't have a problem with people eating horse.
Couldn't disagree with you more. It would seem to me that if the horse was good enough to win the Derby, thereby winning loads of money for his owners, he should have been allowed to spend his senior years in a nice pasture.
It is an animal that has outlived its usefulness and it is a good thing that it could close the loop and provide sustenance for people. It is the way of nature and not to be abhorred.
We will all feed the worms one day, fulfilling our place in the food chain. So it is and so shall it ever be.
P.S. I am a horse lover, so don't anyone get on your high horse.
Horse meat suppliers defend industry at congressional hearing
Ferdinand was not a success as a stallion, and Japan is not exactly a land of wide-open spaces. They slaughter their excess horse population.
This is old news in the horse industry. Many top horses now sold overseas as stallions are now sold with a buy-back clause to repatriate them in their old age or should they fail as stallions.
Gato del Sol was returned to Kentucky from Germany by his breeder, Arthur Hancock.
Ferdinand is by no means unique. Exceller met the same fate in Sweden.
The problem of what to do with horses no one wants to feed any longer is an agonizing one for anyone who loves these animals--but you cannot feed them all, and not all of them are suitable as backyard pets, even if there was enough of a pet niche for them.
Except he didn't win the Derby, or loads of money, for the owners who sold him for slaughter.
The Japanese stud farm had purchased him as a sire, but he proved worthless for this purpose. To his Japanese owners, he was an unperforming asset -- literally worth more dead than alive.
Thanks, I know, see my post #2
Elmer's Glue futures rising as we speak...
How was your steak tonight?
A race horse is a beutiful animal. So is a deer.
Really, ..a..exactly how much had you, or your offspring earned before you were 5, or in your lifetime.. :)
I don't know.
Work animals are different, and this horse worked for and enriched its owners.
Had it been sick, injured, etc., then I would understand.
Some earn their keep, though. This horse had earned more than enough to be respectfully kept.
What's next? Showing Bambi before a cogressional hearing on the banning of venisen?
Well that's nice. I say, if it can't stud well, eat it. This ain't a charity.
Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!
Why? Your mouth full of great tasting healthy lean protein? Neeiigghhhh!!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.