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...
