New television series ... is this horse exploitation for profit?

StandardbredFanClub · Yearling

New television series ... is this horse exploitation for profit?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Perhaps we can discuss this interesting topic right here in our own forum! ;)

This is the fellow from Dragon's Den and he is launching his new show. According to reports, one of the entrepreneurs looking for money will try to buy, run and sell a Standardbred in 30 days.

What does everyone think? Has anyone here had experience with Standardbred racing? There is a lot that has been left out of the report, such as the age and experience of the horse!

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

I don't think this is very good for the horse.

This has been possible, at least in Thoroughbred racing for centuries. Claiming races.

I foresee a whole bunch of get quick rich people descending upon SB trainers eager for this new money making experience. Little do they know, horses can be VERY expensive to support.

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

It is hard for me to "pick a side" not knowing things such as age and gender of the horse, lines, trotter or pacer, past experience in racing (can't judge much without being able to see the racing card) etc. With that being said, I realize that the article was wrote by non-horsey people for non-horsey people. People the world over see horses as a sport for the "rich", so I don't see a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon as this is a quick way to make money -- you have to be well versed in the horse racing world to "flip" a horse quickly and make money at it. Plus you need the money to spend, Hard Spun and AP Indy fillies sold in Keeneland over the weekend both for over a million dollars (although this is an example from the Thoroughbred world, even buying baby racehorses invloves a lot of money and brokers etc.).

I gather from what has been left out of the article that perhaps the horse will be a filly (or mare, since Standardbred have much longer racing careers than Thoroughbreds, often entering more than 40 races over their career on the track -- they're just built differently and stay sound) with some sucess already on the track. My guess is that the horse will be a filly because if she is an immaculant animal she'll be easily sold as a broodmare prospect if she proves herself on the track. If it a bit harder to market a colt as a stallion prospect than it is to market a fantastic filly. Also if they are only starting the horse a few times, it has an exceptional chance to go into a retirement program, be retrained and have a long career as a riding horse (show or pleasure).

I honestly believe that this guy is smart enough to invest his money in the best way that he can -- meaning that he'll invest in an amazing animal, with highest level of care. I'm in no way defending this idea to buy, race and sell a horse within 30 days but it happens hundereds of times a month in every avenue of the horse racing industry (Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Quarter Horse etc.).

I hate to say it but I think that there are much worse things going on in the horse industry right now than one person who is going to try to buy a racehorse, race it and than sell it for profit. Isn't that the whole idea of buying, showing and selling horses in general?

StandardbredFanClub · Yearling

Our position is that we do not support exploiting an innocent horse for profit and entertainment on national television and are requesting that the 'horse hustler' episode be pulled for that reason.
As for claiming horses, that has been part of the sport for ages. However, horses were never treated as mere commodities to the extent that they are now - and you just have to be down at the track to see the huge numbers that leave their racing careers for auctions and slaughterhouses - nameless faces, yearlings by the masses, horrendous fates - and it doesn't matter how much money the horses have earned their owners in their short or long careers - even if they have earned their owners more than enough for a decent retirement. For your information, a miniscule number relatively speaking end up in horse rescues where others must find the financial means to care and rehome these lovely animals.
There are true sportsmen/women in the industry who care for their horses during and after a racing career, however they are vastly outnumbered by essentially horse hustlers who in the words of one harness trainer "Most of these horses are never seen or heard from again due to the harsh breaking and brutal training down process they go through" speaking of the yearlings that are strewn about and discarded like straw.
The first episode of Risky Business recently aired and it is very good. Mr. Wilson brings the investment zavy and the outcome in the episode is a good ending for all. As we said, we are asking Slice to pull the episode with the horse hustler - there is no entertainment value in exploitation of an animal for entertainment in our view and that doesn't belong on national television.

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

StandardbredFanClub,

I'm wondering if you have any other reference to the episode than the one mentioned before? It is hard to draw conclusions when the trainer's name isn't mentioned and I couldn't find any episode info on the Slice website.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

When is it supposed to air?

StandardbredFanClub · Yearling

The club can only find information as per the interview with theStar(dot)com as we referenced and quoted. The horse hustler name, horse name and other details would have to be obtained from Slice.ca or perhaps Mr. Wilson.

In our club's view, it is not difficult to draw conclusions: Live animals should not be exploited for profit and entertainment purposes by one of the most successful investors in this country on national television. Stocks, bonds, art, safe toys, antiques, organic food products, environmentally-friendly cars, products to clean-up the oil sands, effective methods to eradicate or convert nuclear waste, engineering innovations to prevent mass oil spills and clean them up and all the non-living material things --- and there are so many! -- should ofcourse be featured as some exciting and challenging investments with lots of risk ( or profit!).

StandardbredFanClub · Yearling

Barbara F wrote:
When is it supposed to air?

It is a 13 part series this season according to the article.

Reference: thestar(dot)com/entertainment/article/977583--dragon-s-den-star-brett-wilson-to-launch-risky-tv-series

StandardbredFanClub · Yearling

The information below is from an article on the Humane Society Of Canada web site
Reference: www.humanesociety(dot)com/animals-a-the-earth/horses-a-farm-animals/50-california-victory-means-fewer-horses-slaughtered-in-canada.html

"Racehorses are nothing more than dollar signs to many of their owners. If they don't win races, they're worth more dead than alive. This callous indifference needs to end now," he [HSC Executive Director Michael O'Sullivan] said.

Even former 'killer-buyer', Rick Mangrum of Oregon, who sent thousands of horses to their deaths said: "... I'm no bleeding heart liberal that's for sure, but I know this. The way we dispose of horses now is wrong. If people inflicted these atrocities on dogs and cats we would lock them up for cruelty. Why should it be OK to do it to horses..."

Tamarack · Yearling

StandardbredFanClub wrote:
Our position is that we do not support exploiting an innocent horse for profit and entertainment on national television and are requesting that the 'horse hustler' episode be pulled for that reason.
As for claiming horses, that has been part of the sport for ages. However, horses were never treated as mere commodities to the extent that they are now - and you just have to be down at the track to see the huge numbers that leave their racing careers for auctions and slaughterhouses - nameless faces, yearlings by the masses, horrendous fates - and it doesn't matter how much money the horses have earned their owners in their short or long careers - even if they have earned their owners more than enough for a decent retirement. For your information, a miniscule number relatively speaking end up in horse rescues where others must find the financial means to care and rehome these lovely animals.
There are true sportsmen/women in the industry who care for their horses during and after a racing career, however they are vastly outnumbered by essentially horse hustlers who in the words of one harness trainer "Most of these horses are never seen or heard from again due to the harsh breaking and brutal training down process they go through" speaking of the yearlings that are strewn about and discarded like straw.
The first episode of Risky Business recently aired and it is very good. Mr. Wilson brings the investment zavy and the outcome in the episode is a good ending for all. As we said, we are asking Slice to pull the episode with the horse hustler - there is no entertainment value in exploitation of an animal for entertainment in our view and that doesn't belong on national television.

well said, stbclub!