This is an unbelievably demented and inhumane practice.

I don’t know how effective these petitions are but it cannot hurt. One thing a petition like this does is exposes animal cruelty to a wider audience and that is always a positive step.

Petitioning Mayor, Town of Omak, Washington, 2 N. Ash St., Omak, WA 98841

This dangerous race puts the horses who are forced to sprint down a 210-foot-long 62-degree slope and then jump into the water, at risk of injury and death (23 have died since 1983 including one this year, who broke his leg during a qualifiying race). Veterinarian Dr. Heather Evergreen witnessed the race in 2006 and said that the race has obvious risks: running full speed down a steep hill, jumping off the top of the hill, and drowning in the water at the bottom. A Wall Street Journal reporter witnessed a horse break its back and be euthanized in 2007.

What about the rider? Why are horses put through this extreme potential for risk and entertainment?  People at least have choices as to whether or not to participate.

Please consider signing the petition.

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According to Wikipedia: The Suicide Race, also promoted as the World Famous Suicide Race, is a horse race held every year, during the second week of August, in Omak, Washington as a part of the Omak Stampede, a rodeo. Held for more than 70 years, the race is known for the portion of the race where horses and riders run down Suicide Hill, a 62-degree slope that runs for 225 feet to the Okanogan River. The race has provoked serious concerns among animal welfare and animals rights groups.

In the previous 25 years, for example, at least 21 horses have died, including three in 2004 and one in 2012.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 25th, 2012 at 4:07 am and is filed under Animal Cruelty, Horses, Hoofs, Goats, Pigs, Farm Animals. Tags for this post: animal cruelty, horse abuse, horse injury, horses, omak, suicide racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.