Vote in Poll: Death of pro-slaughter TB trainer

[NanciK]

Interesting thread on Alex Brown Racing, about the recent accidental death of the top TB trainer Dale Baird, who is known to routinely send all his racers direct to slaughter when they couldn't race any longer.

forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=18146.1

TAKE ACTION: Thoroughbred Times is running a Poll whether or not this man should be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. Here's your chance to send a message to the TB racing industry that sending TBs to slaughter is unacceptable, by voting NO.

Click here, scroll down to bottom right of page for Poll:
www.thoroughbredtimes.com/

You can follow-up with an email to explain your vote:

[e-mail]

[beejoyfulmk]

done

[gratefulknits]

Voted No, but the Yes's are ahead.

[NanciK]

No's are ahead now, 54% to 46% yes.

PLEASE VOTE!

[rescuestoribbons]

voted NO!!
No's are now ahead!!

[afinenettle]

nancik said:

Interesting thread on Alex Brown Racing, about the recent accidental death of the top TB trainer Dale Baird, who is known to routinely send all his racers direct to slaughter when they couldn't race any longer.

forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=18146.1

TAKE ACTION: Thoroughbred Times is running a Poll whether or not this man should be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. Here's your chance to send a message to the TB racing industry that sending TBs to slaughter is unacceptable, by voting NO.

Click here, scroll down to bottom right of page for Poll:
www.thoroughbredtimes.com/

You can follow-up with an email to explain your vote:

[e-mail]

voted no

[mykingdomforahorse]

I voted no, made me feel better to do it -- and the Yes's aren't ahead anymore! Woo Hoo!

Em

[vadnaisarabians]

I voted no as well, and also sent a follow up email to them telling them they shouldn't honor a man who didn't have enough respect and integrity for his horses and in turn sent them to slaughter!

[ebony07]

voted no!

[anitahorse]

I voted "no", and here's why: (letter to the editor of TT from an employee of TB breeder)

Mr. Ehalt,

Reading your Guest Commentary in the Thoroughbred Times was devastating for me and my family. Dale Baird, while admittedly the trainer with the most wins in Thoroughbred racing, has achieved this "status" by purchasing large numbers of horses, running them into the ground and then disposing of them when they are no longer useful to him. Each week, Baird had a scheduled pick-up of the horses he no longer wanted. These cast-offs were not sent to green pastures to live out their retirement. They were picked up by the local meat man, a guy named Rudibaugh, and taken to the Sugarcreek Livestock Auction to be sold for slaughter. I spent 6 months researching and verifying this information and have spoken with many locals at Mountaineer, at the Sugarcreek auction and even to the men who drove the horses to their deaths at the now-closed Dallas Crowne slaughterhouse in Texas. Once Dallas Crowne closed, the horses were sent to Canada and, even worse, to Mexico to be slaughtered for human consumption, their meat packaged and sent overseas as a delicacy.

While these allegations may be shocking, I assure you, they are true. I can give you the names of a number of people who will verify this. Baird had no respect for the horses he made his living, and his reputation, on. I learned of Baird and his despicable ways after reading a letter to the editor in the Blood-Horse about 3 years ago. I was alarmed because my husband's employer, Edward P. (Ned) Evans, breeder of Saint Liam, had sold over 25 horses to Baird in the years prior to my reading the article. I called Baird and offered to buy any Evans breds back to give them a retirement home for life. Baird told me that the horses were not for sale and never would be. I received a call 3 days later informing me that he had sent yet another of our horses off to Sugarcreek. It was too late for me to save Feverish Affair. Baird has sent several more since then. Baird has sent at least 15 horses from this farm to slaughter - horses that would have been gladly taken back and retired. Rudibaugh refused to sell me "any of Dale's horses" - he said that he had a deal with Baird and would not break it.

You may contact Jay Privman or Jay Hovdey if you would like verification that my story is true. If Dale Baird is elected to the Hall of Fame, it will be over the bodies of hundreds, if not thousands, of dead horses - horses who died a horrible death. It will also be a slap in the face to honorable trainers like Richard Mandella, Bill Mott, Nick Zito and the many others who respect and admire the horses who helped them achieve their status. While I hate to speak badly of the dead, Dale Baird is not worthy of such an honor. My husband Chris and I have worked in the Thoroughbred industry for 25 years and 15 years respectively, and we feel honored to be able to make a living with the horses we love and admire. We have worked in some of the top barns in the country and with some of the best Thoroughbreds in racing and continue to do so here at Spring Hill Farm. To allow a man who viewed his Thoroughbreds as a disposable commodity to be shipped off and brutally slaughtered when he was finished with them to be nominated to the Hall of Fame would be a travesty.

Sincerely,

Diana Baker
Casanova, VA

[calypso]

Done.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention!

[sundancer]

Voted "no". Thanks for alerting us to this poll.

[NanciK]

Yikes, that Letter to the Editor makes Baird sound like the Michael Vick of horse racing!

[dustyboots]

I voted no....it's like 67% for the nos!! We're pulling ahead!!

[Admin]

Gail Vacca just sent me this. Please read and write!!


Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:14:33 -0500
Subject: What will become of the horses that Dale Baird leaves


The tragic accident that caused the death of TB trainer Dale Baird along with two other teenage boys, is about as horrible as horrible can get. Despite what one may feel about Baird's treatment of the horses in his charge, we must remain respectful, and direct our attention towards advocating for the horses that are now left behind.

A good many horsemen and equine advocates have for years, taken issue with practices employed by Dale Baird throughout the course of his career, in particular with the way that Baird has so callously disposed of his horses via auction kill pens and/or the backstretch "meat man." I think we can all agree that the time has come to see to it that not another single Baird racehorse is dumped at an auction kill-pen or sent to slaughter!

The time has come to let Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort know our feelings on this. MTR Park has made millions of dollars from Baird trained racehorses over the past several decades, and there is no time like the present for them to give back to the horses who have generated so much profit for them for so many years.

Please write a letter to MTR Park asking them to step up to the plate for any Baird owned/trained horses that are in need of being safely rehomed and/or retired from racing. It is only right that MTR Park work towards facilitating and funding the safety and well being of any Baird owned horses that might need transitioning into new homes or careers.

Lets work together to see to it that not another single Baird runner will know the terror and pain of a grisly death at a horse slaughter plant.

Please contact MTR Park today and respectfully urge them to do everything within their power to see to it that any and all "retiring" racehorses remain safe and are transitioned into loving homes. We owe the horses this much, as does MTR Park.
Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort
Route 2
Chester, West Virginia 26034
Phone: [phone]-HOT!
E-mail: [e-mail]
Edson R. Arneault
President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board
MTR Gaming Group, Inc.
www.mtrgaming.com/
Steven D. Overly, VP, Business and Legal Affairs
[phone]
[e-mail]



Thank you!

Gail

[mickeyfan3]

Just back in town...apparently too late to vote as I can't find it, but will gladly write a letter.