Apollo was the last horse to have won the Run for the Roses without having raced as a 2-year-old — in 1882. Lucky winners such as Justify most likely will enjoy the stud’s life after his racing career ends. Because the United States has outlawed horse slaughter , some may be among the 130,000 horses that are herded into trailers annually and sent out of sight to die, horribly. While the Humane Society insists there is no humane way to slaughter horses given their unique biological makeup and advanced fight-or-flight reflex, Grandin says the Mexican abattoir is the worst-possible case. As repugnant as the thought is, and barring changes to breeding practices or incentives for horse adoptions, humane slaughter at home seems to be the better option.

Source: Washington Post May 09, 2018 00:00 UTC