October 14, 2008
Michael Iavarone, Co-President/Co-CEO
Richard J. Schiavo, Co-President/Co-CEO
International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, Inc.
595 Stewart Ave., Suite 810
Garden City, NY 11530
1 page via fax
Dear Messrs. Iavarone and Schiavo,
On behalf of PETA’s two million members and supporters, I am writing to extend our condolences on Big Brown’s injuries, which are reportedly serious enough to be career ending, and to ask you to take a very difficult step. For the good of future generations of thoroughbreds, we ask you not to stand Big Brown at stud. Rather than pass on the traits of a horse who has been plagued by injuries throughout his brief career, we ask that you geld and retire Big Brown.
Following the breakdown and death of Eight Belles, questions that had been confined to racing insiders became public: What has happened to thoroughbreds? Why are more than 700 horses suffering catastrophic injuries resulting in deaths on the race track every year? Some of the problems are attributed to breeding. Stallions with the fewest starts, whose careers are cut short by injury or fear of injury, are more likely to be bred than horses with longer racing careers. Logical people are questioning why unsound horses are being bred.
One of the issues is that the use of legal drugs such as phenylbutazone has contributed to keeping unsound horses competing and thus covering up weaknesses. But as important, the desire for speed appears to have trumped common sense. Numerous media outlets reported that all 20 of the horses who competed in this year’s Kentucky Derby had genes from Native Dancer—a winning horse who likely passed along a tendency toward unsoundness along with his speed.
Native Dancer, too, was retired for leg injuries. Like Native Dancer, Big Brown’s ascendency has been marred by ongoing leg and hoof problems, including a quarter crack in his hoof just before the Belmont Stakes. Will you set aside your own desire for profit and do what’s right for the horses? These animals have brought you fame and fortune. Perhaps now you could find it in your hearts to do them a favor.
Best regards,
Kathy Guillermo
Director of Research
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine
Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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