Shapiro: “safe retirement of
New York’s racehorses”
ALBANY – The average racehorse will have a career of two to three
years but lives 25 to 30 years. Equine caregivers urged the Assembly Committee
on Racing and Wagering to provide funding for those that are retired.
Among those who testified at an Albany hearing on Tuesday was Ulster County resident Brian Shapiro, New York State director of the Humane Society of the US.
“The Humane Society the United States on behalf of our many supporters in New York State respectfully recommends establishing such a fund dedicated to the safe retirement of New York’s racehorses,” Shapiro said.
The supporters urged allocation of $5 million in the budget, but committee Chairman Gary Pretlow said that wouldn’t go far enough.
The equine advocates are opposed to owners selling their retired horses to companies in Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered for food.
