Suicide race threat to horses July 2005
Horses are dying for entertainment, not in some far away land, but right here in the good ol' US of A. Each year during the Omak Stampede, a rodeo event held in Washington State, horses are ridden down a nearly vertical incline at breakneck speeds before plunging into a raging river. This is just the beginning of a four day/four night grueling race know as “The World-Famous Omak Suicide Race.” Over the past 21 years during which the race has been monitored by animal welfare organizations, twenty horse deaths have been recorded. The horses have died from heart attacks, falls, collisions and drowning. Heralded as a Native American rite of passage, the Omak Stampede is nothing more than a publicity stunt organized by the publicity chairman for the event back in 1935. It is shocking that such blatant cruelty is allowed to continue in the name of entertainment and profit. This year's Suicide Race will be held on August 11-14 – your letters are urgently needed to help stop this callous abuse of horses. Please follow the links below to find out what you can do to help.
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