Update: PETA has learned that the New York State Racing and Wagering Board has just announced a plan that it had previously formulated similar to what PETA proposed this morning, which will help ensure the safety of horses during the Belmont Stakes. PETA congratulates Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the board for taking these precautions. We urge the board to add the following critical measure: While currently New York Racing Association (NYRA) veterinarians are required for the administration of Lasix, we urge the board to require that only NYRA veterinarians supply and administer any medication, supplements, and vitamins as well as any other substances given to horses during the entire stakes barn-detention period in order to guarantee the safety of the horses.

I'll Have Another, the thoroughbred who recently won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, would seem to be in an exalted position as the Belmont Stakes approaches—but even horses at the top of the racing world are at constant risk. I'll Have Another's trainer, Doug O'Neill, has been in hot water for drugging violations for more than a decade, and there's no reason to trust him now. That's why PETA is asking New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to take special measures to see that I'll Have Another is protected in the days leading up to the final Triple Crown race on June 9.

Time to Step Up Against Shady Training

O'Neill has been cited more than a dozen times for violating numerous drug rules in multiple states, culminating in his suspension last week by the California Horse Racing Board. According to a recent New York Times report, O'Neill's horses also break down or show signs of injury at more than twice the national rate.

Gov. Cuomo cares about thoroughbreds—he recently took control of horse racing in his state, suspending the badly managed New York Racing Association and forming a government board charged with reforming drug use and protecting the health and safety of horses and jockeys. So PETA is urging Gov. Cuomo to follow through on this goal by putting I'll Have Another on round-the-clock surveillance in the five days before the Belmont to make sure that he won't be doped up on any of the dangerous substances that O'Neill has used in the past.

Jeff Kubina|cc by 2.0

How You Can Help Horses

If the governor acts, it will be another in a series of significant measures that PETA has helped put in place for horses used in racing, so let's keep the momentum going—speak up for horses today!

Paolo Camera / CC by 2.0

Here's some good news: The thoroughbred racing rag The Blood-Horse reports that the TV ratings for last weekend's Belmont Stakes (the last "jewel" in the Triple Crown) were the lowest ever in the 50 years that ratings have been tracked. Apparently, Saturday-evening TV viewers have better things to do than watch a dozen horses get flogged for a mile and a half.

In a New York Times blog post the following day, Bennett Liebman, a member of the New York Racing Association's board of directors, opined on the many reasons for "the decline of horse racing," among which, he says, are corruption, drugs, and "the use of whips on horses and the catastrophic injuries we have seen in major races," all of which "have contributed to the public perception that horse racing is a cruel sport which has little concern for the health or the safety of the horse."

I think Liebman is on to something. Do you agree that horse racing is on its last (broken) legs?

Written by Alisa Mullins

It's a hazy day here on the Right Coast. As I watch leaves fall and steam rise from my soy mocha, the mood is set for a lazy (yet highly skilled) meander through gossip rags for fun stuff. Here are my faves:

• Warning! Seals can literally cute you to death.
• Kiddies catch E. coli from petting zoo. Animals unnaturally held captive. Why is this still appealing?
• "Clucking" mad at KFC? I bet that's why this chicken wanders through its drive-through.
• The real Scorpion King creatively atones for his sins. Love this!
• Sesame Street reps tofu! The revolution is here!
• Lacking imagination and compassion, yet another "Elmer Fudd" accidentally shoots himself.
• Hug a Vegetarian Day is right around the corner. Show some love, y'all!
• This is both creepy and thought-provoking.

Thanks for stopping by! Catch you next time, and don't forget to hug all your vegetarian friends.

Written by Missy Lane

As arguably tasteless as he may be, Triumph the Insult Dog from the Late Night With Conan O'Brien show made some excellent points in his coverage of the recent Belmont Stakes. As I've pointed out before with humor articles and videos, they often sneak in a few insightful points about whatever act or industry they've set in their crosshairs. In the few moments when he's not busy insulting virtually every attendee of the Belmont Stakes, Triumph does just that.

The horseracing industry is just another instance of the same mentality behind dogfighting (although Triumph may have said so less eloquently). The difference is that horses are raced and killed out in the open.

Besides a chuckle, what I took away from this video was a sense of how unimportant horseracing itself is to the Belmont Stakes. Most of what I saw was just noticeably intoxicated people standing in the hot sun, cracking wise and goofing off. I've enjoyed (and been) this very spectacle at every low-cost local beer garden or outdoor concert I've ever stumbled home from. I don't recall once stopping to think how desperately the event needed horses running in a giant loop to complete the experience.

To see Triumph in all his potty-mouthed glory, check out the video here:

Posted by Sean Conner

Shortly after Eight Belles’ death, I wrote something of a dissertation in response to some folks who had taken the opportunity to claim that horses love racing because they’re, like, “born to run” or whatever. But here’s a little visual aid for anyone who remains unconvinced. This clip is from the Brooklyn Handicap stakes race that took place on June 6 at Belmont. The jockey is John Velazquez, and the horse is Nite Light—who, as far as I can tell, likes horse racing about as much as I do.

After much hype around Big Brown's quarter hoof split, with the spotlight on the trainer and the owner and everyone else surrounding this “pushed” horse, it seems that he was finally allowed to run what may well have been the first natural race of his life. And the result is he showed how he really feels: tired and lame. Big Brown’s jockey did the right thing and pulled him up, sensing that the horse just didn’t have it in him. History has been made.Ten states already ban steroids, and the rest need to follow suit. PETA will be pushing for illegal and legal drug use to end and for horses to be allowed to be themselves. If money can’t be made honestly and comes at the expense of breaking animals' bodies and souls, then it shouldn’t be made at all. Please join us in urging Congress to properly investigate horse-racing cruelty by using this web form.PETA demonstrators flooded the Belmont yesterday in huge numbers. Here are some pictures:








Photo Credit: Jason Allen Photography

It’s kinda like when someone asks you to do a project for them at the office, and you forward it on to a colleague in the hopes that you can get out of doing the work yourself. Except when most people do that, it means that, like, a report doesn’t get written or something. When a State’s Attorney tries to do it with a high-profile case, that can be a little bit more of a big deal. A few days ago, PETA called on Kentucky's Commonwealth Attorney Dave Stengel to investigate criminal charges in the Eight Belles case under the state's cruelty-to-animals statute, but we’ve just learned that Mr. Stengel has denied jurisdiction (i.e., he’s trying to wiggle out of it). So we urgently need to put pressure on the governor to tell Dave Stengel to do his job. You can help us out by writing to Governor Steve Beshear through our online form.The horseracing industry would like nothing better than to see this story go away, and it’s absolutely imperative that we find out the full details surrounding Eight Belles’ death while we still can.--JackPosted by Jack Shepherd, Marketing Coordinator

Well hello there, ladies and gents!Awww! Aren't you sweet tryin' to give your love something special? Well, if you've been stressed about how to get the attention of the cute veg girl at your job or just need some fresh ideas for the hot vegan you've already scored, look no further!From ritzy getaways to love on the cheap, there's something for everyone in here. I've compiled this list by scouring the Earth (well, the Web) and interviewing countless awesome vegan couples. As you can imagine, there's no shortage of those around this here campfire. Let's get this party started!NUMBER 10!This one's for the big spenders. Take that dime piece of yours (that's slang for calling them a "10") to a vegan bed and breakfast in the country of their choosing. NUMBER 9!Switch out the household cleaning products in your house with cruelty-free options. So selfless. So precious. Big brownie points coming your way!NUMBER 8!Have a picnic! Cook for them—the most important ingredient is love. It doesn't matter if it's lopsided and slightly burnt—you made it, and that means the world to your loved one. Of course, if you're quite adventurous, you may peruse VegCooking.com for amazing recipes at the click of a mouse.NUMBER 7!Have a vegan potluck/dinner party. Encourage your new flame by gathering his or her friends around in yummy support. Whether or not your friends are veg yet, it's an awesome opportunity to put animal rights into focus in a positive way while creating a supportive environment for veggieness to flourish. And of course, there's the free food factor :-)NUMBER 6!Feeling a little more frisky? You can give a box o' cruelty-free love containing vegan chocolate syrup, vegan whipped cream, vegan high heels, and edible undies. NUMBER 5!Cruelty-free makeup is always a good choice! You may peruse this classy site for options. Though I would strongly recommend a gift certificate, as trying to guess at a thing like foundation shade can get messy.NUMBER 4!Take her on a shopping spree! I mean, really. This is easy-peasy. :-) www.petacatalog.org <-- get at that. Buy her flowers, chocolates, clothes ... the options are endless!NUMBER 3!Take him on a shopping spree! Get that man a snazzy leather-free wallet. If that's a little too pricey, you can try one made of duct tape. You can also go classic with a nice pair of kicks or a belt.NUMBER 2!Volunteer at an animal sanctuary together. Oh my word! Can you hear my heart pitter-patter? My personal favorite is The Elephant Sanctuary. It's probably the greatest thing I can think of. If you have no idea of the torturous conditions from which some of these magnificent creatures are rescued, look here and then here. Now that you are rightfully enraged, go here. (You see?! The greatest thing EVER!) As you sop away the tears—or simmer down your desire to tase a circus "trainer"—consider a peaceful getaway to Tennessee.NUMBER 1!GO VEGAN! Oh, come on, now. Like you didn't see this one coming! Honestly, you adore the one you're with, and since they're with you, it clearly proves their discriminating taste. So why not explore what else touches their heart? Even Oprah's trying veganism out for a whole 21 days. Surely you could give it a little go? Well, there you have it—the latest installment of ways to wow your vegan honey. I hope you are inspired to great feats of animal-friendly love.--MissyPosted by Missy Lane, Public Information Specialist