05/02/2026
The Kentucky Derby glamorizes speed and tradition, but behind the spectacle is widespread cruelty.
Horses are routinely pushed past safe limits, trained with harsh methods, and often injured or killed on the track.
Young horses are bred and raced before their bodies are mature; those that don’t win are discarded, sold to slaughter, or subjected to neglect.
If we care about animals, we must demand stronger welfare laws.
We have witnessed the toll—physical wear and trauma that racing has had on our herd.
Today we are honoring our herd of ex race horses who were given a second chance along with Ferdinand who wasn’t given that chance.
Ferdinand won the 1986 Kentucky Derby and was the Horse of the year in 1987 and was sent to slaughter in Japan in 2002.
May his legacy be a message to stop this cruel industry.
Over 25,000 US horses were sent to slaughter in 2025.
40% were from the racing industry.