Oklahoma Racing Industry Takes Stance Against Horse Slaughtering

Flyers are posted at Remington Park facilities as a warning: any trainers caught selling a horse for slaughter that raced there will no longer be welcome.

About 15 thoroughbred horses in one of the Remington Park barns are like family to C.R. Trout. He’s been an owner and trainer of racing horses for decades. “We breed and raise our own babies,” he said. “My wife names every one of them.”

The horses have brought both monetary and emotional value to his life.

“They give you so much enjoyment,” Trout said.

So the thought of any horse being sold for slaughter doesn't sit well with him

“It’s repulsive to think that something that gives us so much enjoyment and we would turn them to slaughter – it’s just horrible to think about,” he explained.

Remington Park officials share that same sentiment.

“There are individuals in Oklahoma who buy and sell horses in Mexico for the purpose of slaughter, so we want to make sure that no horses that race at Remington park end up with that fate,” said Vice President of Operations Matt Vance.

Spotters from various Oklahoma horse racing retirement programs will be at livestock auctions around the state to enforce the new policy. They'll flip lips to check for the tattooed ID.

“That lets us know that it may have been a horse that raced here at Remington and we’re going to get involved,” Vance said.

And they'll get involved by banning those trainers from ever having a stall at Remington Park again. Because they say these horses are prize-worthy even after their racing careers come to an end, and they deserve to be treated with dignity.

Remington Park officials said they spend about $30,000 a year to make sure its horses get to go through a retirement program.

Federal law forced all slaughterhouses in the US to shut down several years ago.

And in Oklahoma, anyone convicted of selling horse-meat for human consumption could face up to a year in prison and or a $1,000 fine.