kill pens

I was pleased to see the increased dialogue regarding Thoroughbred aftercare and the additional steps needed to reduce the number of horses needing homes in two recent TDN articles, "Open Letter to the Industry: When Does a Thoroughbred Earn a Safe Retirement?" and "Aftercare Not Meeting the Need." Unfortunately, they are two ships passing in the night when all horse industry boats should be rowing in the same direction.  Regardless of the front-end attention from owners and industry, Thoroughbreds will always fall prey to abuse until the export of horses...

There are moments in every great industry where legacy is forged not in silence, but through bold, decisive action. As we approach the 2025 Keeneland September Sale, this is one of those moments. In last week's Thoroughbred Daily News, two pieces struck a deep and unsettling chord: the Thoroughbred Rescue Alliance's open letter titled "When Does a Thoroughbred Earn a Safe Retirement?" (Aug. 25), and Pat Cummings's "Aftercare Not Meeting The Need" (Aug. 28). As an industry of excellence, prestige, and tradition, these letters were hard to read--not because they're...

After Tracy Sheffield, the executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, posted on Facebook late Wednesday that a buyer at this week's annual TTA yearling sale named David O'Dwyer, who is a suspected kill pen purchaser, bought 11 horses at the Lone Star Park auction, in a Thursday message on X Highlander Training Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas reported that all of the yearlings were safe and bought by responsible parties. This story was first reported by The Paulick Report. Highlander's post said, "From communication we have had this morning...