After the finish line

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:23:34 GMT

I love horses as my Dad took me to the race track in NJ. I fell in love with a horse name Carry Back. I got to go to the stables and feed him and watched him win the race. When my kids were young I took them horse back riding to learn and experience how beautiful they are. Living in California now it's sad to see how some treat their horses. With so many fires out here it's hard for people to keep there horses safe. Maybe one day there will be a Govenment Law for all States to follow that will protect horses and other animals. People often forget animals are God's creation too.

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Wendi Neckameyer St Louis MO — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:12:30 GMT

CANTER is a wonderful organization and I am thrilled that you are highlighting the heroic efforts of Ms. Lindemann and others involved. Thank you for bringing this to the public's attention.

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Sheri Pederson, Bloomington MN — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:44:34 GMT

by some stroke of luck, my horse did NOT have to go to CANTER NE - thankfully someone saw something in her and bought her to give her a new career. She is now a good friend and teacher and I am blessed to have her in my life. Thank you for highlighting a great program and I hope the media attention makes more tracks think about working harder to find a good life for their horses after the track!

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Joan Chapman, Cheshire, CT. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:47:57 GMT

Hi Brian -

As the owner of Joanie's Chief winner of the Champagne Stakes at Belmont and involved in racing for many years I am familiar with this situation.

Ms. Lindeman is doing fine work in saving these animals who only want to give us pleasure. CANTER is an organization which is saving animals and can always use more donations.

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Judy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:05:47 GMT

At the referral of CANTER New England two years ago, I adopted a granddaughter of Seattle Slew from a trainer at Suffolk Downs. She was headed for slaughter. She is now with us in Florida living a wonderful life. She is beautiful, talented, good natured and is currently being trained as a showhorse. Who would have thought that I could own the granddaughter of one of the greatest horse athletes of all time - for $400. All of these horses need to have a second chance and a good home.

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Courtney, CT — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:08:25 GMT

I'm so looking forward to this! I learned to ride on an ex-racer lesson horse, and she was just THE BEST. There are some real gems out there waiting to start their new lives - organizations like CANTER are doing an incredible service to the equine (and equestrian) communities!

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Melody Taylor-Scott, Southborough, MA — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:49:12 GMT

Canter does some wonderful work, they are tireless in the pursuit of saving race horses that either don't make it at the track or are all done racing. Canter is a nation wide organization and are responsible for saving the lives of countless horses. They deserve any donation you can send their way!
Hear! Hear! for CANTER!
Melody Taylor-Scott

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Debbie, Ohio — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:05:10 GMT

Thank you for the story on CANTER and the work Ms. Lindemann does to save horses from slaughter. All horses deserve better than being sent to a slaughter house.

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Wendy, Traverse City, MI — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:09:40 GMT

Thanks to my involvement as a volunteer for CANTER I am now the very proud owner of Jaguar Hope, a son of Eclipse award winner Turkoman which also makes him a grandson of the late great Alydar. He's proven again and again to be the horse of my dreams.

Thanks CANTER for all that you do.

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Jessica Creighton, Belmont, NH — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:15:06 GMT

Thank you for such a fantastic clip!!
This main stream attention is so huge for the work that CANTER, the TRF, Lorita, and all the other hard working folks at Suffolk and tracks around the country are doing to make sure these athletes end up in safe situations!

Major Kudos!

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Kelly, KS — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:23:49 GMT

Thank you for airing this! It's time the American public becomes aware of horse slaughter on a grand scale!

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Courtney Vanderbilt — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:26:43 GMT

Many of the racehorses rescued from Suffolk Downs are at The New England Thoroughbred Retirement in Deerfield, New Hampshire. Please help support them!!!

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Toni Cotter, Queens, New York — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:36:04 GMT

Seeing this piece made my heart big and beating hard again. I have this huge dream plan to help both animals and people who ordinarily would not have the chance to experience love and fulfillment with each other. And as a big animal lover-especially horses-this was the best segment I've seen in a long time. How can I get more information on this?
Comments and suggestions welcome!

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Christine; Cleveland,OH — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:48:48 GMT

It is nice that they had this report on so that I know that a horse that I've had my eye on for a few years, Watchtower(IRE), went to a good home. She claimed him and raced him once then I presume she retired him. He had a big career in front of him and presumably got hurt. Big beautiful boy! I would like to add however that horses on the racetrack are not all "programmed". Many of them are as docile as lap dogs. Every horse is different. And THAT is the true beauty of thoroughbreds. They are about the most emotional animal (including humans) that God ever put on this earth.

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Linda, Texas — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:52:10 GMT

Thank you so much NBC for showing these wonderful athletes when their racing days are over, that they can brighten many people's lives. Recently, a group of FOBs (Fans of Barbaro) have pooled our money to care and retrain a magnificient horse who has run with the best! He is sweet, loving, and so beautiful. Others need help and rescues, especially, could truly use some donations and/or volunteers.

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Tracy, Quechee, VT — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:10:22 GMT

Great story and Canter provides a wonderful service but what about the REAL HERO of Suffolk Downs, David Sears and all his volunteers in Deerfield, NH? He's the guy that takes those horses to HIS farm and boards them, feeds them, pays their Vet & farrier bills and retrains them so that they can go on to do other things. He started the nonprofit organization the New England Thoroughbred Retirement Center. He not only rescues them but he has the only organization that has the facility to KEEP them for observation, care, and retraining. He does it all without financial help - any - from Suffolk Downs. Everyone should check out this organization's website and PLEASE help them by sending a financial contribution. www.retiredthoroughbreds.org

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Sadie, Holden, MA — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:20:38 GMT

That horse Watchtower is now living a wonderful life at the New England Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Deerfield, NH. They are the only NE horse rescue & retirement center with their own barn & pastures.
Thanks NBC for bringing this to the evening news!

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RHANDY Dennis, MA — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:31:47 GMT

Great article, thanks so much to NBC & Canter. Does anyone know about that guy in NH who started a rescue and retirement center for Thoroughbreds on his farm? Everybody is talking about him, he just took Silver Scamp from Suffolk Downs. I hear he does an amazing job - the real horse whisperer!

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Ashley Dunnington — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:38:34 GMT

To Christine in Cleveland: We have Watchtower(IRE) at the New England Thoroughbred Retirement Center! He is our flagship stallion and our farm has been renamed after him. There is lots to read about him on our website: www.retiredthoroughbreds.org Thanks so much for your interest!!! We have retired over 40 horses from Suffolk Downs.

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Nancy Fenwick — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:47:36 GMT

Thanks Brian and NBC for a great segment! There are so many wonderful horses that have been retired from Suffolk Downs. One of the most heartwarming stories is of the Thoroughbred gelding Hansello. He was rescued by one of the Stewards at the racetrack. Hansello has his own trailer and visits schools and horse shows across New England promoting retired Thoroughbreds as riding horses.

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Amy Morgan Jennerstown, PA — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:52:52 GMT

Thank you so much for this piece!! It makes me so happy that the spot light is going to finally be on these wonderful athletes. Maybe we can end slaughter for good!

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Wendy P. Barrington, RI — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:54:08 GMT

I know who that guy is! My cousin volunteered there this summer. It's in Deerfield, NH and they had about 20 rescued thoroughbreds. Everything they need is right there. They have goats and Scottish Highland cattle too but they are just for fun. The real work is all about the horses. And they get to be part of herds and get turned out in pastures. Way to go NBC!

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Millicent Crosby, Deerfield, New Hampshire — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:56:30 GMT

What a great story. I live in Deerfield, New Hampshire where Canter and The New England Thoroughbred Retirement Center keep retired horses in my town. I see them on my way to work every morning...so beautiful.

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David Wilson, Andover, MA — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:09:45 GMT

Judy, The horse in the clip trotting over a cross-rail for the first time ever (I have no idea what I was thinking doing that for the camera) is Malibu Eclipse. He is a great-grandson of Seattle-Slew --- and a great-grandson of Secretariat! :-)

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Kathleen S, Gaithersburg, MD — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:29:47 GMT

I am disappointed in your fact checking. The majority of horses who ended up at slaughter in the US were not racehorses, yet it was the racehorse industry that was foremost instrumental in getting slaughter stopped here. Of the 40,000 horses sent to slaughter in the last year there were slaughter houses in the US, 10% were thoroughbreds. If you have some knowledge of basic math, that means 36,000 horses came from somewhere else. Where did they come from? Look at your neighbors. They did not come from the racetrack. Check the facts.

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Anna Cabot, Boxborough, Massachusetts — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:37:08 GMT

I just found The website! www.retiredthoroughbreds.org Now I want one!!! My husband and I are going to see the Thoroughbreds tomorrow! I hope others are inspired by this wonderful story. Thank you NBC!

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Mimi S. Princeton, MA — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:50:05 GMT

I think that is the same farm where the Shiekh Mohammed of Dubai recently retired one of his horses from his beloved Dubai Millennium. I think he found him running low level claiming races at Suffolk and scooped him right out of there. No slaughter house for him.

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Fran Burns Monkton MD — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:08:07 GMT

Great story! There are many great legitimate TB rescues out there like Canter.. I hope folks will learn from this story and donate some time to volunteer. I own several thoroughbreds - one I rescued from Pimlico..and he is now actively showing in the hunter division as a poster "horse" for anti slaughter.. and I volunteer at Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue in Pa...like Canter a great rescue!!

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A.EDWARDS — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:49:27 GMT

Good to see that their is some people that will try to help the horses.bush did not help the horse that much;I pray that our new president will.God bless all the people that help any and all horses.Those that destroy the horses may god help you all.Im not rich but have taken in a few horses;just to keep them alive.SAVE ALL THE AMERICAN HORSES;AFTER ALL THEY ARE GOD CREATURES.

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Anita Murphy, Marshfield, MA. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:36:18 GMT

I had the pleasure of acquiring a thoroughbred stallion (Meadowwood Court) in 1986. He was being farmed for a bowed tendon. Since his formal racing days were over, I feared he might be headed for slaughter. Six years later, I sold him to a wonderful local farm where he showed at many events. He was loved by all the young and older riders who knew "Woody." He is now approaching his 29th birthday and resides in upper State NY with a very dear friend and communicator with animals. I am pleased to know there are groups like Canter that value such a remarkable and noble animal as the Thoroughbred.

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Jane, Monroe, CT — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:42:42 GMT

What a wonderful piece! Thank you, Brian and NBC, for highlighting this effort. Both CANTER and Suffolk Downs are to be commended for their commitment to providing good homes for these equine athletes. More tracks need to be proactive about the slaughter issue. We who love the sport and love its athletes look to the industry to help out the rescue groups like CANTER. It's a win-win proposition for everybody!

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Erica Cacchiotti Womelsdorf, Pa. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:00:41 GMT

My dear cousin I am so proud of you. You are one of those very rare diamonds that people are finally seeing but I have know my whole life.I am glad the public can finally see what I have known and saw my whole life. Thank you for tirelessly saving one race horse at a time. If it weren't for you our thouroughbred angel many horses would have been lost but because you care you have saved so many and spoke for them because they could not. Thank you for all you do. You are very important to the thoroughbred industry so keep flying babe. I also want to say thank you for saving Solar you are our very own true life hero. love you Erica

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Erica Cacchiotti Womelsdorf, Pa. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:30:21 GMT

Thank god for you. Because of you there were so many lives saved. so many lives lost but because god put an angel on earth like you so many lives were saved.
we love you,
erica and ashley

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Caroline Jaffe, Hammond, IN — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:59:53 GMT

Thank you so much for this article on the wonderful work CANTER is doing - and for raising the public consciousness about horse slaughter. I want to spell out what people can do to try to put an end to horse slaughter in the US and to ban export of US horses to slaughter in Canada and Mexico - and that is, PLEASE support HR 6598. Contact your US Representative and ask him/her to cosponsor that Bill. Please go to http://www.americansagainsthorseslaughter.com to join the grassroots citizens lobby group trying to get federal slaughter/export ban legislation passed.

THANK YOU again on behalf of the horses.

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Patricia Reece Culpeper,VA — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:08:21 GMT

Thank You for Speaking for these helpless Horses that finsh there days in a SLAUGHTER House.I think all race tracks should have the Suffolk Down's Track Policy.I have saved many OTTB's and they have ended up a Chidrens Horses or great for the show ring,or even just a trail horse .My 13yr old daughter shows 2 OTTB's out of the 5 that we own and has tooken many Ribbons and they have bought some much love to our family.I cant wait for the day to come and all Horses,Pony's,Mules,Foals,Minnies are Safe.The Sad thing is that the Owners/Trainer dont really care are try to find safe homes for the OTTB's.Onces these Beuitful Horses are retrained they really turn around fast and they show so much love.

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Lorraine Brown, New City,New York — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:28:41 GMT

Thanks to Brian Williams and NBC for featuring this heartwarming story about a courageous and compassionate woman who has been able to save so many retired horses from the cruelest fate of slaughter. I hope more people will become aware of how the horse slaughter problem and the need to pass legislation banning the brutal practice. I and many others have committed ourselves the last two years to getting our message across to our Congresspeople. Perhaps in the new Congress, we will finally see a law that shows humanity to our magnificent horses.

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mary cacchiotti womelsdorf, pa. — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:08:47 GMT

I have been a trainer for many years and I am so glad to finally see something good come out of it thanks to my neice Lorita. You are one in a million thanks for all of your hard work you do saving these beauitful animals we all love so much. I hope all race tracks around the country follow suit. "Lead the Way"
love Aunt Mary

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Jennifer, Granby, MA — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:27:44 GMT

KUDOS to Lorita and CANTER New England. I have had the pleasure to see both in action and they are truly tireless, working around the clock to help the horses. CANTER NE must have placed hundreds of horses over the years. I got to see them at the Northampton Fair (which is just about the bottom of the racing barrel) and I don't think those girls ate or slept the entire weekend, they were so focused on making sure every horse was safe. Lorita is a wonderful face not only for TB retirement but for TB racing. The industry needs more people like her who put the HORSES FIRST, as it's the horses that give the people a livelihood. Giving them a safe retirement is the least the people involved can do, whether a horse earns $1 or $1,000,000. Please consider giving a donation to CANTER NE or the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (the group Lorita is liaison for at Suffolk Downs - they provide permanent retirement homes for those horses who are most in need and are unlikely to be adopted, they are incredible)

http://www.trfinc.org

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Christine A Jubic aka MuleKist — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:01:32 GMT

Yes it is wonderful all the good work the rescues are doing, but more facilities and funding are needed. The racing industry enjoys millions of dollars in tax breaks and lucrative breeding incentives, so why not give back some of that to the horses to be used for a National American Equine Atheletes Rehoming & Retirement Fund...also did you know that Canter was banned from Michigan tracks? What is up with that?

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charise deMao — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:22:18 GMT

The Canter orginization and many others like them are working hard to rescue our racehorses from a tragic end.They should all be commended on how hard they work to achieve this 24/7 plus!!!! It is about time NBC and other news org.'s start keeping this story in the LIMELIGHT .You also need to expose our American livestock auctions and the abusive/neglectful incidents that go on daily at them with officials amd many(not all) animal control officers turning their back to it.It is an epidemic of extreme proportions and needs MAJOR SPOTLITE on it to get officials to do something.They use excuses like they don't have the money or time.If that is so -then how to we have the money to pay these officials at all!It is very tragic.We need the power of the press!

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Linda Otherlyn, Grand Rapids MI — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:25:30 GMT

Please call or write your Congressional Representative and both of your Senators to encourage them to co-sponsor, and expedite the current (or any future) legislation that would end the transport of American horses, to Canada or Mexico, for the purpose of slaughter. It is a brutal transport and horrible process, especially in Mexico. The horses suffer, and die a a terrible bloody death. Please go to the Americans Against Horse Slaughter website for more information on what you may do to help to end this disgrace.

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Anne Nadel, Marshfield, Vermont — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:36:03 GMT

As the proud and doting human of two geldings adopted through CANTER NE, one the grandson of both Seattle Slew and Alydar, Roostin' Houston, I was moved to tears by this story. These animals are born to make money for humans, and so often run into the ground. Until fairly recently, nobody realized how often they fell into sadder fates after the finish line. My Huey and Courage are proof that there can be a future for even older fellows like them (both were older than ten years when I brought them to Vermont two years ago). This terrific non-profit deserves each cent donated to them. I encourage everyone with a spare dollar to send it to them at CANTER New England, P.O. Box 3, Westborough, MA 01581. Most of their donations are less than $75 so every one counts!