In the world of sports journalism, there exists a troubling trend where certain writers, who are also avid racing fans, wield their influential platforms to perpetuate deceptions and misleading narratives about the horse racing industry. This article delves into the concerning practices of these individuals, with a particular focus on the work of Joe Drape of The New York Times and John Cherwa of the LA Times, and their attempts to whitewash the industry's dark realities.

Uncovering the Troubling Truths Behind the Facade

The Facade of Safety Improvements

The article examines the claims made by John Cherwa in a recent column, where he asserts that the rules implemented after the tragic events at Santa Anita in 2019 have made California racing safer. However, Cherwa himself acknowledges that these improvements were driven by "intense public and media scrutiny," rather than a genuine concern for the well-being of the horses. The author argues that the industry only acted to address the problem when its business was facing a public reckoning, and that for decades, they did nothing as horses were being killed "by the boatloads."

The Deceptive Portrayal of Declining Fatalities

Cherwa's column also notes a recent backsliding in the progress made, with the number of fatalities in California starting to rise again. The author points out that even with the removal of the 12 deaths attributed to anemia at Los Alamitos, the pace of fatalities this year is still on track to surpass the previous years. The article highlights Cherwa's admission that "horses will die in racing, despite all efforts," and the head of HISA's (Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority) concession that they likely won't be able to maintain the low levels of fatalities seen this year.

The Manipulation of Statistics

The article delves deeper into Cherwa's observation that the industry's "metrics" only include racing kills, conspicuously ignoring deaths that occur during training and in stalls. The author asserts that this is a deliberate attempt by the industry to "present a misleading view of deaths" and "play with statistics" to create a false impression of progress.

The Fallacy of Equine Welfare Claims

The article takes issue with Cherwa's and HISA's head Lisa Lazarus's claims that racehorses receive superior veterinary care compared to horses in the wild or on farms. The author argues that a "good life is more than having the bare necessities met," and that the existence of racehorses, with their lack of autonomy, forced drugging, and regular beatings, is not necessarily better than non-existence. The author poses a thought-provoking question: if one were to be reborn into such a life, would they choose it over non-existence?

The Misguided Concern for the Thoroughbred Breed

The article addresses Cherwa's lament that the disappearance of horse racing would lead to the extinction of the Thoroughbred breed in the United States. The author counters this argument, suggesting that the well-being of the horses should be the primary concern, rather than the preservation of a breed that has been exploited for the industry's financial gain.In conclusion, this article presents a scathing critique of the deceptive practices employed by certain racing journalists, who use their influential platforms to perpetuate a false narrative about the safety and welfare of the sport. It calls for a more honest and transparent approach to reporting on the realities of the horse racing industry, one that prioritizes the well-being of the animals over the industry's financial interests.