Just About Right...Again

William Rhoden, longtime sportswriter for the New York Times, is one of the best in the business. In fact, I quote him in my thesis. An excerpt:

Two months before Barbaro died, longtime New York Times sportswriter, William Rhoden, noted that Barbaro had "become a multilayered symbol of heart, heroism and animal rights." While I would substitute the term "welfare" for "rights," Rhoden has the ingredients just about right. The "heart and heroics" are part of Barbaro's appeal as a survivor, but it was the "animal rights" piece" that underscores the role that Barbaro's injury played in attracting a larger audience.

I go on to suggest that Barbaro's transformation from "glistening thoroughbred" to "injured animal" helped broaden his appeal to the larger world of animal lovers versus horse people and/or racing fans. But enough abut me.

I was thrilled to see that Rhoden has a fabulous piece in Friday's New York Times about horse slaughter. He recounts the Stacy Hancock story that resulted in her persuading her husband, Arthur, to buy back Gato del Sol from his German owners and let him live out his life on their farm. It also puts Alex Waldrop of the NTRA on the spot, forcing him to acknowledge that slaughter does exist, although he attributes it to "a high demand for horse meat around the world."

Regardless, Rhoden's authority and credibility go a long way to exposing "racing's dirty little secret" and reminding the industry to put the interests of its athletes about its financial needs: "A sport that refers to its animals as athletes shouldn't send them to slaughter. This industry desperately needs an infusion of ethics and backbone so that it can uphold our covenant with the American thoroughbred."

Bravo.