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Although billed as the most exciting to minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby is far less exciting to the tens of thousands of Thoroughbreds forced to endure pain and suffering on behalf of human entertainment. In 1986, Ferdinand won the Kentucky Derby. When retired to stud, he was not fashionable enough for American breeders. So he was sold to Japan. He wound up not being fashionable enough for Japanese breeders. Ferdinand wound up slaughtered in Japan for meat. Killing is by clubbing the head. If Ferdinand was lucky, he received a bolt gun in between the eyes. Thoroughbred skeletons and bodies do not mature until they are five years old, yet they are forced to compete at two. In order to toughen up young legs, the horses receive chemical blistering or pinfiring on all four legs. They are also given performance enhancing drugs such as steriods and insulin. Thoroughbreds are intensely inbred. Over 65% of all Thoroughbreds alive today trace back to just one stallion born in 1961 - Northern Dancer. Thoroughbreds are subject to many genetic ailments, especailly eye problems, fertility problems, muscular problems known as "tying up" and suddenly dropping dead within one hour of a race or workout (once called sudden death syndrome http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00164.x/abstract Please avoid the Kentucky Derby and all horse racing events in the future. Thank you.