DxE activist Tonia Moore submitted this letter to the editor of the New York Times, responding to Joe Drape's June 2nd article titled "Churchill Downs to Cease Racing as It Investigates Deaths of Horses." Although it was not ultimately published, this letter and others like it can influence the journalists and editors writing these stories. If you see a story about animals that leaves out the animals' perspective, or even the perspective of animal advocates and giving a one-side narrative, consider contacting the journalist/editor to share your feedback or writing a letter to the editor which may be published in response to the piece.

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Your story on the shutdown of the Kentucky Derby racetrack failed to provide important context: the growing worldwide movement to abolish horseracing.

Animal advocates point to the brutal treatment of unwilling athletes – practices include whipping, doping, and painful control devices such as tongue ties – and the regularity of horrific injuries, for which they are killed. The organization Animal Rising recently disrupted major British races, including the Grand National, calling for an end to horse exploitation for entertainment, while Direct Action Everywhere holds protests every time a horse dies at California’s Golden Gate Fields, which had eight casualties in the first five months of 2023.

Joe Drape's story quoted only leaders of groups in bed with the industry, the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. (A reporter's instinct for skepticism should be aroused by the very names!) It says Churchill Downs is implementing measures “to discourage trainers from running unsound horses” without questioning why such measures weren’t already in place.

Major media outlets have reported on the increasing outcry over this abusive tradition masquerading as a sport. I hope your future coverage provides a more complete picture.