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Humans acting humanely?
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| David Simon |
By David Simon – The Garden Island
On Friday, Jess Jackson, co-owner of the prized filly Rachel Alexandra, announced something both surprising and refreshing. The Preakness winner
and overwhelming favorite for the Belmont will not
be running in next week’s final leg of the Triple Crown.
The reasons for the decision were so simple, it was almost odd.
“All of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her... We feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation,” Jackson said.
Um, what?
Did a horse owner just pull a world-class Thoroughbred out of the final prestigious race of the year because it is in the horse’s best interest?
It seems that while yes, there are other reasons to keep the filly healthy (future breeding potential) and in peak condition for races down the road, there is a hefty $1 million purse just sitting there a week from now with Rachel’s (owner’s) name already penciled on it.
Not to mention the endorsement possibilities that come with winning two legs of the Triple Crown and having future generations wonder whether this horse would have been an all-time great had she run in Kentucky.
So, it’s a no-go? To me, this was good news.
Especially in a time when we’ve seen a number of people disregarding the humane treatment of animals for selfish reasons, if any reasons at all.
Just reading the cover of this very paper in the recent weeks, you would have seen such instances.
On May 15, 125 fighting cocks were taken into protective custody by the Kaua‘i Humane Society after being confiscated from a cockfight in Kapa‘a by the Kaua‘i Police Department’s specialized unit.
A large majority of those have already been, or are set to be euthanized since they are either too dangerous or too damaged to live.
In the last two months, two endangered Hawaiian monk seals were killed in or near Kaua‘i waters.
It seems that the cause may be fishermen who mistakenly thought the seals were feasting on their prey, or it might have just been someone’s idea of “fun.”
The Kaua‘i Humane Society has a number of pets that have been abused by their owners, or by their owner’s significant other.
They say that many times in domestic disputes, an abuser may turn on the family pet as a target in order to make a point.
I am not a PETA member. I’ve never hunted but I think that it does have its place. Fishing? An absolute necessity. I’d have to plead guilty to ridding my house of a bug or insect from time to time.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate seeing someone with much to gain from an animal putting actual thought and consideration into the animal’s well-being while making a financial decision.
The announcement made me think of a Seinfeld episode, which is just about the least surprising thing you could hear me say. It’s the one where Jerry proclaims to the world, “I choose not to run.”
No matter how many times I’ve seen it, that line always makes me smile.
Well, it made me smile again, hearing it Friday.
• David Simon, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or dsimon@kauaipubco.com
and overwhelming favorite for the Belmont will not
be running in next week’s final leg of the Triple Crown.
The reasons for the decision were so simple, it was almost odd.
“All of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her... We feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation,” Jackson said.
Um, what?
Did a horse owner just pull a world-class Thoroughbred out of the final prestigious race of the year because it is in the horse’s best interest?
It seems that while yes, there are other reasons to keep the filly healthy (future breeding potential) and in peak condition for races down the road, there is a hefty $1 million purse just sitting there a week from now with Rachel’s (owner’s) name already penciled on it.
Not to mention the endorsement possibilities that come with winning two legs of the Triple Crown and having future generations wonder whether this horse would have been an all-time great had she run in Kentucky.
So, it’s a no-go? To me, this was good news.
Especially in a time when we’ve seen a number of people disregarding the humane treatment of animals for selfish reasons, if any reasons at all.
Just reading the cover of this very paper in the recent weeks, you would have seen such instances.
On May 15, 125 fighting cocks were taken into protective custody by the Kaua‘i Humane Society after being confiscated from a cockfight in Kapa‘a by the Kaua‘i Police Department’s specialized unit.
A large majority of those have already been, or are set to be euthanized since they are either too dangerous or too damaged to live.
In the last two months, two endangered Hawaiian monk seals were killed in or near Kaua‘i waters.
It seems that the cause may be fishermen who mistakenly thought the seals were feasting on their prey, or it might have just been someone’s idea of “fun.”
The Kaua‘i Humane Society has a number of pets that have been abused by their owners, or by their owner’s significant other.
They say that many times in domestic disputes, an abuser may turn on the family pet as a target in order to make a point.
I am not a PETA member. I’ve never hunted but I think that it does have its place. Fishing? An absolute necessity. I’d have to plead guilty to ridding my house of a bug or insect from time to time.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate seeing someone with much to gain from an animal putting actual thought and consideration into the animal’s well-being while making a financial decision.
The announcement made me think of a Seinfeld episode, which is just about the least surprising thing you could hear me say. It’s the one where Jerry proclaims to the world, “I choose not to run.”
No matter how many times I’ve seen it, that line always makes me smile.
Well, it made me smile again, hearing it Friday.
• David Simon, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or dsimon@kauaipubco.com
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