Horseracing Wrongs protests at Travers: ‘You wouldn’t do this to your dog’

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (WRGB) — With every major race in New York, there is always a group stationed outside the main gate protesting the sport, and how horses are treated.

The Horseracing Wrongs group has been advocating for rules and laws against horse racing, saying that it’s abuse. They tell fans as they walk in, how many horses die each year due to racing.

Their major message Saturday was, “you wouldn’t do this to your dog.”

Horseracing Wrongs founder Patrick Battuello:

“The goal is to raise awareness to what’s happening to these horses on a day-to-day basis and to expose the industry. It is sold as a sport when in fact, it’s no different than the dog racing which has been banned 43 states on moral grounds, including New York, so our message is really quite simple: ‘If they were whipping dogs today would you be here?’ and the answer is no.”

CBS 6 talked to Pat McKenna who is the VP of communications at NYRA and he ensured the safety of the horses and said NYRA is striving to get better.

“Again, there’s always more work to be done to ensure the safe as possible an environment for racing and training but the culture of safety that is in place firmly here at NYRA has been successful.”

Horseracing Wrongs will continue to protest and raise awareness about horse racing until it is stopped.