As a former aspiring jockey, I understand the routine and deadly injuries that are the dark side of racing ("Horse deaths at Preakness highlight stark reality of racing," May 22).
Every year more than 1,000 horses die, which is essentially one out of every 200 races. I watched with millions of others as high profile races took the lives of Ruffian, Barbaro and Eight Belles. Thousands more are injured. And as for the human riders, many jockeys you will never hear of end up sipping their meals through a straw on permanent disability.
This year's early 2016 Preakness races at Pimlico saw races kill Pramedya and Homeboykris. The first shattered her front leg and was euthanized while Homeboykris won his race then died of an apparent heart attack soon afterward.
A 2012 investigative report titled "Breakdown: Death and Disarray at America's Racetracks" analyzed more than 150,000 different races and found that most horses that die racing had pre-existing injuries before being ridden to their deaths. The data showed that 6,600 horses broke down or showed signs of injury.
Records also show trainers at U.S. tracks were caught illegally doping horses some 3,800 times, which likely represents only a tiny percentage of all such cases. Every week, 24 horses died racing, and this year horses are still dying at a rate of three every day.
Nationally, on Preakness weekend this year, 16 horses were injured on flat tracks and four died in a single day, according to Equibase, the official supplier of national horse racing information and statistics.
Since the 2012 report came out, the number of horses injured or killed has risen, despite the industry's hollow assurances to Congress that racing is getting safer for horses and riders.
Owners and trainers continue to use applied muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs and other medications on their horses. Nature never intended for horses to have such chemicals injected into their fragile bodies.
What is wrong with people who show such disdain for defenseless animals, and why do we still allow such things to happen in the U.S.?
I understand everyone wants to be entertained, but like dog and cock fighting, horse racing has long ago shown that it needs to be banned. Where is Congress on the issue now?
A.J. Castilla, Boston, Mass.