The Issue: Maureen Callahan’s call to ban horse racing after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit died.
I think Maureen Callahan is misinformed when it comes to horse racing and the care of race horses (“It’s long past time we finally canceled this brutal ‘sport,’ ” Dec. 7).
I worked for over 40 years at Aqueduct Racetrack as a plumber and witnessed first-hand how well horses are treated.
Horse racing is a business. The owners and trainers make money by winning or placing up to fourth. There is no money in abusing a horse.
The people who care for these horses really have love for them. They take pride in caring for them.
John Buonagura
Stewart Manor
In reply to Callahan’s cry for a ban on horse racing: This “extreme” suggestion is not without merits.
Horse racing has been for many years now all about speed. Breeding has long been about breeding the fastest, and a “damn the torpedoes” approach with respect to equine soundness.
While admitting this and welcoming fresh insight and change, let us not forget that the thoroughbreds are made to run. Dr. Fager, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Winning Colors and the Chilean mare Davita are all examples that at the high echelons of the breed, these equines can run heroically and soundly.
A serious move toward pure quality racing should be pursued.
Raymond Roberts
Bergenfield, NJ
There is no reason thoroughbred horses could not start one year older — as 4-year-olds instead of 3-year-olds.
They would then be able to handle the physical stress better.
Let us not ban the sport and throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Vern Trotter
Manhattan
Kudos to Callahan. Horse racing is a cruel “sport.”
The owners and trainers should be the ones forced to run the tracks and live in 12-by-12 stalls, not the horses.
Kreg Ramone
Manhattan
It is with great sadness we witnessed the death of an amazing equine athlete, Medina Spirit.
It is true that racing and many world-recognized sports need oversight. There are indeed “bad apples” in most businesses.
However, I take great issue with Callahan’s column. Governmental oversight is coming in January 2022 over this industry, thus a ban is completely ridiculous. Ousting bad and corrupt trainers is the positive direction.
Mattie Moore
Wilmington, Del.
The Issue: Backlash from the Democratic Socialists of American after Rep. Jamaal Bowman visited Israel.
The “Democratic” Socialists of America have turned on one of their own — Rep. Jamaal Bowman — for his sin of visiting Israel (“DSA Profile in Intolerance,” Editorial, Dec. 6).
Socialists once believed “anti-Semitism is the socialism of fools.” Now the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement directed at Israel is supported by The Squad and the DSA, showing that the socialists themselves these days are the anti-Semitic fools.
David Rabinovitz
Brooklyn
What exactly do these “socialists” have against the only Jewish state?
Is it that it’s a democratic state that provides its citizens with the highest standard of living and greatest level of civil rights in the region?
Maybe it’s the fact that it successfully defends itself from the terrorist attacks propagated by Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization?
Or could it be that it’s the only state in the world run by Jews? The answer is all of the above.
Steve Heitner
Middle Island
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