CBS Evening News

Horse slaughter issue featured on CBS Evening News
posted at ThoroughbredTimes.Com
06-16-2004

The plight by many in the racing industry to bring an end to horse slaughter was featured during the "Eye on America" segment of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather on Wednesday.

During the segment, trainer Nick Zito was featured as one of the more high-profile members of the Thoroughbred industry that has taken a strong stance against horse slaughter, particularly in the wake of the news that 1986 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Ferdinand most likely met his demise in a slaughterhouse in Japan two years ago when he was deemed no longer useful as a stallion.

"Horses are part of our culture and when you lose your culture, you lose your soul," Zito said during the segment.

James Tucker, general manager of Cavel International, a slaughterhouse in DeKalb, Illinois, that recently reopened, defended his company's practice on the grounds that it is providing a necessary service. Cavel slaughters horses for their meat, which is exported to Europe for human consumption.

"We recycle a resource that would otherwise be wasted," Tucker said.

*Nick Zito trained 2004 Belmont Winner, Birdstone, to upset Smarty Jones' bid for the Triple Crown. Birdstone went off at 36-1, and gave Zito his first Belmont win after five second-place finishes. Zito also trained Belmont third place finisher, Royal Assault, for a 1-3 win/show outing.

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