02/11/2019
Hi everyone. I am so upset about the treatment/killing of racehorses in Australia that I wrote this poem. Please let me know what you thing and please share. If you don't know the story called 'The Final Race' you can see it here: https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/the-dark-side-of-the-horse-racing-industry/11614022 Warning it is confronting. Anyway here is my poem:
A Poem for Race Horses
There was once a racehorse, with a heart that was so proud.
He raced for those who owned him, and of course, the crowd.
He never knew that most of those, who applauded all his feats,
Were there, just to collect, the gold beneath his feet.
His heart it simply told him to always give his best,
He ran because he loved to; speed beating in his chest.
And when the cups were given, to the winners of the race,
He never asked to drink from them, for he always knew his place.
He was born, a strong and awesome steed,
Put-upon the racetrack, to feed the punters greed.
When his racing days were over, and it was time to rest,
To quietly retire with those, for whom he did his best.
Instead of lush green pastures, he himself had earned,
He was loaded on a lorry, then shunted to a pen.
He of course was frightened, and couldn’t understand,
Why those who always loved him, weren’t cheering from the stands.
There were no gentle hands, no hay, no chaff no grain,
Those who used to cheer him, were causing only pain.
He smelt the blood of his stable mates,
Then he knew what lay behind, those dreadful killing gates.
Now we have to mourn you; you gentle giving soul,
You never knew how things would be, when you were just a foal.
In our hearts, your hoof beats should have found, a special place.
Instead you were a racehorse, that we could just replace.
He had a heart and yes, a soul; but could not talk to you.
To him who always trusted us, we were never true.
© Speak Up 2019
A special investigation into the horse racing industry reveals what really goes on when racehorses' lives end in knackeries and abattoirs.