PETA Calls for Rachel Alexandra's Retirement From Breeding

Preakness, Kentucky Oaks Winner Recovering From Second Hospitalization for Foaling Complications

For Immediate Release:
March 7, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Lexington, Ky. -- As 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra continues to recover from the life-threatening injuries that she sustained while giving birth to her second foal, PETA has sent a letter to Barbara Banke, Rachel Alexandra's owner, urging her to retire the horse from life as a broodmare. As PETA points out in its letter, Rachel Alexandra has a history of birthing complications: She was hospitalized for pain following the birth of Jess's Dream, her first foal, and had to have large parts of her intestines removed just last month. Such complications can be life-threatening, and many prize-winning horses—including Lady's Secret, Meadow Star, Typhoon Tracy, and Urban Sea—have died after giving birth.

"Surely, after earning more than $3 million for Stonestreet Farm, Rachel Alexandra deserves to live a long, peaceful life free of the risk of more frightening injuries," says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. "PETA hopes that Stonestreet Farm will agree that Rachel Alexandra's well-being is more important than her value as a broodmare."

Rachel Alexandra's mother, Lotta Kim, also has a history of foaling complications: She had one foal who was born prematurely and died, another died at just 2 years of age because of wobbler syndrome, and she rejected Rachel Alexandra, who then had to be raised by a nurse mare. Nurse mares who are used to produce milk for orphaned foals and those whose mothers are being rebred are routinely forced into a cycle of serial breeding, only to have their own babies torn away from them.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.