If the Ortiz brothers are indeed cockfighters, that would make them doubly animal abusers – Horse Racing Mistakes

A video – here – has emerged showing jockeys (and brothers) Irad and Jose Ortiz raising money at a cockfight in Puerto Rico. Not that it matters, but it’s unclear when the video was taken. (The federal ban on cockfighting was expanded to U.S. territories — including Puerto Rico — in late 2019.) Now PETA has petitioned the board for the “Eclipse Awards” to make the brothers ineligible for future nominations (for “Outstanding Jockey”). PETA’s letter to Eclipse reads in part:

“While Irad Ortiz Jr. may lead the North American jockeys in both wins and earnings, with Jose close behind, they are left as representatives of the racing industry. … Beyond the legal ramifications, it is stunning that past Eclipse Award winners have participated in any way in the bloody, death-inducing obscenity that is cockfighting.

“Their actions are without a doubt harmful to racing. The public already views whipping, illegal drug use, breakdowns and the slaughter of thoroughbreds as abuse. In addition to dealing with these life and death issues, the racing industry must not tolerate cruelty to any species by racing licensees. Thank you.”

Look, cockfighting is horrible, and the people who participate in it – fighting, betting, participating, it doesn’t matter – are as despicable as they come. But aren’t they any more than those responsible for horse racing? PETA, are you really “baffled” that rogue jockeys also engage in other forms of animal torture? Are the brothers’ actions really “harmful to racing”? Should the racing industry really “not tolerate cruelty to any species?” [its] licensees”?

Here’s my take: This is low-hanging fruit for PETA. The vast majority of the civilized world is horrified by cockfighting. Being outraged by the Ortiz brothers’ presence at a cockfight won’t make waves (and, not to mention, it’s an easy way to raise donations). But where is the outrage about horse racing? Not just certain aspects of it, but horse racing itself. When, pray tell, will you finally and unequivocally extend your famous motto – “animals are not ours to use for entertainment or abuse in any other way” – to the “Sport of Kings” and call for it not to be better regulated, but abolished? Enough is enough.

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