Historical Document for the Horses

As workhorses in the field or on the track,
Equus has served throughout time
and deserves to be remembered.

Since before recorded history and later depicted in cave drawings and the literatures of ancient civilizations, the horse has been here. Across India, the Middle East, the kingdoms of Europe, the New World, and everywhere, Equus has served in the hunt, wars, farming, transportation, the circus, sports, and parades.

Consider the Olympic Games in Greece, from 700 to 40 BC; chariot races during the Roman Empire; racing in medieval Europe, Early America, and globally throughout the centuries; and the gaming industry’s “racinos” today. The contributions and sacrifice are immeasurable as countless equines have died in making the horse industry and its traditions possible.

In 1860, Queen Victoria inaugurated the Queen’s Plate,
a race still run today.

Currently, the Memorial lists horses from 1800 to the present. Should we discover Thoroughbred racing fatalities prior to 1800, we will add them. In the meantime, let the horses now listed represent those who are not, as our research continues.

Horseracing’s popularity and attendance have diminished since the turn of the 21st century. Surely, increased awareness in the collective consciousness concerning fallen racehorses is a contributing factor. The reality of on-track fatalities is a dilemma and tragedy that we wish did not exist. But because it does, we commit to acknowledging, rather than ignoring, the fallen and their final effort in life.

When the time comes that we are unable to continue the Memorial, we plan to hand it to a responsible person or organization who would preserve and perhaps add to this historical document for the horses.