The Knesset, the legislature of Israel, is considering a bill that would legalize gambling on horse racing.

Horse racing is an industry that's fraught with cruelty and rife with drug abuse, injuries, and race fixing. Thoroughbred horses suffer injuries that are exacerbated by hard track surfaces, year-round racing schedules, and owners who view horses as "investments" and race them too frequently in an effort to make more money. Horses begin training or are already racing when their skeletal systems are still growing and are unprepared to handle the pressures of running on a hard track at high speeds. Ailing or injured horses are often given drugs to mask the pain. As a result, life-threatening injuries and chronic lameness are common. Few horses used for racing are retired to pastures for pampering or visits from caring individuals. Instead, the horses are likely to be handed over to the multimillion-dollar horsemeat industry, which slaughters tens of thousands of horses—including thoroughbreds—every year. 

Please write to Knesset officials, expressing your strong objections to the establishment of a horseracing industry and the introduction of legalized betting on horses in Israel.

Please keep all correspondence polite, as anything less will hurt our efforts.