Sovereignty, the proud winner of the 2025 Kentucky Derby, will not compete in the upcoming Preakness Stakes. That decision, announced by trainer Bill Mott, effectively ends this year’s Triple Crown hopes before they had a chance to build momentum. But in a surprising and increasingly rare twist, this decision wasn’t based on injury, money, or strategy—it was made out of concern for the horse’s well-being.
Mott cited the need to give Sovereignty time to rest and recover from the grueling Derby run. It’s a bold move in a sport that’s often accused of prioritizing glory and profit over the welfare of the animals at its heart. In a culture still obsessed with champions and records, putting the horse before the crown feels like an act of resistance—and a small step toward compassion.
Animal Entertainment: Where Do We Draw the Line?
For centuries, we’ve trained animals to work for us, compete for us, and entertain us. From the gladiatorial combat of Roman times to the majestic spectacle of modern-day horse racing, animals have played roles in our stories, our sports, and our society. But as public awareness of animal welfare grows, many of these traditions are coming under scrutiny.
Cockfighting and dog fighting are now illegal in all 50 states, and rightfully so. The public recoils at the idea of forcing animals to battle to the death for sport. Michael Vick’s fall from NFL grace after his involvement in a dogfighting ring was swift and unforgiving. His case drew national outrage—not just because of what he did, but because it revealed just how normalized cruelty can become behind closed doors.
Greyhound racing, once common in the United States, has been banned in most states due to reports of abuse, neglect, and high injury rates. Even now, horse-drawn carriages in Central Park—once thought to be a romantic symbol of old New York—are facing calls for permanent removal, with advocates arguing that forcing horses to navigate busy traffic in extreme weather is both outdated and inhumane.
And yet, horse racing continues. Often glamorized with hats, mint juleps, and multi-million-dollar purses, it walks a fine line between elegance and exploitation. It’s a sport where beauty and brutality share the same track.
The Whip and the Will
It’s worth examining what we’re really watching when we tune in to the Derby, the Preakness, or the Belmont. We marvel at the speed, the athleticism, and the majesty of these animals. But we also watch as jockeys use whips to push them harder—despite studies showing that whipping doesn’t actually improve race outcomes.
If we’re honest, the use of whips makes us uncomfortable. It should. Though they are marketed as “encouragement tools” and regulated to avoid leaving visible marks, the act itself is inherently violent. It’s a reminder that the animal doesn’t get to choose to run; it’s made to. And if it doesn’t run fast enough or breaks down? In many cases, it’s quietly retired—or euthanized.
Sovereignty skipping the Preakness is notable because it bucks this trend. It suggests that, at least in this case, the team behind the horse values the animal’s health and long-term prospects more than headlines or potential winnings. That choice should be applauded—but also used as a springboard to ask deeper questions about the industry at large.
When Cruelty Becomes Routine
Part of what makes animal cruelty so insidious is how easily it hides in plain sight. When cruelty is systematized—wrapped in tradition, softened by ceremony—it becomes harder to see, and easier to justify. That’s what makes Sovereignty’s story so important. It offers a contrast to the norm and invites reflection.
We’ve already seen this in other sports involving animals. The fall of greyhound racing wasn’t due to a single scandal; it was a slow cultural shift. The public simply stopped being comfortable with the idea of dogs being kept in small cages, drugged for speed, and discarded when their legs gave out. We realized that winning shouldn’t come at that cost.
Even in activities still seen as acceptable—like dog agility competitions—there’s a visible difference. These events are often driven by partnerships between handler and animal, built on positive reinforcement and mutual enjoyment. The line we seem willing to draw as a society is this: if the animal enjoys it and isn’t being harmed, we’re okay with it. When suffering is part of the system, the tolerance breaks down.
What We Do to Them, We Do to Ourselves
Animal cruelty doesn’t just harm animals—it erodes something in us. There’s a reason many psychologists point to a link between violence against animals and violence against humans. Desensitization is real. When we grow comfortable with inflicting pain, even in subtle or culturally sanctioned ways, we risk numbing ourselves to other forms of suffering.
That’s why debates about horse-drawn carriages, whipping in horse racing, or even the future of rodeos matter. They aren’t just about animal rights. They’re about the kind of people we want to be. They’re about what kind of compassion we extend, especially when it costs us nothing to offer it.
If we can learn to prioritize an animal’s needs over a trophy, a purse, or a fleeting moment of entertainment, we’re practicing empathy. That’s a muscle we desperately need to exercise—not just for animals, but for each other.
A Kindness Worth Racing For
There may not be a Triple Crown winner this year, but perhaps something more important has already happened. A high-profile trainer and a world-class horse chose rest over glory. Maybe that decision will encourage others in the industry to think twice before pushing an animal past its limits.
And maybe—just maybe—it will push the rest of us to examine our own expectations of the animals we cheer for, consume, or simply live alongside. Because kindness isn’t weakness. Sometimes, it’s the strongest move we can make.
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