Speak Out Against the Omak Suicide Race
Annual Washington State rodeo endangers horses' lives

Every year, as part of the Omak Stampede Rodeo, a small town in Eastern Washington State plays host to the Omak Suicide Race, a deadly competition that has killed at least 20 horses since 1983. The race was held again this year from August 10th to 13th. Thankfully, no deaths occurred. Still, it's both sad and disturbing that despite the impassioned pleas of animal advocates to end this cruel competition, event organizers continue to value money over horses' lives.

The Suicide Race takes place over the course of four days and nights. Riders begin by forcing horses down Suicide Hill, a 210-foot plunge at a nearly vertical 62 degree angle. The horses then confront the narrow entrance of the Okanogan River at breakneck speed, often getting caught in bottlenecks and crashing into one another. Those horses who make it into the river must swim over 100 yards and make a final desperate sprint up a 500 foot hill to the finish line.

Many of the horses used in the Suicide Race suffer heart attacks from overexertion, broken bones from collisions and even death by drowning. In the 2004 race, three horses died in the first heat alone. Many more horses also die later from racing injuries or during practice runs, but these fatalities are not documented or calculated.

Year after year, horses have died solely to bring cash to the town of Omak. The self-stated goal of the race is suicide, and the horses pay with their lives. It's time to stop this deadly event for good. Act now, and help make 2006 the last year the Suicide Race is run.

- Tell Dale Sparber, the Mayor of Omak, to cancel the 2007 Suicide Race. Also contact the Mayor and the race organizers directly.

Dale Sparber, Mayor, City of Omak
2 North Ash Street
PO Box 72
Omak, WA 98841
Email: mayor@omakcity.com
Tel: (509) 826.1170

Omak Stampede and Suicide Race
Address: PO Box 2028
Omak, WA 98841
Email: stampede@northcascades.net
Tel: (509) 826.1983
Toll-Free: (800) 993.6625

- Also contact the Professional Cowboys Rodeo Association (PCRA) and urge them to withdraw their sanction of the deadly Omak Suicide Race. Remind them that, according to the promoters, the Suicide Race is not separate from the Omak Stampede, as PCRA has claimed in the past.

Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
101 Pro Rodeo Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80919-2301   

- Urge the Omak Stampede's corporate sponsors -- Pepsi, Coors and Wrangler Jeans -- to withdraw their support from this cruel event. Contact:

Steven S. Reinemund, Chariman and CEO
PepsiCo, Inc.
700 Anderson Hill Rd.
Purchase, NY 10577-1444
Tel: (914) 253-2000
Fax: (914) 253-2070

Eric H. Molson, Chairman
Molson Coors Brewing Company
311 10th St.
Golden, CO 80401-0030
Tel: (800) 642-6116
Fax: (303) 277-5415
Webform: www.coors.com
(Note: you must be at least 21 years old to contact this company)

Wrangler Jeans Co.
VF Jeanswear Corporate HQ
400 North Elm St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
Tel: (888) -784-8571
Fax: (336) 424-7631
Webform: www.wrangler.com

- Watch a PSA against the Omak Suicide Race.