Title: The First Mission Fiasco: Regulators Take a Stand Against Horse Racing Abuse The Preakness Stakes of 2023 was supposed to be a thrilling event for horse racing enthusiasts, but the recent controversy surrounding First Mission has cast a dark shadow over the race. According to recent updates published by Joe Drape in the New York Times Sports section, First Mission was scratched from the race as regulators applied extra scrutiny. This news has sent shockwaves across the industry and has led many to question the ethics and safety of horse racing. The fact that regulators felt the need to apply extra scrutiny suggests that there were major concerns surrounding First Mission's welfare and treatment leading up to the race. As a society, we have a moral obligation to protect animals from abuse and exploitation, including those that are used in the competitive world of horse racing. The recent events surrounding First Mission highlight the dire need for better regulation and oversight within the industry. Horse racing organizations and stakeholders must step up and take responsibility for their treatment of these magnificent creatures. It's time to move away from a culture of profit over ethics and put the welfare of the horses first. This incident should serve as a wake-up call to the industry and spur them to take immediate action to ensure that such incidents do not happen again in future races. The safety and welfare of horses must be guaranteed above all else, and it's high time that we took this issue seriously. In conclusion, the regulators who applied extra scrutiny to First Mission have set an important precedent that should be followed by all those who are involved with the horse racing industry. We cannot turn a blind eye to the abuse and mistreatment of horses, and we must fight to ensure that they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. First Mission was withdrawn from the Preakness Stakes due to increased regulatory scrutiny.
