On July 7, Frederick Bourgault, a 27-year-old Canadian harness racing trainer, was sentenced to two to six years in state prison for the unconscionable beating and killing of a horse under his care.  Bourgault was convicted in April of two felony counts—second-degree criminal mischief and interference with or injury to certain domestic animals. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution for the loss of the horse, which had an estimated value of at least $5,000, according to the Orange County district attorney.

This is an important conviction for a heinous and inexcusable act of malicious cruelty. If people like Frederick Bourgault are not incarcerated and walled off from society, we’ll see other outbursts of violence from them in our communities. This man should never be allowed again at a racing facility or any other setting where animals are gathered. He’s a menace to society.

The case stems from a July 17, 2023 incident at Pine Bush Training Facility in Orange County, NY, where Bourgault violently struck a Standardbred horse named Finish Line, fracturing the horse’s skull and ultimately causing his death.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office pursued the case with support from the New York State Police, and described Bourgault’s actions as “senseless violence against a defenseless animal.”

Bourgault’s record in the racing world already included multiple sanctions, fines and suspensions related to animal mistreatment before this fatal incident.

“Fred Bourgault is a disgrace to harness racing and should have never been allowed to have a license in the U. S. after he was kicked out of Canada for horse-related abuse,” said Fred Hudson, director of equine protection for Animal Wellness Action and CEO of the U.S. Harness Racing Alumni Association. “When released from prison, he should never be allowed near an animal again.”

Animal Wellness Action is calling on regulators and racing authorities to permanently ban Bourgault from the sport and is continuing to push for horse safety standards in American harness racing.  That sector of racing has actively opposed efforts to agree to participate in horse safety rules imposed by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. The Thoroughbred racing industry is now part of HISA, and track deaths and injuries have declined since new safety standards have been imposed.

Wayne Pacelle is the president of Animal Wellness Action. The Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) helps animals by promoting laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws, and believes that helping animals helps us all.