Horse Dies In Annual Omak Race -- Death Fuels Case For Activists' Charge Of Cruelty

A horse hurtled 200 feet down a steep hill above the Okanogan River this weekend, becoming the ninth animal in the last decade killed in conjunction with the Omak Stampede's famed Suicide Race.

The animal's death, in a tangle with another horse, has given ammunition to charges of cruelty by animal-rights activists. They've gone to the state's highest court to try to prosecute rodeo officials.

"The suicide race has lived up to its name," said Mitchell Fox of Seattle, animal-issues director for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

Cactus Jack Miller, president of the Omak Stampede, said a horse named Wauseka, about 8 years old, was given a lethal injection Friday night, after it was injured in the spill.

The race - with 16 riders and horses Friday night - begins across the Okanogan River from the rodeo grandstand. Horses and riders barrel across a 50-yard plain, then down a steep hill and into the river before the finish line.

Last year, two horses drowned in practice runs.

The three-day rodeo includes four races - one Friday, two yesterday and one today. The races are said to have evolved from Native-American mountain races, but PAWS activists claim they were dreamed up by a rodeo publicity chairman in 1935.

The plunge down the hill is the highlight of the stampede, which annually attracts more than 40,000 spectators and brings about $3 million in revenue to the town of 4,100 people.

Wauseka's rider, 17-year-old George Marchand, apparently was not seriously injured. The animal was owned by the rider's stepfather and mother, Robert and Ferol Best.

PAWS filed a complaint July 23 in Okanogan District Court charging Miller with the drowning of the two horses last year and conspiring to injure other horses for gain and amusement.

But the PAWS case was dismissed.

PAWS attorney John Costo now has filed a petition with the state Supreme Court, alleging that Okanogan County District judges Christopher Culp and David Edwards and County Prosecutor Michael McNeff violated judicial and professional conduct codes in dismissing the complaint without a hearing.

The PAWS plea asks the high court to hear the charges and prohibit McNeff from acting in the case.

McNeff said he is confident the state Supreme Court will dismiss the PAWS petition.

"Our record of animal safety is better than any race track in the United States," Miller said. "This is the 58th year this race has been run, and it's going to continue."

Today's race is scheduled for 5 p.m.