[Date]

Vincent A. Gierer, Jr., Chairman, President & CEO
UST Inc.
100 West Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830

Dear Mr. Geirer:

I am writing on behalf of The Canadian Horse Defense Coalition and horse lovers worldwide in protest of the Omak Stampede and World Famous Suicide Race and your company's corporate sponsorship of it.

You have written that your "involvement with the PRCA-sanctioned Omak rodeo consists of providing the mobile electronic scoreboard, which we do for many rodeos. We do not sponsor and other activity associated with the Omak Stampede including the Suicide Race." ANY sponsorship of the Omak Stampede is a sponsorship of the Suicide Race, as they are both managed and funded under the non-profit license of the Omak Stampede, Inc.

Omak Stampede Inc.'s web site lists the 'Omak Stampede PRCA Rodeo and Suicide Race' taking place at 7pm, August 11-14. The official merchandise, logos and letterhead of the Omak Stampede feature the Suicide Race. The press release announcing results of the 2004 Suicide Race is issued by Omak Stampede, Inc. on paper with header that reads Omak Stampede, Inc., a drawing of horses running down a steep cliff and adjacent text that reads "Featuring the World Famous Suicide Race."

I urge you to contact your PCRA representative and ask that they discontinue PCRA sanctioning of the Omak Stampede until the Suicide Race has been permanently cancelled.

Thank you for your kind and swift attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

cc: Michael G. Bazinet, Media Relations
UST Inc.
100 West Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830

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Phone Numbers for Michael Bazinet are:
800-878-0549 or 203-622-3549