Since our inception in 2008, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses has continued to campaign for a better life for all racehorses. Always at the forefront of our concerns has been the slaughter of thousands of failed and former racehorses when no longer profitable.
Before animal welfare campaigners like us began exploring the issues within horse racing – the industry was accountable to nobody. Welfare initiatives – if any – were few and far between, and their dark secrets were hidden under a veil of secrecy to the public.
Until they weren’t.
In 2012, we exposed the routine slaughter of ex-racehorses at a Melbourne knackery. And since then, we’ve continued to release investigations at saleyards, knackery holding yards and slaughterhouses – where the glitz and the glamour has been left far behind them. It’s a side of horse racing that the public had never seen before.
Since then, programs like “Off The Track” that promote the thoroughbred after racing have continued to pop up, and while an important and worthwhile initiative, they fail to address the problem at large.
However, in the past 12 months, Racing NSW has taken on the problem head on. And frankly, the other state racing bodies could learn a thing or two from them. This is what they’ve done:
- Announced 1% of prize money would go towards a racehorse retirement plan
Sound familiar? This is something we’ve been pushing for nationally through our 1% to stop the slaughter proposal.
- Purchased a 2600-acre property to house ex-racehorses
A huge issue facing ex-racehorses is the lack of homes or properties for them to be ‘let down’ before being rehomed. And even if this helps just a few of them, it’s a great start.
- Put forward a ban on racehorses going slaughter
It’s yet to be ratified by the board, and we’re still waiting on details about whether they will ensure horses aren’t just simply sent interstate for slaughter, or temporarily rehomed before going to an abattoir. But it’s a promising concept.
And just in case you’ve ever felt like speaking out for racehorses (whether it be online or at a protest) was ineffective, this is what an industry representative said when announcing the changes:
“Racing NSW has committed to a multi-million-dollar expansion of its racehorse welfare program as it moves to stave off pressure from an increasingly influential animal rights lobby.”
Pretty. Damn. Cool. Now for the rest of the country!
