New Zealand Racehorses Slaughtered in Australia for Human Consumption

Over the course of a two year investigation at the Meramist slaughterhouse in Caboolture, QLD, it was, on several occasions, possible for investigators to scan the microchips of horses in the killpens awaiting slaughter.It was not possible to scan all horses in the pens, however, of the horses that were able to be scanned, six were later identified to be of New Zealand origin.

Babinda (bred by D & I H Mackay)
sent to Australia as a 3 year old
raced 9 times
prizemoney $6,020
used to breed 4 foals for Reibycroft Stud, NSW
killed age 11

Lady Fleur (bred by W R Roper)
sent to Australia as a 1 year old
raced 4 times
prizemoney $550
killed age 5

Honeymoon Harmony (bred by Mrs D E & T V Pearce)
sent to Australia as a 1 year old
raced 0 times
killed age 3

Habitual Offender (bred by Bloodstock Resources Ltd & Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd)
sent to Australia as a 3 year old
raced 28 times
prizemoney $80,019
killed age 7

Huss On Fire (bred by D G & R B McLaren Ltd)
sent to Australia as a 1 year old
raced 0 times
used to breed 6 foals (one of whom went on to win over $1 million for his owners)
killed age 11

Innovate (bred by Mrs J M Wanless)
sent to Australia as a 2 year old
raced 56 times
prizemoney $79,082
killed age 9

Due to the racing industry not tracking horses effectively during and after racing, it is not possible to know just how many New Zealand born horses sent to Australia end up being brutally killed at knackeries for pet food and slaughterhouses for human consumption, however, considering:

1. this is the fate for the majority of Australian born racehorses
2. six NZ born racehorses were identified among the limited number of evenings where scanning took place
and
3. there is also one additional slaughterhouse and approximately 30 other knackeries that kill horses operating across the country,
we have no doubt that this is the fate suffered by the majority of racehorses sent to Australia from New Zealand for breeding and racing purposes – a figure which currently sits anywhere from approximately 1,000 to 1,700, per year depending on which of the two countries fact books you are checking.

To watch the groundbreaking investigation ‘The Final Race’ to see what NZ bred horses endure in Australia click here.

To read CPR’s report on Meramist slaughterhouse click here and here.

For more information on the number of horses that vanish from New Zealand thoroughbred racing each year click here.