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| For Immediate Release, Monday 3 May 2021 Protest Against Racing’s Cruelest Carnival at Australia’s most deadly track What: Protest at the Warrnambool May Carnival When: Thursday 6 May 2021 – 12pm Where: Warrnambool Racing Club, Main Entrance – Grafton Road, Warrnambool, Vic The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) will join forces with the Animal Justice Party (AJP) Victoria to take a strong stand against the cruelest carnival on the racing calendar. AJP MP for Western Victoria, Andy Meddick, has long been calling for a ban on jumps racing. “It is deeply disappointing and distressing to me that the home of jumps racing is in my own electorate. The Warrnambool racecourse is the deadliest track in the country. It is nothing for our state to be proud of” said Mr Meddick. CPR’s 2020 Deatchwatch Report found Warrnambool to be the most deadly racetrack in Australia, taking five lives across its jumps and flat races that year alone. Full report available here. “Jumps racing is a disgrace and a stain on so-called progressive Victoria. Every year, horses continue to pay the ultimate price with their life for the entertainment of a dwindling few” Mr Meddick said. “Instead of being known as the home of cruelty for hosting high profile jumps races, Warrnambool could be a booming jobs centre in equine welfare and rehabilitation which is good for animals, local jobseekers and the economy.” The May Carnival at the ‘Bool will host six cruel jumps races across its three days, including the gruelling Grand Annual Steeplechase. “Jumps racing has killed at least 28 horses at this track alone since 2006, many of whom died in the May Carnival” said CPR Campaign Director Elio Celotto. “In the gruelling 5.5km Grand Annual Steeplechase, horses will be forced to jump 33 obstacles – the greatest number of obstacles for any horse race in the world” Mr Celotto said. Last year’s carnival victim was Sir Isaac Newton, however, many horses who seemingly survive are never heard from again, with 40% of horses used in jumps races not returning to racing the following year. “Every year it is absolute mayhen, with horses guaranteed to fall and be injured for gambling profits and entertainment. Like the Melbourne Cup, a public holiday is declared for the region’s Warrnambool Cup, a blatant and institutionalised celebration of animal abuse” he said. CPR and the AJP unite in asking the people of Warrnambool and surrounds to join them in saying nup to jumps racing, and nup to the Warrnambool Cup. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com Key facts163 horses have been reported to be killed in jumps races since 2000. These are just the horses we learn of. The real figures would be much higher. At least 28 horses have been killed in jumps races at the Warrnambool track since 2006In 2018, Darren Weir trained gelding Now and Zen was removed from the racetrack after falling at the May Carnival to be killed behind the scenes, therefore his death avoided being reported. This is becoming increasingly common as public scrutiny of jumps races and horse racing in general has increased – watch our short clip on this here. |
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