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| For Immediate Release, 30 April 2019 Animal Protectionists predict DEATH and CARNAGE at THE ‘BOOL Based on 2018 jumps racing statistics, animal protectionists are predicting at least 1 horse will die and 5 horses will fall at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival which kicks off today. An unknown number will sustain injuries and may never be seen again just like Now and Zen in the Grand Annual Steeplechase in 2018 who was taken off the racetrack and euthanised the very next day. (His death was not reported in the stewards reports) “With 8 jumps races over 3 days, carnage on the racetrack is all but guaranteed” said Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR). “We rarely see so many jumps races so close to together and there’s probably a good reason for that. If you ran a full day of jumps races, on average you would see a horse killed at every meeting.” “In the 9 years since Racing Victoria announced they would end jumps racing unless they met all 3 key performance indicators, they have never met them – yet they have allowed it to continue. Jumps racing is nothing more than an abattoir with a winning post.” “It’s simply unconscionable that a government allows a sport to continue knowing that some of its competitors will be killed as a result.” Jumps racing has taken the lives of 91 horses to horrific on track injuries since 2007, 23 of which have been from jumps races at the Warrnambool track. “Jumps races are so dangerous that statistically you are more likely to see a horse die at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival than not” he said. “Warrnambool is the highest killer of horses in the jumps racing circuit – responsible for the death of 25% of all horses killed in jumps races since 2007. What kind of so-called entertainment has an acceptable death toll?” he asked “Jumps races are 19 times more dangerous than flat racing. It’s illegal in New South Wales under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.” “The risks are so high and the tracks so grueling, that last year’s starters had a 12% chance of failing to even finish the course. Even worse, in the 2018 jumps season the odds of a horse being killed on track was 1:22”* he said. Despite attempts to make jumps racing safer, last season saw the highest number of horses killed in jumps races since 2011. “Eight horses were killed over the 2018 jumps season – two at the Warrnambool track. With one horse already killed this year, there is little doubt this season will be any less shocking than last.” Last year the jumps death toll kicked off when Now and Zen fell in the Grand Annual Steeplechase, as trainer Darren Weir, his staff and Racing Victoria tried to cover up his death. “We demonstrate on behalf of him, Springbok Flyer who was killed at the same track weeks later, Bring Back killed at the Warrnambool May Carnival in 2016 and the many others who have had their legs smashed, necks broken and tendons ruptured in the name of human greed and entertainment”. Demonstration this Thursday What: Warrnambool May Racing Carnival Protest When: Thursday 2 May, 12pm onwards Where: Warrnambool Racecourse Main Entrance The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses will also be joined by the members of the Animal Justice Party Western Region Group who too strongly oppose jumps racing and have a policy to see the activity immediately banned. CPR remains committed to seeing jumps racing banned and will be monitoring jumps races throughout the 2019 season in both Victoria and South Australia- the only 2 states that conduct jumps races. ENDS Further Information 2018 Jumps Racing Statistics (Victoria only) Number of races 71 Number of starters 572 Horses killed 7 (+1 in SA) 1 in 82 starters killed on track 1 in 16.3 starters fell Based on the above statistics, 1 horse will be killed and 5 horses will fall at the 2019 Warrnambool jumps Carnival. *178 horses were forced to race in the 2018 jumps season. 8 were killed. The odds of being killed as one of those horses was 1:22. [email protected] For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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