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| For Immediate Release, 20 April 2019 Protesters rally at the sad jumps carnival that refuses to give up the ghost What: Oakbank Easter Carnival Protests When: Saturday 20 April & Monday 22 April, 10am onwards Where: Oakbank Racecourse Main Entrance “Oakbank crowds have dropped by 75% in ten years and the famous Easter race meeting just doesn’t look the same anymore” wrote racing writer Shane McNally of last years pitiful (hopeful) scene in his article titled ‘A Tough Hurdle’. Still, Racing South Australia refuses to give up the ghost, with the Easter Carnival set to force horses over obstacles at high speeds, risking them injury and death for the sickening entertainment of a small few. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) will be joining forces with Animal Liberation SA to take a stand against cruel jumps races and educate attendees of the inherent cruelty. “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.” Said Campaign Director Elio Celotto “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, if you were a horse forced to compete in the 2018 jumps season the odds of you being killed were 1:22” he said. In a desperate attempt to boost numbers the carnivals feature race, the cruel Great Eastern Steeplechase, was moved to the Easter Saturday last year and numbers still dwindled. The Von Doussa, another feature jumps race held earlier this month reportedly attracted just 2,000 to the event. “South Australians are clearly boycotting jumps races. The public have spoken but the racing industry refuses to listen. Meanwhile, horses are being killed”. 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. With one horse already killed this year, there is little doubt this season will be any less shocking than last.” “Additionally, approximately 50% of horses disappear from jumps racing every year” he said. 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 |
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