Seven year old gelding Soviet was purchased by Gai Waterhouse for $270,000 in 2016. He was raced across NSW from the age of two by the Hall of Fame trainer and was sold off two years later after failing to live up to the expectations placed on him.
His bright light city race meets were replaced with the provincial and country circuit. The number of times he was raced significantly increased as the prizemoney chased continued to decline,
After another owner/trainer change in 2021, Soviet was raced across QLD country tracks by Kerry Krogh ten times in just three months. The worst stint was three race meets in just eight days, which Racing Queensland had no problem with.
Soviet ended up in the hands of several others who also had predetermined ideas of who and what he should be, before ending up at the slaughterhouse two weeks ago to meet a premature and terrifying end
This is an all too common story.
It’s been almost three years since the systemic killing of racehorses and the horrors of Meramist were exposed to the public. Three years and still there is NO national horse traceability register, NO retirement plan and NO ban on the killing of horses by any racing authority – aside from the clearly ineffective one by Racing NSW.
The only thing the racing industry has improved is their systems to hide the killing more effectively. We invite them to prove us wrong by providing evidence as to the whereabouts of the approximate 35,000 thoroughbreds alone, that have vanished from racing since the Final Race aired.
Soviet was never appreciated for who he was – only what he could provide. When that failed, he was unwanted by everyone who came into his life, from beginning to end. It is too late for him, but not for those to come. Please honour his memory by TAKING ACTION now!
1.Demand the failing National Horse Traceability Register be steered back on course here.
2. Take the pledge to never bet on or attend a horse race again here.
3. Donate to our #NuptotheCup 2022 campaign here.
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Rest peacefully sweet angel.
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