Dear Supporter,
In this newsletter:
- AVA supports a ban on whips, FINALLY!
- New research by CPR exposes 92% of racehorse owners lose the lot
- Behind the barriers with CPR Aotearoa
- Perth Cup fatality
- Satono Rasen – the value of a life
- The Gracemere horse sales
- Racing – their own judge and jury
- He suffered! Rest in peace Shadow Prey
- Past and Upcoming Protests
AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION UPDATES POLICY ON WHIPS
Will racing listen?
In mid-2020, CPR reviewed the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) policies on the welfare of horses used in racing. We were quick to express our disappointment at the position taken by the AVA in regard to many standard industry practices and towards horse racing in general. We requested a meeting with their policy council to discuss ways in which the AVA policies could be brought into line with current animal welfare science and community expectations.
Our request was denied, however, we were encouraged to make a submission. Whist we have serious concerns with many of the AVA’s policies, we decided to focus our submission (available here) on proposing they update their policy titled ‘Use of whips on horses at competitive events’.
Within we refer to several peer-reviewed studies and our own research which demonstrates whips harm horses, that they do not aid in improved ‘performance’, nor do they improve jockey safety.
We requested “the AVA review their current policy and deem the use of whips on horses in racing as unacceptable” and in conclusion stated “CPR is of the position that so long as horse racing persists, horses should be able to run without fear inducing and pain inflicting implements, allowing them to slow down if they need to. That means ending the use of whips, spurs, tongue ties and cruel bits- all designed to make the horses comply through learned helplessness techniques.”
At the time, the AVA policy on the use of whips in racing stated that further research needed to be done to address inconsistencies as to whether whip use aids in horse performance and jockey control. It also acknowledged that whips act as negative reinforcement and therefore their use should be limited.
Over two years later, we are happy to finally report the AVA has now updated this policy to recommend the racing industry ban the use of whips for ‘encouragement’. Read the new policy in full here.
Most notably, new recommendations 1, 4 and 5 state:
1. Currently, racing codes mandate their definition of correct whip use and associated penalties for misuse, based on the activities of the horse and likely proximity to other horses and people. Racing codes must work towards a framework where whip use for encouragement is not condoned (International Society for Equitation Science. 2018).
4. Other factors in each equestrian code that could be modified to improve rider and horse welfare and safety should also continue to be investigated. A broader understanding of the numerous factors that can affect horse behaviour can lead to further improvements that may reduce the perceived need for whip carriage.
5. Racing and equestrian industries should undertake education of their participants into effective training methods that minimise the use of training aids that intentionally cause discomfort, pain or fear to promote behavioural change.
Will the racing industry finally take action and listen to the advice of the AVA, or will they continue to allow brutal public beatings of horses in the name of gambling profits and entertainment.
Help to #ditchthewhip by demanding Racing NSW and Peter V’landys stop blocking a ban here.
Coverage on the updated policy by The Guardian here.
IT AIN’T MAGIC, IT’S TRAGIC
CPR conducted an investigation into the profitability of horses sold at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sales.
Despite the racing industry’s promotion of buying a racehorse to make money, the results from this study suggest the opposite to be the case. Even the name of the particular sale being studied, ‘The Magic Millions’ suggests that investing in a racehorse is extremely lucrative, yet less than 8% of horses actually made a profit.
We attended all five days of the Magic Millions sales in January and educated attendees not only on what a bad investment buying a racehorse is, but on the cruelty they are subjected to in investor pursuit of profits. Read the full report here.
BEHIND THE BARRIERS IN AOTEAROA
Our Aotearoa NZ team, alongside Taranaki Animal Save, have been doing a fantastic job documenting and exposing the cruelty that takes place to get horses to enter the barriers before each race.
A video of just some of what they have witnessed can be viewed here.
The abuse doesn’t stop at the horses, with our team subjected to vile verbal insults from track staff. Watch here.
We are so grateful to everyone who continues to speak up for the horses, especially when faced with insults, threats and abuse.
PERTH CUP FATALITY
Whilst CPR protested outside the Perth Cup at Ascot on New Years Day, our chants that ‘horse racing kills‘ were again proven true. Inside the track two horses collided, the cup race was called off mid-way, the green screen was brought out and five year old mare Chilli Is Hot was killed.
Media reported “The mood at Western Australia’s highest-profile horse racing event quickly turned sombre as news filtered through that Chili is Hot was euthanised on the track.”
Still, with the usual disrespect, the running of the Perth Cup was rescheduled to two weeks later.
CPR teamed up with PETA Australia and ensured a strong presence outside the rerun with gravestones displaying not only the name of the 2023 Perth Cup victim, but names of the other eight horses who have lost their lives at the Ascot track alone in just over one year. View our tribute to them here.
Huge thanks to our team in WA for being there and ensuring our message for the horses hit the media.
“When you have these large public events and people can see what happens, the industry can’t sweep it under the rug,” said CPR spokesperson Emma Madle.
“There was another horse that died at Belmont two days after Chili Is Hot, but it was during training, so no one heard about it.
“A horse dies every 2.5 days, you just don’t hear about it unless it’s a high-profile event.”
Read the full ABC article here.
THE VALUE OF A LIFE
Satono Rasen is a stunning thoroughbred gelding who was born in Japan on 13th March 2012. He was first raced as a two year old in 2014 at Sapporo Racecourse in Japan. Twenty more races and the equivalent of almost AUD $2.2 million later he was transported to Australia. Under Chris Waller, the extraordinary results he had in Japan were not replicated. By December 2022 he was at the sales and passed in for a measly $200. Meanwhile racing offers breeding incentives and no caps on the numbers that can be bred, knowing countless horses are unloved and unwanted.
Read our full article on Satono Rasen here.
BRED, USED, DISCARDED
The Gracemere sale has the dubious reputation of being known as a “dogger sale” with little to no promotion of the unfortunate horses who find themselves there. If the meat traders/dealers who frequent that sale think that they can make more money by keeping the horses alive and reselling them, often at the following Laidley sale they will do so. If they are worth more as “meat” then that will be their fate. The thoroughbreds purchased usually fall into the meat category.
The last horse sale of 2022 was held at Gracemere on the 17th December 2022. We are very pleased that there were finally people there posting the brands of, and identifying, the thoroughbreds and standardbreds at Gracemere in the hope that it helped them find a private home and if nothing else at least the horses didn’t go unnoticed and unnamed. People cared enough to put their faces in the public domain. We would like to thank those people for their efforts.
There were seven thoroughbreds and one standardbred who had the misfortune of being at that sale. You can read their stories here.
RACING ARE THEIR OWN JUDGE AND JURY
On the morning of January 6, 2023, a Victorian stablehand punched and kicked four year old mare Lilly Grace in the stomach before attempting to strike her on the head. Lilly Grace reared and fell over backwards in the stalls, causing injury that “necessitated veterinary care.”
The stablehand was charged internally with an offence under the rules of racing for engaging in conduct that is “prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity, or welfare of racing.” He was fined $1000 and is allowed to continue to work with horses in the industry.
He was not prosecuted for animal cruelty by either of the two bodies that have the power to prosecute in Victoria for such an offence – the police or the RSPCA. It is unlikely that they would be aware of the incident and highly unlikely they would take action even if they were. Racing has no obligation to report animal abuse (cruelty beyond the daily standard) to the relevant authorities and the relevant authorities have no obligation to prosecute.
As another example of many, a Tasmanian stablehand was not prosecuted for animal cruelty either and remains part of the industry.
HE SUFFERED!
WARNING – Graphic details.
In September 2020, Breednet reported on the then two year old, Shadow Prey, as “one to watch” with “derby potential” after he placed first at Ballarat.
No more wins were to come over the following year and on 23 January 2022 he finished lame after being raced at the Geelong track. By April 21, 2022, the beautiful grey gelding was dead.
An investigation by Racing Victoria into the horses death found:
“On 21 April 2022, at approximately 9am, the Horse was recumbent and displaying signs consistent with Colic.
On 21 April 2022, from approximately 9am to 6pm, the Racing Victoria registered stablehand and owner of the horse failed to take reasonable steps as were necessary to alleviate any pain being inflicted upon and/or suffered by the Horse.
On 21 April 2022, at approximately 6pm, the Horse continued to display signs consistent with Colic and was, by this stage, in severe pain, at which time the owner euthanised the Horse in an inhumane manner.”
CPR has been informed that the inhumane manner in which Shadow Prey was killed was alledgedly by cutting his throat whilst fully conscious.
Internal charges have been issued and will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.
Once again, our understanding is that neither of the two bodies that have the power to prosecute for animal cruelty in Victoria – the police or the RSPCA, have conducted their own investigation nor have plans to prosecute. They may not have even been informed of the incident.
Take the pledge to never bet on or attend a horse race here.
PAST AND UPCOMING PROTESTS
Sending our love and thanks to all who attended our recent protests at Doomben Races – Brisbane QLD, Magic Millions – Gold Coast QLD, Perth Cup – WA and Wellington Cup – Aotearoa NZ. Your presence was powerful! Click on the images for more pics and info from those protests.
Protest: Nup to the Launceston Cup
February 22, 2023
Mowbray Racecourse, Launceston TAS
10am – 1pm
Dress: Smart casual at a minimum. Dress as if you are going to the races is even better.
Banners and posters will be provided.
More details here.
Protest: Nup to the Adelaide Cup
Monday 13 March 2023
10am – 1pm
Morphettville Racecourse, SA
Dress: Smart casual at a minimum. Dress as if you are going to the races is even better.
Banners and posters will be provided.
More details here.
Protest: The Championships (Sydney)
Details TBC
Thank you for reading and remember… speak up, always!
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