For Immediate Release, Tuesday 31 January 2023

Deadly Doomben Races Kill Three Horses in Just Nine Days

• Three horses were euthanised as a result of injuries sustained at Doomben Racecourse between the 17th & 25th of January 2023.
• The horses were aged between 3 and 5 years old.
• Eleven other horses were either injured or became ill after racing at the venue.
• Four jockeys were also reprimanded for whipping offences.

In a shocking start to the year for the Queensland horse racing industry, three horses have been killed in only 9 days following catastrophic injuries sustained whilst racing at Doomben Racecourse. 

On the 17th of January, 3-year-old ‘Chicouver’ was killed in her first-ever trial, after suffering a fractured pelvis. 

On the 21st of January, 5-year-old ‘Green Flash’ was killed after suffering a horrific leg break near the winning post. Footage of the injury shows the gelding’s leg visibly broken near the winning post, in full view of spectators. ‘Green Flash’ had won over $160,000 in prize money.

On the 25th of January, 4-year-old ‘Goodscent’ was killed after suffering a pelvis injury. The filly had only been racing for 6 months.

In addition to the fatal injuries, another eleven horses suffered injuries and illnesses ranging from lacerations, heat stress, poor race recovery and atrial fibrillation. 

Another horse, ‘Differential’, narrowly avoided serious injury when he suffered a nasty fall at Doomben on the 11th of January. Jockey Martin Harley sustained a fractured neck in the accident.

“The racing industry is dangerous and deadly for horses, and on average, a horse is killed every 2.5 days on Australian race tracks. So far in 2023 in Queensland, four horses have been killed at race tracks around the state” said Amanda Holly, Campaign Manager at Animal Liberation Queensland.

“These numbers don’t include the horses who are killed as a result of injuries sustained through training, or unwanted race horses who are sent to abattoirs and knackeries every year.

“More and more Australians are turning their backs on the racing industry and refusing to support animal cruelty. Meanwhile, our state government shamefully continues to throw money at the industry. Public money is funding the killing of horses. This needs to stop”. 

Animal Liberation Queensland is planning a snap protest this Wednesday at Doomben, in collaboration with Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR).

CPR’s Campaign Director Elio Celotto highlighted QLD’s huge death toll this ‘racing year’ (August – July) stating:

“Queensland has already exceeded the number of horse deaths on track this racing year, compared to last, with at least twenty-one horses suffering injuries resulting in death, and the racing year is only halfway through.

“Clearly Racing QLD and the Minister for Racing, Grace Grace, are doing nothing to address racing’s high fatality rate – instead focusing on profits at the expense of these innocent animals the industry could not exist without.

“This is why we encourage the public to boycott horse racing. The industry has proven time and time again that they see these horses as mere collateral damage”