For Immediate Release, Thursday 5 January 2023 

3 Racehorses killed in WA in 6 days: Activists to target re-run of Perth Cup 

When CHILI IS HOT was killed in the Perth Cup on 1 January 2023, RAWWA and Perth Racing were very quick to point out that these incidents are rare.

Just 3 days prior on 29 December 2022, KESEM was killed in Race 2 after breaking down at Belmont Racecourse. Two days after, DANNEMORA was killed as a result of injuries sustained in a trial at Belmont on Jan 3, 2023. Vision of this trial only is not available. There is no formal reporting of trials.

Mr Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for (CPR) said today,  “While the high mortality rate of racehorses is of serious concern, equally so is the racing industry’s preference to hide as much as possible the deaths and injuries that plague the industry.”

“Being open and transparent has always been the racing industry’s mantra however they are doing the exact opposite all in an attempt to mitigate any negative publicity and keep race goers going through the turnstiles.”

“Who knows how many more horses have fallen victim to injuries and have simply disappeared without a trace. That we’ll never know.”

“The death of CHILI IS HOT was no doubt a tragedy but the biggest tragedy is, that instead of making genuine attempts to curb the injuries and deaths that plague the industry to this day, the racing industry persists in trying to cover them up.”

CPR along with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will be demonstrating at Ascot Racecourse at the re-running of the Perth Cup on Jan 14 with a tombstone for all 9 horses who were killed at Ascot Racecourse since October 2021.

Since October, 2021 at least 21 horses have been killed on WA racetracks.

Ends