Twelve Vets Speak Out Against Tongue Ties

June 26, 2026 by admincpr Leave a Comment

This open letter which is co-signed by 12 veterinarians was published in Centre for Veterinary Education at Sydney University to highlight the cruel use of tongue ties on racehorses and the racing industry’s downplaying of the obvious oral trauma suffered by last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours. CPR is ever so grateful to the equine veterinarians who have the courage to stand up against the cruelty in racing and speak up for the animals they have sworn to aid and protect.

Dear Editor,
If ever the ethics of Australian horse racing and blind conformity were on world display, it was during the 2025 3,200 metres Melbourne Cup. The winning horse was struck repetitively whilst already trying his best, his tongue was tied tightly around the bottom jaw, the bottom lip appeared swollen, he displayed anxiety with mouth bleeding.

It was a spectacle of absolute heroism on the horse’s behalf and shame on those who caused this animal pain and suffering. Racing Victoria veterinarians simply reported the bloodied mouth due to only a minor laceration requiring no medication however photos and video tend to show otherwise (Figures 1 & 2).

The system itself exposed tainted practices of physical and mental abuse of ‘Half Yours’ and the dubious integrity of Racing Victoria.

We, the undersigned veterinary surgeons understand ‘tongue ties’ are applied with the intention to prevent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) and / or to prevent the tongue displacing over the bit. We also understand this adverse animal welfare practice can cause severe physical and mental harm and has no place in contemporary equestrian sport.

This is not a personal crusade but a legitimate pursuit for the welfare of horses and riders. Debate on the aforementioned issues will not fade soon.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Peter Kerkenezov BM
Dr Victoria Lomax
Dr John McKenna
Dr Sam Beckett
Dr Doug English
Dr Eloise Koelmeyer
Dr Mary Calder
Dr Steve Roberts
Dr Peita Kerkenezov
Dr Adrian Bryant
Dr Bruno Ros
Dr Tim Mather

Greyhound racing is on the way out; horse racing should follow

June 10, 2026 by admincpr 1 Comment

OPINION LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS ON 6 JUNE, 2026

By Sandra Kyle, Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses New Zealand

It was hard to watch. As the field galloped towards the 600 metres mark at Ellerslie racecourse on May 6, live video caught the moment Little Red Rocket snapped her right hind tibia.

We saw her pull up on three legs, the fourth leg dangling mid-air as she valiantly tried to continue despite the pain. The footage of her breaking down was quickly removed by the TAB and didn’t appear in the playback, and Little Red Rocket was “humanely euthanised” shortly after.

She was only 2 years old. At two, a horse’s bones are still developing. The intense training they undergo at a young age increases stress on their bodies, and can cause long-term musculoskeletal damage, including a susceptibility to fractures, chronic pain and early onset arthritis.

Little Red Rocket was one of 18 racehorses to lose their lives on New Zealand racetracks so far this season. Idyllic, Barbie Doll and Little Red Rocket were all killed in the same week. Heartofaces was killed at Awapuni on Sunday.

There have also been around 300 injuries, some of them serious. Horses pushed too far can die of cardiac arrest, while exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), or lung bleeding, is common among racehorses. We do not know the number of horses who are injured or euthanised as a result of training, as these figures are not publicly documented.

The racing of 2-year-olds is one of the many ethical problems associated with horse racing; another patently obvious one is the use of the whip.

According to the industry the standard padded whip used by jockeys doesn’t hurt horses, and it is primarily used for steering and safety. To claim that the whip, applied repeatedly and with force, especially in the last 200m, doesn’t hurt the horse, goes against common sense.

At New Plymouth raceway a few years ago, I borrowed a whip from a jockey and asked a friend to strike me lightly with it to see if it hurt. Surprise surprise – it did! Studies have shown that whipping also causes fear in horses and can be the cause of increased risk of falls and injuries.

In a groundbreaking decision on May 27, 2025, a Tasmanian court ruled that padded whips cause unjustifiable pain and suffering and constitutes animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act.

A recent leaked report by the TAB advisory committee revealed that the industry is asking for tax breaks and other measures, without which it will be “unsustainable”. To allow this to happen would be throwing good money after bad.

Back in 2020 at the outset of Covid, Racing Minister Winston Peters announced a support package for the industry worth around $73 million, and over the years has supported other tax policy proposals to boost racing’s competitiveness. Meanwhile, it has been reported, since the beginning of this year, $300,000 of NZ First’s $475,000 donations received to date came from the industry.

The truth of the matter is that horse racing is losing its social licence and has been struggling to remain relevant for many years now. I can remember going to a race meeting at Ellerslie in the mid-1960s and being jostled by the crowds. Back then up to 20,000 people could attend. Nowadays, grandstands in racing venues up and down the country are all but empty.

Growing awareness and concern about animal welfare is playing a part in horse racing’s inevitable demise, and the recent ban on greyhound racing has put it under scrutiny.

Placing beautiful animals in harm’s way for gambling profits is no longer acceptable. Horse racing should go the way of greyhound racing, and for the same reasons.

“Bad Apples” of the Racing Industry

June 6, 2026 by admincpr Leave a Comment

CPR doesn’t often share investigations of the racing stewards into cruelty allegations about single racing participants because 1), it’s too depressing seeing the perpetrator being let off with little more than a slap on the wrist (because the racing industry is allowed to regulate itself) and 2), because sharing these single cases feeds into the racing industry’s narrative that there will always be “a few bad apples” in any industry.

But how many “bad apples” does it take before you must realise that the entire tree is infected?

CPR monitored the stewards’ inquiries for just four weeks, and list below, some of the cases that were published:

An apprentice jockey was found guilty of repeated, deliberate physical mistreatment of racehorses through an extended time period ‘including kicking horses in the abdominal or flank areas; striking horses with whips, including the use of a whip handle and continued physical aggression while restraining a horse’.
A racehorse trainer declined an offer of horse ambulance when his horse broke down during training and forced the horse to walk 400 meters back to the stable with a broken pelvis. Shortly after the horse had returned to the stable, he died from internal bleeding.
During training, a racehorse sustained a deep laceration to a front limb, exposing bone, with rapid swelling developing in the region of the offside shoulder/elbow. His trainer decided not to call a vet until seven hours later. When a vet finally attended, the horse had to be euthanised.
A racehorse owner was charged with 9 incidents of starving his horses, mares and foals, one incident of failing to provide veterinary treatment to one of the starving horses and failing to comply with the minimum welfare standards. Two of these horses are now “deceased”.
Three racehorses and two broodmares were all found to be starved by their racing licensed owner and not given the necessary veterinary care or relief from the pain they were suffering.
A racehorse trainer was caught on CCTV hitting a horse in the face two times with his fist, followed by two kicks in their stomach. The trainer expressed no remorse over his actions saying, ‘his fist hurt more than the horse would have felt’.

Note that these are only the incidents of cruelty that get reported to stewards and proceed to be investigated. And because the racing industry is allowed to regulate itself, perpetrators are penalised with only a few months suspension of their racing licence. They will rarely be prosecuted under state animal protection laws.

We cannot thank you enough for refusing to attend or bet on horseracing, and therefore not enabling this inherent cruelty. Animals do not belong in profit driven industries where welfare always comes second.

Victorian Broodmares and Foals found Starved

May 14, 2026 by admincpr Leave a Comment

The registered Victorian racehorse owner Robert Stutchbury has been charged with 11 breaches of the rules of racing including 9 incidents of failing to provide sufficient nutrition to his horses, one incident of failing to provide veterinary treatment to one of the starving horses and failing to comply with the minimum standards outlined in Racing Victoria’s Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Policy.

12yo broodmare Manning Road was the horse Mr Stutchbury failed to get veterinary treatment for. Given the timeline, it appears he bought Manning Road to breed from, but when she failed to get pregnant, she was subsequently starved and not given the veterinary treatment she needed.

The remaining horses were

– 21yo broodmare Cleobella
– 15yo “retired” Island Fire,
– 14yo broodmare Nudgerama,
– 19yo unnamed thoroughbred
– 8yo broodmare Angelic Rebel
– Angelic Rebel’s unnamed foal
– 11yo broodmare So Foxy
– So Foxy’s unnamed foal

In late February 2025, Mr Stutchbury bought 11yo So Foxy and her foal for $1500. Four months later when RV’s stewards inspected Mr Stutchbury’s property, she and her foal was found to be starving. Only a month later, on 11 August 2025, Fo Foxy was recorded as ‘deceased’.

On the exact same date, 11 August 2025, 8yo Angelic Rebel was also recorded ‘deceased’ after her and her foal was found to be starved. Mr Stutchbury had bought her and her foal in late January 2025 for $1250.

Given that the RV minimum standards for racehorse welfare are already far inadequate to ensure a decent level of horse welfare, we dare not imagine the conditions under which Mr Stutchbury keeps his horses.

According to RV, the charges issued against Mr Stutchbury will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

Please do not enable this horrific cruelty. Please say #nuptothecup every day of the year and help inform your friends and family about what they are supporting, if they bet on horseracing.

Cruel Beating of Racehorse Silenced by RNSW

April 23, 2026 by admincpr Leave a Comment

On 9 February, CPR reported to NSW Racing Integrity some disturbing footage of NSW licenced racehorse trainer Daniel Stanley, owner of D.A.S. Racing, Breaking and Pre-Training in Granton NSW, demonstrating to a new staff member how to break in a racehorse. His methods included the use of “positive punishment”, which means the addition of an aversive punishment in order to force the animal to comply through fear and pain.

View the footage here.

While we received an immediate call-back confirming that the actions of Mr Stanley were being investigated and later a confirmation that an official inquiry into Mr Stanley was to be held on 25 February, the NSW Racing Integrity Unit has since stopped responding to our requests for updates on the case.

To our knowledge, Mr Stanley is still now, two months later, conducting his business as usual with no action taken and the horses he is “training” are left to pay the price.

Scientific research has firmly established that the brutal type of “positive punishment” Mr Stanley makes use of will imprint on the horses for life. When horses are “broken” in this way, it will result in 1), dangerous, reactive behaviour, or 2), mentally shut-down horses who become unresponsive as they learn that, no matter what they do, there’s no way out.

If the NSW racing industry wants to protect its diminishing social licence to operate, it is vital they take a strong stance against the beating of racehorses into submission. After all, they are the ones who claim horses love to race and that their horses are treated like royalty.

CPR is doing everything we can to prevent this case from being swept under the carpet. We approached the office of Greens NSW MP Abigail Boyd, who has now swiftly submitted a question on notice for David Harris, Minister for Racing and Gaming in NSW, asking for a status on the case and urging appropriate action.

You can also help by contacting the NSW Racing Integrity Unit and asking that they take immediate and appropriate action against the violent treatment of young, vulnerable racehorses in training under Mr Stanley.
Please email: [email protected]

Thank you for taking action!

The Racing Industry Continues its Decline in Australia

March 17, 2026 by admincpr 1 Comment

BREAKING: The recent publication of the 2025 Racing Australia Fact Book confirms that the industry continues to shrink in size across key areas, including the number of horses being bred into the industry, horses actively racing, number of races held and the number of racehorse trainers and racehorse owners.

Thoroughbreds bred in 2024: 11,691

Thoroughbreds bred in 2023: 12,594

Thoroughbreds bred in 2022: 13,340

In fact, the number of thoroughbreds bred for racing is now less than half what it was in 1989 where numbers peaked, and it has steadily declined since. In addition, the industry news site The Straight has predicted that the decline is set to continue in 2026, based on the number of mares impregnated this season.

Although this doesn’t mean racing has become less cruel to the horses, it does mean that fewer horses are subjected to the cruelty and that fewer horses are at risk of being abandoned or killed when they are no longer of use to the racing industry.

This is indeed a sign of the times: Australians increasingly do not support animals being exploited for profit and gambling.

We cannot thank you enough for your support in raising awareness about what goes on behind the scenes in racing and fueling the fight for kindness over cruelty!

QLD Racing Plan Fails Horse Welfare

December 8, 2025 by admincpr Leave a Comment

MEDIA RELEASE MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2025

The Queensland Government’s so-called ‘independent’ racing review has completely failed on horse welfare, said The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR), after the review report was made public on Saturday.

“The Queensland Government must do better than this,” said Helle Erhardsen, General Manager for CPR. “They’re throwing an additional $200 million of taxpayers’ money into saving an industry that is losing its social licence to operate, while ignoring the suffering of the horses they rely on to exist.”

The racing review has not resulted in one single initiative to address any of the countless racehorse welfare issues that plague the industry, such as those raised in CPR’s submission, despite the terms of reference for the review clearly listed animal welfare as one of the key issues to be reviewed.

“Perhaps the lack of addressing racehorse welfare shouldn’t be surprising considering the steering committee of the ‘independent’ review was made up purely of members from within the racing industry,” Miss Erhardsen said.

“It’s like they have totally ignored the many public submissions expressing urgent concern for the welfare of racehorses in Queensland,” said Miss Erhardsen.

Among the 110 recommendations made by the review, only four refer to the welfare of racehorses (and one of these is in part only). All four reflect nothing more than nice sentiments.

The first and second (Nos. 35 & 36) provide a confusing mix of whole-of-life traceability and post-racing programs. The traceability program will first be implemented for greyhounds. Only then, will the possibility of expanding the program to racehorses “in future”, be “investigated”. The post-racing program is only accepted “in principle”, and it depends upon national all-state cooperation.
The third (No. 37) refers to Racing Queensland’s Off-The-Track program, which they “aim to continue to improve”. No specific details are given.
The fourth (No. 38) refers to Racing Queensland’s cooperation with the non-profit organisation Save a Horse Australia, which they will continue to support – although only “in principle”.

Not a single initiative is recommended to alleviate the risk to foals, broodmares and horses coming off the racetrack (whether they finish sound, injured or mentally traumatised) in the new future. This is despite the report’s acknowledgement about the high risk of poor welfare outcomes for horses who exit racing, at various stages of their lives.

In 2020, following the ABC 7:30 exposure of the horrendous slaughter of racehorses at a Queensland abattoir, the damning Martin Inquiry called for urgent action to safeguard retired racehorses. Five years later however, the welfare and safety of over 2000 racehorses who exit the racing industry in Queensland each year, remain largely unaccounted for.

“The Minister for Racing calls it the most substantial review of the Queensland racing sector in 25 years, so how on earth can they get away with not addressing the massive horse welfare issues that the public is deeply concerned about,”

“This entire review process seems to be nothing but a PR exercise to give the impression that animal welfare is important, when actually all they really care about is trying to stem the flow of people turning against racing on grounds of animal welfare,” said Miss Erhardsen.

Racehorse Killing Program Under Scrutiny

November 28, 2025 by admincpr Leave a Comment

Please click here to view our latest newsletter about the scrutiny of Racing Victoria’s “Onsite Humane Euthanasia Program”.

BREAKING: Record Number of Horses Killed from Racing

October 28, 2025 by admincpr Leave a Comment

In 2024/25, Australian horseracing had its deadliest year on record.

For Immediate Release Tuesday 28 October 2025:

The annual Deathwatch Report from Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) has been released, revealing the number of horses killed from racing in 2024/25 is higher than ever: 175 Thoroughbred racehorses lost their lives from racing in Australia.

This is an increase of nearly 14 percent from last year’s death toll and the highest number of confirmed racehorse deaths across Australia that CPR has recorded to date.

Read the full Deathwatch 2024/25 report here.

During the 2024/25 racing year, more frequently than ever, deaths of racehorses caused by injuries sustained in racing could not be found via the publicly available Stewards Reports. Instead, CPR received tip offs from industry informants, media reports and followed up on injured horses to compile the data for this year’s annual Deathwatch Report.

“The fact that more racehorses than ever are being taken off the track to be killed so they don’t need to report the deaths in public Steward Reports is a major concern,” said CPR Campaign Director Elio Celotto.

“Firstly, because it tells us that far more horses are killed than CPR can possibly identify. Secondly, because it is deceiving to the Australian public who have a right to know how many horses are killed as a result of exploiting them for gambling and entertainment.”

“We cannot emphasise enough that the deaths and catastrophic injuries sustained by racehorses are not accidents. They are a direct result of pushing horses too far, too fast and way too young”, Mr Celotto said.

Only a week ago the Herald Sun reported that Racing Victoria’s most senior veterinary officer is embroiled in legal action against the governing body, alleging she was being pressured and coerced into allowing horses with a “high risk of catastrophic injury” to race.

“With a record number of horses being killed from racing this year, it’s evident that the racing industry has become even more relentless in their pursuit of profit at the expense of the horses they rely on to exist.”

2024/25 Racehorse Death Toll by State:

NSW/ACT: 50
VIC: 40
QLD: 38
SA: 19
WA: 15
TAS: 7
NT: 6

Please refer to the Deathwatch Report for more details and case stories from individual states.

More Australians are joining the ‘Nup’ to the Cup Movement

Each year more Australians become aware of the inherent cruelty of racing and oppose the violence and gambling issues surrounding horse racing in general and the Melbourne Cup in particular.

As a response, more Australians than ever are supportive of CPR’s #nuptothecup campaign, which offers people a meaningful alternative to attending or gambling on the races on Cup Day.

“It’s immensely encouraging to see the ever increasing number of ‘Nup to the Cup’ events being organised all across the country, where people can have fun and dress up on Cup Day without supporting cruelty. Choosing kindness to animals is growing and we’re excited to see this positive change, especially in regard to horseracing,” Mr Celotto said.

– ENDS –

2025 JUMPS RACING REPORT

September 17, 2025 by admincpr Leave a Comment

A sixth jumps horse has been confirmed killed in the 2025 season.

Following our usual status check after the end of the season of all the horses who jumps raced and/or jumps trialled, we became aware that an additional horse, Indian Doll, had been killed. Indian Doll was injured at a jumps trial at Warrnambool on 16 June and she was subsequently killed off-track as a result of the injury.

This brings the death toll of the 2025 jumps racing season in Victoria up to six horses.

Taken into account the smaller number of individual horses who raced and trialled in 2025 compared with 2024, the overall death toll of six horses in 2025 is statistically as significant as in 2024. In fact, the number of deaths resulting from jumps trials have actually increased from two in 2024 to three in 2025.

Find the full report here: 2025 JUMPS RACING REPORT

Fifth Jumps Horse Killed as 2025 Season Concludes

August 19, 2025 by admincpr Leave a Comment

MEDIA RELEASE Monday 18 August 2025:

Activists Demand Government Intervene to Ban Jumps Racing

Another horse killed and several horses injured as another failed season concludes.

Activists from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) were at Ballarat Racecourse yesterday, Sunday 17 August to bear witness and protest at the final jumps racing meeting of the 2025 season.

One horse, six-year-old Tapa Capall was confirmed killed in race 2 suffering a catastrophic injury to his near hind leg when he hit the 10^th obstacle. It was only his second jumps race.

The death of Tapa Capall brings the death toll of the season up to a total of five horses killed from jumps racing in 2025.

Many more horses have sustained injuries and are unlikely to reappear next year. Approx. 50 percent of jumps horses disappear from racing from one year to the next.

CPR is demanding the State Government intervene as the state racing authority, Racing Victoria appears to have no intention to end the sport.

“After yet another review conducted after the deadly 2024 season, the only change that has reduced the deaths to 5 in the 2025 season has been reducing the number of races and the number of horses competing” said Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for CPR.

“If Racing Victoria want to do the right thing and reduce the deaths and injuries to zero, it’s simple, ban the sport.”

According to the Stewards report on yesterday’s races, multiple horses were struggling. Some were found lame, one suffered cardiac arrhythmia, one sustained a horrific fall, and others knuckled to their knees barely avoiding falling. Six horses were showing signs of being at risk of injury and were pulled up during their race.

In the meantime, security guards were being used to impose heavy handed tactics on protestors to prevent them from filming the races.

The footage of Tapa Capall dragging his injured leg on the ground has been edited from the racing.com website.

“We will not be intimidated by the racing industry who continually tell us they have nothing to hide and yet do everything they possibly can to prevent the truth being told. This is business as usual for the racing industry,” said Mr Celotto.

“At the end of the day, we are still seeing approx. one in 30 jumps horses killed on the track every season. This is simply unacceptable,” Mr Celotto said.

In 2024, ten horses were killed during jumps races and jumps racing trials. There was a total of 250 horses trialed and raced. Statistically, one in 25 jumps horses was killed in 2024.
In 2025, five horses were killed during jumps races and jumps racing trials. There was a total of 175 horses trialed and raced. Statistically, one in 35 jumps horses was killed in 2025.

“Jumps racing is the only sport that expects some of its competitors to be killed. If these were jockeys, the sport would have been banned a long time ago,” Mr Celotto said.

CPR will be contacting the Minister for Racing in Victoria, Anthony Carbines, to arrange a meeting to discuss an immediate phase out of the sport.

– ENDS –

MORE INFORMATION

CPR Jumps Racing Report 2024

See CPR’s submission to the Racing Victoria Jumps Racing Review Panel here.

More information about jumps racing

Groundbreaking Court Decision: Whipping Horses with a Padded Racing Whip is an Act of Cruelty

May 29, 2025 by admincpr 13 Comments

MEDIA RELEASE 27 May 2025

Court Concludes Padded Racing Whips Hurt Horses

On 27 May it was proven in a Tasmanian court that padded whips cause pain and suffering to horses. This is the first court decision, since the introduction of padded whips in 2009, against their use on horses. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses are once again calling for an immediate ban of the whip in racing.

“The Magistrates Court in Tasmanian has made the groundbreaking ruling that whipping a horse with a padded whip does indeed cause pain and suffering to the horse,” said General Manager for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, Helle Erhardsen.

“This ruling is significant because it wasn’t any old whip in question, it was the specific padded whip which is approved for racing, and which Racing Australia claims do not hurt horses.”

The conventional whip was replaced with a padded whip in 2009 because of the massive public concern about the pain it inflicts upon horses to be whipped.

Despite studies which, according to the RSPCA, show that the padded whip “will cause a similar level of pain as occurs with a conventional whip”, the racing industry has justified its continued use of the whip by arguing it has not been proven that whipping hurts horses. With this court decision, that argument is no longer valid.

The guilty ruling relates to Tasmanian racehorse trainer Liandra Gray, who was recorded on CCTV in July 2022 hitting a racehorse with a padded whip more than 40 times. Under the Animal Welfare Act, the RSPCA charged the trainer with committing an act which “caused or was likely to cause unreasonable and unjustifiable pain or suffering to an animal.”

The defendant Liandra Gray pleaded not guilty. In her defence, she claimed she had used less force with the whip than a jockey would in a race. On May 27, 2025, after considering extensive evidence, including several hearings and expert reports, Magistrate Evan Hughes of Devonport Court found the defendant Liandra Gray guilty:

Although the whip was padded, it was proven that it caused the horse to experience ‘unreasonable and unjustifiable pain or suffering.’

“The Australian racing industry can no longer hide behind a smokescreen of being unaware of the pain they are allowing jockeys and trainers to inflict upon horses used for racing,” said Ms Erhardsen.

“We now have a legal judgement that whipping a horse with a padded whip is a criminal act of cruelty to animals. In light of this, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses once again calls for an immediate ban of whip use across the racing industry.”

Currently in Australia jockeys are permitted to strike their horse five times prior to the last 100 metres of a race, and from thereon at their own “discretion”.

“This court decision could just be the best news of all time for the welfare of racehorses in Australia,” Ms Erhardsen said.