For Immediate Release, Friday 5 July 2019 Animals Rights Activists Target “Wellington Steeplechase Day” And Call For A Ban On Jumps Racing What: Protest To Ban Jumps Racing When: Saturday 13 July 2019 Where: Wellington Racing Club, 10 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt. Next Saturday, Wellington Steeplechase Day at the Wellington Racing Club will see anti-horse racing protesters demonstrating outside the main entrance. Activists will be holding placards and banners with confronting images of the cruel reality behind horseracing calling on racegoers to reconsider supporting the so-called ‘sport’. They will also be demanding the industry at the very least ban jumps racing. Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) spokesperson Frances Baker said today, “We are opposed to horse racing and jumps racing in particular because of the inherent cruelty horses are subjected to. Every time a horse is forced to compete in a jumps race, he’s playing a game of Russian roulette- a game he cannot win. Every aspect of their life revolves around making money and as a result, their welfare is often compromised.” “Jumps racing involves forcing horses to jump over obstacles at speed, with a human on their back, whilst having to run much longer distances than flat races.” “Last year, in NZ, four horses were killed as a result of breaking or fracturing their bones whilst forced to jump at high speeds. Only two months into the 2019 jumps season, we have already seen four innocent horses die from haemorrhages, heart attacks, and fractures. Including the flat racing deaths, that is a shocking 8 horses that have died on track so far this year. All in the name of gambling and entertainment.” “Jumps racing is nothing more than an abattoir with a winning post.” “Additionally, thousands of thoroughbreds in NZ are getting killed on a yearly basis because of this cruel industry. Even if they survive being repeatedly pushed beyond their limits, most are disposed of like a piece of rubbish. There is no retirement plan for racehorses.” She said. “Horses are bred into a lifestyle that is completely unnatural to them. They are whipped and forced to run for their lives often sustaining injuries that can prematurely make them uncompetitive. “ “When no longer profitable, most are sent to the knackery to be turned into dog food just like so many foals that don’t have the temperament or the natural ability and don’t make it to the racetrack. “ “We want people to think twice about attending a racing event. There are other cruelty-free events that you can go to for a good day out. It is not a party for the animals.” “We are urging the racing industry to at the very least, ban jumps racing and implement a retirement plan for all racehorses, not just the ones that make millions in profit for their connections.” “If you really care about animals, you shouldn’t be going to the races” For More information: horesracingkills.com |
For Immediate Release: Friday 15 March 2019 Animal advocates target ‘Al Basti Equiworld Oaks Day’ at Wellington demanding a retirement plan for all racehorses What: ‘Horse Racing Kills’ protest at Al Basti Equiworld Oaks Day When: Saturday 16th March 2019, 11.30am onwards Where: Wellington Racing Club, 10 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt. This Saturday, Oaks Day at the Wellington Racing Club will see anti-horse racing protesters demonstrating outside the main entrance. Armed with a PA system, along with confronting images on placards and banners, racegoers will not be able to avoid learning the truth behind the glamorous facade of horse racing at this Saturdays Oaks Day. Horse advocates will be educating the public and calling on racegoers to reconsider supporting the ‘sport’. They will also be demanding the industry at the very least implement a comprehensive retirement plan for all racehorses. Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) spokesperson Frances Baker said today, “We are against the inherent cruelty horses are subjected to in the horse racing industry. Horses are sentient beings and feel pain just as much as a dog or a human. Every aspect of their life revolves around making money and as a result, their welfare is often compromised.” “Then, if they survive being repeatedly pushed beyond their limits most are disposed of like a piece of rubbish. There is no retirement plan for racehorses.” she said. “Horses are bred into a lifestyle that is completely unnatural to them. They are whipped and forced to run for their lives often sustaining injuries that can prematurely make them uncompetitive.” “When no longer profitable, most are sent to the knackery to be turned into dog food just like so many foals that don’t have the temperament or the natural ability and don’t make it to the racetrack. We are urging the racing industry to at the very least, implement a retirement plan for all racehorses, not just the ones that make millions in profit for their connections.” “We want people to think twice about attending a racing event. There are other cruelty-free events that you can go to for a good day out. It is not a party for the animals.” “If you really care about animals, you shouldn’t be going to the races” For more information: horseracingkills.com ENDS |
For Immediate Release, Friday March 8, 2019 Animal activists target two horse cruelty events across two cities What: ‘Horse Racing Kills’ protest at Wellington Feature Raceday and Auckland Cup Day When: Saturday 9th March 2019, 11.00am onwards Where: Wellington Racing Club, 10 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt, and Auckland’s Ellerslie Race Course, 80 Ascot Ave, Remuera This Saturday, Feature Raceday at the Wellington Racing Club and Auckland Cup Day will see anti-horse racing protesters demonstrating outside the main entrance. Activists will be holding placards and banners with confronting images of the cruel reality behind horseracing. They will be educating the public and calling on racegoers to reconsider supporting the ‘sport’. They will also be demanding the industry at the very least implement a comprehensive retirement plan for all racehorses. Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) Wellington spokesperson Frances Baker said today, “We are against the inherent cruelty horses are subjected to in the horse racing industry. Horses are sentient beings and feel pain just as much as a dog or a human. Every aspect of their life revolves around making money and as a result, their welfare is often compromised.” “Then, if they survive being repeatedly pushed beyond their limits most are disposed of like a piece of rubbish. There is no retirement plan for racehorses.” she said. “Horses are bred into a lifestyle that is completely unnatural to them. They are whipped and forced to run for their lives often sustaining injuries that can prematurely make them uncompetitive.” “When no longer profitable, most are sent to the knackery to be turned into dog food just like so many foals that don’t have the temperament or the natural ability and don’t make it to the racetrack. We are urging the racing industry to at the very least, implement a retirement plan for all racehorses, not just the ones that make millions in profit for their connections.” “We want people to think twice about attending a racing event. There are other cruelty-free events that you can go to for a good day out. It is not a party for the animals.” Auckland’s CPR spokesperson Aya McKenzie stated, “There shouldn’t be any victims involved for any form of entertainment”. “If you really care about animals, you shouldn’t be going to the races” she said. For more information: horseracingkills.com |
What: ‘Horse Racing Kills’ protest at the Wellington Family Day Races When: Saturday 26th January 2019 11am Where: Wellington Racing Club, 10 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt. This Saturday, Family Day at the Wellington Racing Club will see anti-horse racing protesters demonstrating outside, raising awareness about the effects of problem gambling and betting on horses.Activists will be holding placards and banners at the entrance of the racecourse calling on racegoers to reconsider their support of horseracing. Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) spokesperson Frances Baker said today, “The racing industry thrives off people gambling, by betting on horses and supporting horse cruelty. They will sell you the façade of glamour but with easier access to online gambling and apps, it’s very easy to become addicted to gambling.” “Whilst the Racing Industry are celebrating that their campaigns attracted ‘78,580 first time bettors’, plenty of New Zealanders have a real problem with gambling addiction which causes harm to the individual and his or her family.” Betting on horses comes with a negative social impact and family day at the races supports and encourages animal cruelty and gambling in society. “Problem gambling can lead to ill health, emotional and psychological distress, financial harm, poor performance at work or study, relationship issues and crime.” “The horses are also the victims as prize money lures trainers and owners to push horses harder and beyond their physical limits and to view them as nothing more than money making machines who can be discarded when not financially valuable. It’s bad all round”. “Horses are suffering for our entertainment and for gambling profits and that is unacceptable.” “We want people to think twice about attending a racing event. There are other cruelty-free events that you can go to have a good day out. We are gambling on horses lives.” |
What: ‘Horse Racing Kills’ protest at the Wellington Cup Day Races When: Saturday 19th January 2019 Where: Wellington Racing Club, 10 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt. This Saturday, Cup Day at the Wellington Racing Club will see anti-horse racing protesters demonstrating outside.Activists will be holding placards and banners at the entrance of the racecourse calling on racegoers to reconsider their support of horseracing and demanding the industry at the very least implement a retirement plan for all racehorses.Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) spokesperson Frances Baker said today, “We are against horse racing because horses suffer tremendously in this industry. Every aspect of their life before, during and after racing is cruel.”“Horses are bred into a lifestyle that is not natural to them. They spend the majority of their lives isolated in stalls, being fed harmful concentrated diets. Their ability to graze, essential to their general wellbeing, is taken from them throughout training regimes.” “Studies have proven the whip to be painful for the horse yet in horse racing it is perfectly legal to beat them this way as they are forced to run for their lives, resulting in frequent injury and death.” “When no longer profitable many are sent to the knackery to be turned into dog food and there is no record of all the foals born who don’t have the industry’s desired temperament or physical attributes.” “Horses are suffering for our entertainment and for gambling profits and that is unacceptable.” “We are urging the racing industry to at the very least, implement a retirement plan for all racehorses.”“We want people to think twice about attending a racing event. There are other cruelty-free events that you can go to have a good day out. It is not a party for the animals.” she said. QUICK FACTS There is no retirement plan for racehorses90% of racehorses suffer from bleeding in the lungs directly as a result of over-exertion 90% suffer from stomach ulcers as a result of an unnatural feeding regime Racehorses are stabled for up to 22 hours per day while in training The whip is allowed to be used 5 times prior to the 100m mark and then at the jockey’s discretion The average racing career is less than 3 years.In New Zealand, around 5,500 thoroughbred are raced annually. More than 3000 thoroughbred foals are born annually. Many of these foals will not have the temperament or aptitude for racing and will not be accounted for. For More information: horesracingkills.com |
Racing’s dark underbelly exposed yet again. CPR calls for a national enquiry into horse racing As yet another leading trainer is exposed for the use of cruel and illegal practices, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses claims it’s just the tip of the iceberg. It seems only a few months have to pass before the next headline reveals another dark underbelly of Australia’s racing industry. Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for The Coalition For The Protection Of Racehorses said today, “We’ve been contacted by several sources that work in the industry about thesepractises and in particular, Darren Weir’s stables. We’ve known this has been going on for at least 2 years. The reality is it’s probably always been going on for as long as jiggers have been around”. “Frominformation we have received, it appears these practises are commonplace as trainers are prepared to do almost anything to gain an advantage.” “Just like the greyhound industry, the racing industry corruption goes all the way to the top. If Australia’s leading trainer is doing it, it’s all but guaranteed that other trainers are doing the same.” This matter brings into question the results of the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Prince of Penzance. The winner trained by Darren Weir had quite an ordinary racing record by Melbourne Cup standards leading into the Cup and certainly after. Since his Melbourne Cup win, the horse was only placed once from five races and has not raced since 8th October 2016. “We hope the racing industry and police interview every single person connected to the Darren Weir stables including Michelle Paine, the winning jockey on Prince of Penzance in the 2015 Melbourne Cup.” “Like many other cruel industry practices such as whipping, confinement, the use of tongue ties and spurs, and the routine killing of no longer profitable horses, sending electric shocks through horses in training has been known to occur for some time” “Jockeys then mimic the same action on race day inducing tremendous fear into the horse who runs faster as a result” “In an industry where horses are bred into existence for the sole purpose of bringing fame and fortune to those who exploit them, their wellbeing will always be second to opportunities of financial gain”. “If officials really want to stamp out corruption and cruelty in Australian horse racing a nationalenquiry is required to expose just how dark and how deep it extends. Like greyhound racing, it is increasingly showing to be beyond repair” he said. |
For Immediate Release, 20 April 2019 Protesters rally at the sad jumps carnival that refuses to give up the ghost What: Oakbank Easter Carnival Protests When: Saturday 20 April & Monday 22 April, 10am onwards Where: Oakbank Racecourse Main Entrance “Oakbank crowds have dropped by 75% in ten years and the famous Easter race meeting just doesn’t look the same anymore” wrote racing writer Shane McNally of last years pitiful (hopeful) scene in his article titled ‘A Tough Hurdle’. Still, Racing South Australia refuses to give up the ghost, with the Easter Carnival set to force horses over obstacles at high speeds, risking them injury and death for the sickening entertainment of a small few. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) will be joining forces with Animal Liberation SA to take a stand against cruel jumps races and educate attendees of the inherent cruelty. “Jumps races are 19 times more dangerous than flat racing. It’s illegal in New South Wales under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.” Said Campaign Director Elio Celotto “The risks are so high and the tracks so grueling, that last year’s starters had a 12% chance of failing to even finish the course. Even worse, if you were a horse forced to compete in the 2018 jumps season the odds of you being killed were 1:22” he said. In a desperate attempt to boost numbers the carnivals feature race, the cruel Great Eastern Steeplechase, was moved to the Easter Saturday last year and numbers still dwindled. The Von Doussa, another feature jumps race held earlier this month reportedly attracted just 2,000 to the event. “South Australians are clearly boycotting jumps races. The public have spoken but the racing industry refuses to listen. Meanwhile, horses are being killed”. Despite attempts to make jumps racing safer, last season saw the highest number of horses killed in jumps races since 2011. “Eight horses were killed over the 2018 jumps season. With one horse already killed this year, there is little doubt this season will be any less shocking than last.” “Additionally, approximately 50% of horses disappear from jumps racing every year” he said. CPR remains committed to seeing jumps racing banned and will be monitoring jumps races throughout the 2019 season in both Victoria and South Australia- the only 2 states that conduct jumps races. ENDS |
For Immediate Release, 30 April 2019 Animal Protectionists predict DEATH and CARNAGE at THE ‘BOOL Based on 2018 jumps racing statistics, animal protectionists are predicting at least 1 horse will die and 5 horses will fall at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival which kicks off today. An unknown number will sustain injuries and may never be seen again just like Now and Zen in the Grand Annual Steeplechase in 2018 who was taken off the racetrack and euthanised the very next day. (His death was not reported in the stewards reports) “With 8 jumps races over 3 days, carnage on the racetrack is all but guaranteed” said Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR). “We rarely see so many jumps races so close to together and there’s probably a good reason for that. If you ran a full day of jumps races, on average you would see a horse killed at every meeting.” “In the 9 years since Racing Victoria announced they would end jumps racing unless they met all 3 key performance indicators, they have never met them – yet they have allowed it to continue. Jumps racing is nothing more than an abattoir with a winning post.” “It’s simply unconscionable that a government allows a sport to continue knowing that some of its competitors will be killed as a result.” Jumps racing has taken the lives of 91 horses to horrific on track injuries since 2007, 23 of which have been from jumps races at the Warrnambool track. “Jumps races are so dangerous that statistically you are more likely to see a horse die at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival than not” he said. “Warrnambool is the highest killer of horses in the jumps racing circuit – responsible for the death of 25% of all horses killed in jumps races since 2007. What kind of so-called entertainment has an acceptable death toll?” he asked “Jumps races are 19 times more dangerous than flat racing. It’s illegal in New South Wales under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.” “The risks are so high and the tracks so grueling, that last year’s starters had a 12% chance of failing to even finish the course. Even worse, in the 2018 jumps season the odds of a horse being killed on track was 1:22”* he said. Despite attempts to make jumps racing safer, last season saw the highest number of horses killed in jumps races since 2011. “Eight horses were killed over the 2018 jumps season – two at the Warrnambool track. With one horse already killed this year, there is little doubt this season will be any less shocking than last.” Last year the jumps death toll kicked off when Now and Zen fell in the Grand Annual Steeplechase, as trainer Darren Weir, his staff and Racing Victoria tried to cover up his death. “We demonstrate on behalf of him, Springbok Flyer who was killed at the same track weeks later, Bring Back killed at the Warrnambool May Carnival in 2016 and the many others who have had their legs smashed, necks broken and tendons ruptured in the name of human greed and entertainment”. Demonstration this Thursday What: Warrnambool May Racing Carnival Protest When: Thursday 2 May, 12pm onwards Where: Warrnambool Racecourse Main Entrance The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses will also be joined by the members of the Animal Justice Party Western Region Group who too strongly oppose jumps racing and have a policy to see the activity immediately banned. CPR remains committed to seeing jumps racing banned and will be monitoring jumps races throughout the 2019 season in both Victoria and South Australia- the only 2 states that conduct jumps races. ENDS Further Information 2018 Jumps Racing Statistics (Victoria only) Number of races 71 Number of starters 572 Horses killed 7 (+1 in SA) 1 in 82 starters killed on track 1 in 16.3 starters fell Based on the above statistics, 1 horse will be killed and 5 horses will fall at the 2019 Warrnambool jumps Carnival. *178 horses were forced to race in the 2018 jumps season. 8 were killed. The odds of being killed as one of those horses was 1:22. [email protected] For More information: horseracingkills.com |
For Immediate Release, Wednesday 1 May, 2019 GRAVE FEARS FOR BLUES BREAKER AND OUR YANGTZE BREAKING – Blues Breaker took a horror fall at Warrnambool, and Our Yangtze “went amiss” (a term commonly used by race callers when a horse “breaks down”) Repeated calls to the track stewards have resulted in eventually being told that Blues Breaker sustained ligament damage to his shoulder and Our Yangtze sustained suspensory ligament damage. Both these injuries can prematurely end their ability to compete and without a retirement plan, makes them likely to be killed for pet food. “Last year we saw the industry try to cover up the death of Now And Zen at the Warrnambool track. Race day investigators filmed staff attempt to load him onto a float even though he was unable to bare weight on his near hind leg. He was taken away from the track and euthanised the very next day. Still to this day his death is not mentioned in the stewards reports.” Said Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR). Stewards are not required to report on the death of a horse if they are killed away from the track. CPR believes taking injured horses away from the track to be killed elsewhere is becoming more common so that track death reporting can be avoided, as public scrutiny of the industry grows. “We hold grave fears for both Blues Breaker and Our Yangtze and sadly cannot expect transparency from the industry so we may never know their fate.” He said. Warrnambool is responsible for killing more horses in jumps races than any other track in Australia with 25% of all deaths since 2007 coming from the there. “The track staff would be no stranger to seeing dead horses and doing their best to cover these up, with 23 dead horses on their hands (that we know of) from jumps races alone since 2007.” “The risks are so high and the tracks so grueling, that last year’s starters had a 12% chance of failing to even finish the course. Even worse, in the 2018 jumps season the odds of a horse being killed on track was 1:22”* he said. “What kind of so-called entertainment has an acceptable death toll?” CPR will be holding a demonstration tomorrow outside the racecourse, in advance of one of the most dangerous jumps races in the country – The Grand Annual Steeplechase. Demonstration Tomorrow What: Warrnambool May Racing Carnival Protest When: Thursday 2 May, 12pm onwards Where: Warrnambool Racecourse Main Entrance The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses will also be joined by the members of the Animal Justice Party Western Region Group who too strongly oppose jumps racing and have a policy to see the activity immediately banned. CPR remains committed to seeing jumps racing banned and will be monitoring jumps races throughout the 2019 season in both Victoria and South Australia- the only 2 states that conduct jumps races. ENDS Further Information 2018 Jumps Racing Statistics (Victoria only) Number of races 71 Number of starters 572 Horses killed 7 (+1 in SA) 1 in 82 starters killed on track 1 in 16.3 starters fell Based on the above statistics, 1 horse will be killed and 5 horses will fall at the 2019 Warrnambool jumps Carnival. *178 horses were forced to race in the 2018 jumps season. 8 were killed. The odds of being killed as one of those horses was 1:22. [email protected] For More information: horseracingkills.com |
For Immediate Release, Sunday 7 July 2019 A Gruesome Display As Super Haze Is Killed At Warrnambool View the distressing footage here. Horror scenes are what is expected in your ticket price for a day at the jumps races and today Warrnambool did not disappoint. Lafferty Thackery Jumps Race Day pulled out all the stops as 3 horses fell, an additional 2 failed to complete the course and 1 was killed. Super Haze suffered in the most shocking way, his leg literally hanging off as he thrashed about in pain before finally being put out of his misery. A witness to his suffering today said this in a statement to the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) “It took about ten minutes to kill him and it broke my own heart to watch. His leg, swinging wildly, appeared to hang from a piece of skin. He suffered; agony, shock, terror. He fought against his death; he wanted to live. May he rest in peace. I will never forget what I saw.” “What a brutal and disgusting excuse for a sport jumps racing is” said CPR spokesperson Kristin Leigh. “People are literally going to the track and paying to see animal abuse and suffering” she said. “Anyone involved in this horror, from the Victorian Labor government to trainers and connections, to the punters should be deeply ashamed. How is watching and profiting from horses being injured and killed, which is a highly likely outcome for any given jumps day event, in any way acceptable?” Super Haze is the 4th victim of this years jumps season, and the 2nd of the season to be killed at the Warrnambool track. “The 2019 season is looking to surpass last years death tally which was the worst we’ve seen since 2011.” “Horses forced into a 2018 jumps race had a 1:22 chance of being killed on the track or just after. The racing industry knows this, with teams holding green screens and death floats at the ready to try to hide the animals suffering from public view” CPR is calling for an immediate ban on jumps racing in both Victoria and South Australia, the only two states where the so-called “sport” remains. “Banning jumps races is the absolute least the Victorian Labor government can do to address the shocking abuse that occurs so frequently across the horse racing industry. They claim animal welfare is a priority, yet they allow this horrific display of blatant cruelty and suffering to continue” she said Horrific footage captured by CPR to be released shortly. For More information: horesracingkills.com |
For Immediate Release, Tuesday 27 August 2019 BREAKING! DEATHWATCH 2019 REPORT RELEASE Report shows on-track horse deaths would be far worse than they already appear. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) have just released their 2019 Deathwatch report which demonstrates horses are being killed on Australian racetracks at a rate of at least one every three days, for gambling profits and entertainment. The report covers horse deaths caused by racing over the last ‘racing year’ August 1 2018 – July 31 2019. Read the full report here Key findings of the 2019 report show122 horses were killed on track for a number of reasons most commonly for catastrophic front limb injury (61)On average 1 horse will die on Australian racetracks every 3 days7 horses collapsed and died10 horses died from cardiac causes5 horses died from bleedsThe state with the highest recorded deaths was NSW (51) followed by VIC (31) and QLD (25)54 of the horses that were killed had been raced as a 2-year-old (8 more than last year)10 horses were only 2-years-old when they died on the track17 horses are still listed as ‘active’ on the Racing Australia website at the time of writing, even though some have been dead for almost a yearCPR Communications Director, Kristin Leigh claims the lives taken through injuries sustained from racing would no doubt be much higher. “It’s becoming normal practice now, that if at all possible, horses are being whisked away from the racetrack and killed elsewhere so that they are not recorded as a race day fatality.” She said. “Even worse, when a horse is killed on the track the stewards are sometimes failing to even mention it in their reports. Just two weeks ago John’s Revenge was killed at Coleraine but the stewards only mentioned he sustained an injury. This is just one example and indicates the death toll in Thoroughbred racing would be much higher”. Additionally, deaths caused in training and trials are not required to be recorded (with the exception of deaths in trials in NSW). “The fact is thousands of horses are being injured and pulling up lame from training, trials and races each year and many are never heard from again”. “The industry uses terms such as integrity and transparency to fool the public into believing they have the horses best interests at heart, but what they really care about is hiding the truth as much as possible so that they can continue to make profits from the suffering of others.” A perfect example of the industry hiding the horrors that occur on the racetrack can be seen in a race replay from Morphettville on March 11 this year. The vision shows 13 riders, then suddenly cuts to vision where only 9 riders remain. Some handy industry editing removed vision of what the stewards reported as eight different horses being severely hampered by a collision that resulted from the internal haemorrhage and subsequent death of the ironically named Stellar Collision. View the edited replay from Race 8 here at 0:30 seconds in, and the stewards report here. “The horse racing industry is slowly but surely losing its social license as more people become opposed to the use of animals for entertainment. Our report clearly demonstrates innocent horses are not only being killed but also suffering tremendous trauma in the process for entertainment and gambling profits and that is simply unacceptable.” Kristin said. To read CPR’s 2019 Deathwatch report and to view footage of just some of these deaths visit https://horseracingkills.com/issues/deathwatch/ In memory of the 122 horses killed on Australian racetracks this past ‘racing year’ and the thousands more killed behind the scenes and at slaughterhouses and knackeries for no longer being profitable. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
For Immediate Release, Sunday 8 September 2019 CPR Protest at the ‘Ride Like A Girl’ World Premiere What: Protest at the ‘Ride Like A Girl’ World Premiere When: TODAY Sunday 8 September, 1pm – 3pm Where: Village Cinemas Jam Factory, 500 Chapel Street South Yarra ‘Ride Like A Girl’ is the directorial debut of Rachel Griffith. Her film is centred around jockey Michelle Payne, famous for being the first and to date only female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, a day which has caused the death of six horses over the past six years. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) will have a strong presence the cinema to ensure all attendees know what they are really celebrating is animal abuse. “Ride Like A Girl is a film based on glorifying a woman for excelling in what has been long a male-dominated animal abuse industry.” Said CPR Communications Director Kristin Leigh. “There is nothing to be proud of when women achieve accolades in roles of being cruel and heartless that have historically been reserved for men. The film uses issues of both gender inequality and disability to celebrate and promote an industry that depends on the exploitation, abuse, and suffering of horses.” CPR recently released their annual Deathwatch report exposing that 122 horses have been killed on Australian racetracks in the past 12 months. Read more here. “Ride Like A Girl glorifies an industry that is well known for pushing horses well beyond their limits, forcing them to suffer heart attacks, and severe injuries that lead to the deaths of at least one horse every three days on Australian racetracks.” “The majority of those who manage to survive will be discarded for pet food or human consumption when they are no longer profitable. That is something that people should be ashamed of. Michelle Payne is complicit in this suffering, as is Rachael Griffith for glorifying her and this industry through this film” Ms Leigh added. To make matters worse, Michelle Payne’s 2015 win was on Darren Weir-trained horse Prince of Penzance. “This film is premiering and being celebrated just months after Darren Weir has been banned from racing for 4 years for abusing horses with electric shock devices; an action jockeys must also be complicit in for the jiggers to have the desired effect.” CPR is calling for an investigation into Michelle Payne’s 2015 Melbourne Cup win. “If Weir was jigging Prince of Penzance, Michelle Payne would too have been complicit in the abuse. It is highly unlikely that Michelle Payne was not at the very least aware of the illegal cruelty being inflicted on other Weir-trained horses.” Ms Leigh said. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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