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| For Immediate Release, Tuesday 3 November, 2020 Activists head to Flemington Gates as Anthony Van Dyke is Announced Dead in the Cup Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) are now making their way to the Flemington gates after distressing but not surpising scenes of a horse breaking down badly in the Melbourne Cup hit Australian screens. “5 year old Anthony Van Dyke has broken down in the Melbourne Cup declared dead” said CPR Campaign Director Elio Celotto. “These are not accidents, these are inevitable incidents that can’t be avoided, because racehorses are pushed too far and too often.” “On average, one horse is killed on Australian racetracks every three days. The death of Anthony Van Dyke means seven deaths in eight years in the Melbourne Cup” he said. CPR will be at the track for interviews or available on the numbers below. ENDS |
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| For Immediate Release, Monday 2 November, 2020 Photos: Protesters Crack ‘Bloody Horse Whips’ Outside Flemington PETA and Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses Collaborate to Protest Against Melbourne Cup Melbourne – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has joined forces with the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) today to protest against the Melbourne Cup. A group of protesters wearing geometric horse masks stood outside the gates of Flemington Racecourse carrying signs reading, “Nup to the Cup” and “You Bet They Die” and cracked “horse whips”, shooting blood-red smoke into the sky.  Photos of the demonstration are available here. “A spate of recent controversies has exposed the racing industry’s ruthless slaughter of thousands of unwanted racehorses, and yet, nothing has changed,” says CPR Communications Director Kristin Leigh. “Racehorses are still being sent to slaughter while the industry pretends to have cleaned up its mess.”  A report and documentary recently released by CPR reveals that every year, nearly 5,000 racehorses are killed at one Australian slaughterhouse alone. “With one other slaughterhouse killing horses for human consumption and approximately 30 knackeries, we estimate the number of Thoroughbred racehorses being sent to slaughter each year to be more than 10,000,” Leigh adds. CPR’s Death Watch reports that between August 2019 and July 2020, 116 horses died on Australian racetracks after sustaining catastrophic injuries or from heart failure. Even more horses are killed away from the track. Horses forced to race commonly suffer from stomach ulcers, internal bleeding from the lungs, and are painfully whipped to the finish line. “While media coverage glosses over the bleeding lungs, broken bones, and tragic loss of life, horses on Australian racetracks are subject to severe abuse and even death,” says PETA Senior Outreach and Partnerships Manager Emily Rice. “How many more deaths will it take before we call time on this disgraceful demonstration of national senselessness?” As documented by PETA US in 2019, many horses bred by the Australian racing industry are sold to South Korea, where they’re eventually slaughtered for meat. Since the 1970s, more than 3,000 horses from Australia or who had Australian parents have been killed for their flesh in South Korea. Following the release of this investigation, police in Jeju, South Korea, charged the abattoir where the footage was obtained, along with three of its workers, with killing horses in full view of other horses in violation of the nation’s Animal Protection Act. |
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| For Immediate Release, Friday 30 October, 2020 More Routine Racehorse Slaughter Exposed In Thoroughbred Stud Heartland One year after the airing of the 7.30 story exposing the routine slaughter of racehorses at a Queensland abattoir, the slaughter continues in the heartland of thoroughbred country in NSW. The footage taken (watch here) in NSW at two knackeries, Kankool Pet Foods and Highland Pet Food, located in the vicinity of the largest concentration of thoroughbred studs in Australia, shows racehorses including brood mares, recently raced horses and un-named racehorses killed for pet meat. Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses “It begs the question, considering the convenient location of these two knackeries to the largest concentration of thoroughbred studs in Australia, why weren’t these facilities investigated by Racing NSW.” “Again it’s left up to the animal activists to do the dirty work the racing industry should be doing. If they were serious about stopping the slaughter, these two facilities would have been the first to be investigated a long time ago and certainly in the last 12 months.” “The fact that the slaughter of racehorses continues right under the noses of the racing industry in NSW, three years after Peter V’Landys announced that no NSW racehorse would be sent to slaughter, is further evidence of an industry more intent on saying the right things than actually doing it. The public relations exercise is now over and immediate action is need.” “The RNSW rules preventing the slaughter of racehorses in NSW may look good on paper, but unless they are properly policed, horses will continue to be treated as disposable objects and end up being killed when no longer profitable.” “The shocking footage released yesterday by Farm Transparency Project is further evidence of an industry that is incapable of self- regulation and one that says all the right things yet repeatedly fails the very horses they say they love and will protect.” “Full transparency is now needed and every horse born into the racing industry must now be accounted for.” CPR is also calling for the fast-tracking of the National Horse Traceability Register that would act as a deterrent for those who are more inclined to taking a short cut to the knackery instead of finding a permanent home for their horses. In the mean time, CPR is calling for all state and territory governments to introduce legislation to compel the racing industry to account for every racehorse born into the racing industry and make this information available to the public. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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| For Immediate Release, Friday 30 October, 2020 Protesters Crack ‘Bloody Horse Whips’ Outside Flemington PETA and Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses Collaborate to Protest Against Melbourne Cup What: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will join forces with the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) on Monday to protest against the Melbourne Cup. A group of protesters wearing geometric horse masks will stand outside the gates of Flemington Racecourse carrying signs reading “Nup to the Cup” and “You Bet They Die” and crack “horse whips”, shooting blood-red smoke into the sky. Where: Outside the gates of Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Road, Flemington, Vic When: Monday, 2 November, 11 am “A spate of recent controversies has exposed the racing industry’s ruthless slaughter of thousands of unwanted racehorses, and yet, nothing has changed,” says CPR Communications Director Kristin Leigh. “Racehorses are still being sent to slaughter while the industry pretends to have cleaned up its mess.” A report and documentary recently released by CPR reveals that every year, nearly 5,000 racehorses are killed at one Australian slaughterhouse alone. “With one other slaughterhouse killing horses for human consumption and approximately 30 knackeries, we estimate the number of Thoroughbred racehorses being sent to slaughter each year to be more than 10,000,” Leigh adds. “While media coverage glosses over the bleeding lungs, broken bones, and tragic loss of life, horses on Australian racetracks are subject to severe abuse and even death,” says PETA Senior Outreach and Partnerships Manager Emily Rice. “How many more deaths will it take before we call time on this disgraceful demonstration of national senselessness?” A 2019 PETA exposé revealed that some 3,000 Australian racehorses and their offspring had been cast off by the industry and killed for meat in South Korea. Last year, 116 horses died on Australian racetracks. |
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| For Immediate Release, Monday 26 October, 2020 Activists release study that confirms thousands of racehorses are sent to slaughter every year A new report and documentary film about to be publicly released by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) reveals over 50% of the horses being killed at Meramist slaughterhouse over the period of a two year investigation are from the racing industry, the vast majority being thoroughbreds. One year after ABC’s 7:30 explosive investigation ‘The Final Race’ was aired, CPR has released a 38 minute documentary (watch here) and detailed report (read here) on the findings from the video evidence used in the story, that was obtained by undercover investigators. Based on the data gathered from the strategically placed undercover surveillance cameras, the study reveals that more than 4,000 thoroughbred racehorses are killed every year at this one slaughterhouse alone. This is in total contradiction to Racing Australia’s claim that less than 1% of racehorses are being sent to slaughter. Many of the horses being killed were still listed as ‘active’ or ‘retired’ on the Racing Australia website. “It has long been claimed that the horse racing and horse slaughter industries share an unofficial economic partnership and this report proves it” said Elio Celotto, CPR Campaign Director. “We’ve been disputing the racing industry’s figures for years and despite trying to make them acknowledge and address the routine killing of unwanted racehorses, they continued to deny it. It took a two year investigation to provide the proof which they can no longer refute” Mr Celotto said. “It is just not conceivable that racing regulators have not known of the scale of the wastage problem. It is much more likely they were trying to pretend it didn’t exist or worse still, deliberately hide the truth.” Over the last seven years, CPR has made numerous communications to all principle racing authorities with concern for the large numbers of racehorses that are routinely sent to slaughter. “If the average punter knows his losing bet is off to the glue factory, how is it possible that the racing regulators didn’t know despite being repeatedly told?” “The racing industry has no more excuses. They must act now and ensure that all racehorses are given a proper life after racing that doesn’t end up at the slaughterhouse.” “It is of some comfort to know that Racing Victoria are now listening and are finally taking positive steps towards addressing the wastage issue. Racing NSW, on the other hand, was making ridiculous claims that zero NSW horses were being sent to slaughter right up until the 7:30 story aired.” “Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys still refuses to communicate with CPR. It says a lot about the integrity of an organisation when they block your emails and refuse to respond to concerns about the welfare of the horses they are responsible for” Mr Celotto said. “The industry can no longer continue to offer these false assurances that racehorses are loved, treated well and that most are rehomed. Support for the horse racing industry is support for the horse slaughter industry”. “The racing industry spends ten of millions on marketing to promote horse racing. If they have any chance of regaining the respect of ordinary Australians, they now need to spend this money on the horses and give them all a retirement plan” Mr Celotto said Key PointsOver 10 days, 952 horses out of total of 1682 were confirmed as racehorses. 776 were thoroughbreds and 176 were standardbredsThe retirement form only provides information about the horse’s location at retirementRacehorses cannot be traced after they have been moved from their initial retirement destinationAn estimated 3,000 mares are retired from breeding every year who are not accounted for by the retirement form27.7% of racehorses identified at the slaughterhouse last raced less than 6 months before being killed42.2% of racehorses identified at the slaughterhouse last raced less than 12 months before being killed.Of the many NSW horses discovered at the slaughterhouse that were supposed to be protected by RNSW Local Rule 114, 14 came from the same stud and were killed on the same day. Further images and footage from the investigation can be provided on request. ENDS |
For Immediate Release, Monday 21 September 2020 Breaking! 116 Horses Killed On Australian Racetracks – Deathwatch 2020 Report Reveals The 2020 Deathwatch Report by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) has been released and its findings expose the dark reality of suffering horses endure on Australian racetracks. The report can be read here and the just released Deathwatch 2020 video can be viewed here. “Once again, the Australian racing industry has lived up to its standard of killing one horse on its racetracks every three days” said Campaign Director Elio Celotto. “And these are just the deaths caused by on-track injuries that make it into the stewards reports” he added. CPR collates all their data for the annual Deathwatch Report from official racing industry stewards’ reports. “Once an injured horse is taken away from the racetrack to be killed, there is no requirement for stewards to report on their death” said Mr Celotto. “There is also no requirement for deaths that occur in training and trials to be recorded, so the sad reality is, the real number of horses killed each year from racing injuries would be far greater”. A video, soon to be released by the group, demonstrates just how easy it is for deaths caused by injuries to go unreported and can be viewed here. The reports key findings highlight that, at the very least: 116 horses were killed on Australian racetracks in the 2019/20 racing year (or soon after racing), most commonly from catastrophic front limb injury On average, one horse will die on an Australian race track every three days Other causes of death include: cardiac causes, massive bleeds, catastrophic hind limb injury, pelvis injury and head trauma. Nine horses were two-years-old when they died The most lethal track in Australia was Warrnambool in Victoria with five reported deaths In highlighting issues of transparency, the report found there to be a countless number of horses still listed by Racing Australia as ‘active’, ‘spelled’ or ‘retired’ who have simply vanished. “Racing Australia must be more proactive in following up horses who never return to the track and publicly disclose the reasons.” Mr Celotto said. The report features case studies of individual horses who lost their lives and as a new addition in 2020, CPR has also collated data on the number of horses reported to have suffered bleeding of the lungs or EIPH (Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage) finding 483 horses in Australia suffered the condition to such an extreme level they bleed through their nose. “The majority of bleeds go undetected as they are mostly internal, but 483 horses were pushed so far beyond their limits on race day they bled through their nose” Mr Celotto said. Failure to upload replays of races where horses were killed has also been highlighted and the final new addition to the 2020 Deathwatch Report exposes the names of the companies who sponsored races where horses were killed. “Horse racing is on the nose. As more and more people turn against horse racing, businesses need to consider whether sponsoring animal abuse is not only out of step with their company values, but whether it actually makes good business sense.” Mr Celotto said. CPR’s document titled ’10 Reasons Why Your Brand Should Not Be Associated With Horse Racing’ has been sent out to over 400 race sponsors and can be read here. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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| For Immediate Release, Tuesday 15 September 2020 An Open Letter to Racing NSW Chairman Mr Balding The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) Campaign Director, Elio Celotto, has written an open letter to Racing NSW Chairman Mr Russell Balding regarding the recent Racing NSW announcement of their new ‘End of Life Welfare Program‘. The letter raises serious concerns over the viability of the program highlighting key points that must be addressed for the program to be successful. “Does Racing NSW want to make genuine attempts to address the welfare of retired racehorses or is this just another smoke screen?” Mr Celotto said. The letter can be downloaded here and is also pasted below. 14 September 2020 Russell Balding Racing NSW Chairman Level 7 51 Druitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 By email c/o Kathy Reece: [email protected] Dear Mr Russell Balding, We write to you out of genuine concern for the welfare of horses who exit the racing industry in New South Wales. We have made this an open letter and will also be sending it to the media, as communication to RNSW and CEO Mr V’landys in particular seem to have been blocked. Over the last two years, at least eleven emails have been sent to his office from our organisation without any response whatsoever. In the interests of the horses’ welfare and transparency, we hope that will change. We have read your announcement made on the 12th September 2020 about RNSW’s End Of Life Welfare Program that will fund the euthanasia of NSW racehorses exiting the racing industry and your commitment to finding suitable homes for them. While your commitment to rehoming sounds like a win for the horses, it does raise many questions about the sustainability of the industry and its ability to care for all the horses it breeds. We believe it is imperative to reduce the numbers of horses bred each year because the homes to care for them are simply not there. According to the Australian Racing Fact Book, the number of foals born in NSW has been relatively constant in recent years at around 6000. With the overall number of horses involved in racing and breeding in slight decline, approximately the same number are also exiting the industry every year and requiring re-homing. That represents more than 15 horses every day of the year potentially needing homes just in NSW. This is a significant undertaking requiring significant funding and personnel to make sure all NSW horses receive the care RNSW has promised. We refer you to our proposal submitted to Racing Australia and all Principle Racing Authorities back in 2013 that details what we estimate will be required and how it could be funded – available here. This has also been detailed in our recent submission to the newly formed Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group, with updated figures reflecting the industry today – available here. We also have some questions we would like you to answer in relation to your announcement. 1. Over-breeding Will RNSW do anything to discourage over-breeding- the source of the wastage problem? We note that the foal crop Australia wide is in decline, which would seem to be a positive yet RNSW has an initiative called the Breeder Owner Bonus Scheme (BOBS) that commenced in August 2017 (ref https://www.racingnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/RNSW-Strategic-Plan-2018_3_Final.pdf ) designed to encourage breeding and counter the declining numbers of foals born annually. 2. Foals who don’t make it Can you guarantee that all foals born into the industry will be accounted for? How will foals who are found to not be suitable for racing be managed and re-homed? 3. Retiring breeding mares (brood mares) There are an estimated 3000 mares who are retired from breeding in Australia each year who are currently unaccounted for by the racing industry. How will RNSW account for the retiring mares in NSW? 4. Transparency What records will be kept for racehorses leaving the industry and will the records be made public? 5. Criteria for euthanasia What criteria will be used to assess if a horse will be euthanised? 6. Short-term and long-term care of retiring racehorses With an estimated 15 horses on average exiting the racing industry every day just in NSW, either as foals, unraced horses, raced horses or breeding horses, what plans does RNSW have for these horses? Additionally, what will happen to the horses who are not re-homed? 7. Plans for finding permanent homes Thoroughbreds, especially those who have raced, have traditionally been difficult to re-home because of the likelihood of injury and psychological trauma. What plans does RNSW have for rehabilitating these horses so they are able to find suitable homes? We believe CPR represents the views of the majority of Australians who in principle do not condone animal cruelty. Proof of this gets louder with every Spring Carnival. As such, we would like to maintain open dialogue with the racing industry and in particular RNSW for the purpose of reaching the goals outlined in the announcement. Regards, Elio Celotto Campaign Director Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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| For Immediate Release, Saturday 22 August 2020 COVID-19 Hits Horse Racing in Victoria – Daniel Andrews plays Russian Roulette with the lives of Victorians Racing has been the only sport allowed to continue in Victoria throughout the state’s Stage 4 lockdown and is now still being allowed to continue despite an employee at Richard Laming’s stable testing positive to Covid-19. Racing Victoria has locked down stables and stood down jockeys. Some trainers and staff members have been asked to self isolate pending the outcome of test results which are expected tomorrow and that will determine if they are permitted to resume their involvement in horse racing. Tomorrow! “Again, Daniel Andrews expects all Victorians to abide by strict quarantine rules while he allows the racing industry to make up their own” said an angry Elio Celotto, Campaign Director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR). “If this was in any other type of workplace, it would be immediately shut down for the required 2 weeks of quarantine to ensure the safety of all concerned. However, subject to a test that cannot be relied upon so soon after possible infection, Racing Victoria has continued racing today at Moonee Valley and is likely to run races in Moe and Ballarat tomorrow” Mr Celotto said. “Once again we see the industry self-regulate, with stewards making vital decisions that should be left to the State Government”. “Daniel Andrews is now playing Russian Roulette with the lives of all Victorians and is risking another potential outbreak like the one at the Rydges Hotel that caused the second wave of infection.” “Daniel Andrews needs to stop hiding behind the excuse that horse racing is allowed to continue for animal welfare reasons. Horses can still be exercised and actually cared for much more safely without racing.” “If another outbreak occurs in the racing industry, the Daniel Andrews government will have human blood on their hands, not just horses” said Mr Celotto. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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| For Immediate Release, Monday 6 July 2020 BREAKING! Investigation Leads to Calls to Ban EU Horse Meat Imports from Australia An international coalition of animal welfare groups is calling for a ban on Australian horse meat imports to the EU market after an investigation reveals ongoing and systemic breaches to EU Commission regulations. The Animal Justice Party (AJP) has joined their calls with Andy Meddick MP stating “This investigation is horrifying but not surprising. If you’re an Australian racehorse, one day you’re pumped with drugs for the owners thrill and the next, you’re on the grill.” A recent investigation and subsequent film by Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) and supported by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR), reveals it cannot be guaranteed horse meat from the Meramist abattoir in Queensland is drug residue free and therefore fails to sufficiently protect European consumers. “Over 50% of the horses sent to Meramist slaughterhouse are racehorses and many of those identified had been raced just weeks, or even days prior” said CPR Campaign Director Elio Celotto. “Given that racehorses are frequently administered drugs which must not be used in horses destined for human consumption, it is highly probable that the horse meat being consumed across Europe contains dangerous drug residues” he said. An inquiry of the Australian senate, published in November 2019, points out this concern, highlighting that the existing Australian horse traceability system does not meet EU standards. From the inquiry: Food safety 3.84 Concerning food safety and the exportation of horse meat, the committee heard that the current Australian system was inadequate. The European food market has been the primary driver for the implementation of traceability registers in the EU. Since February 2005, EU law has mandated that all horses are required to have a passport for identification and a central database that maintains identification records. These registers help ensure drug residues are kept out of the food system and to prevent the adulteration of horse meat products. further 3.86 Concerns with Australian compliance with EU standards has been an ongoing issue for the industry. In 2012, the European Commission found deficiencies with Australia’s horse identification controls. 3.87 When asked whether Australia’s traceability measures met EU horsemeat requirements, the Department of Agriculture explained: The current traceability is the tag that goes around the horse’s neck, which is, I would think, from the Europeans’ point of view, definitely not sufficient security for identification. But, to date, they have accepted that, and, when they come out to do audits of our export establishments and they’re auditing horses, they always comment on that and ask: ‘When are you going to improve this?’ So it’s of interest to them, definitely, yes. Numerous investigations over more than two years, repeated EU inspections since 2007 and reports from Australian authorities reveal on-going and systemic non-compliance to relevant EU requirements. Another inquiry, commissioned by the Queensland Government and published in February 2020, states that the Australian animal welfare standards for both slaughter and transport of horses fall below international standards, such as those of the European Union and of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Conditional suspensions of horse meat imports from Mexico and Brazil have already been imposed, following EU audits in these countries. Consequently, the same measure should now be imposed against Australia, since the last EU audit report from 2019 concludes that the recommendations regarding traceability of previous audits have not been properly addressed, in particular concerning the reliability of the medical treatment declarations of the horse vendors. “The EU Commission must take immediate action and ban the importation of horse meat from Australia, if they are to adhere to their own food safety and animal welfare standards” Mr Celotto said. The investigative film, to be published today by the AWF and supported by CPR shows the findings of a two-year investigation, including undercover footage recently exposed in the ABC’s 7:30 The Final Race and further damning evidence of systemic animal cruelty including long transport hauls of up to 30 hours in open air cattle trucks without feed or water. These trips currently do not have to comply with EU standards. The international coalition is calling on the EU Commission to place an immediate suspension on the importation of horse meat from Australia into the EU market – a call backed up by AJP’s Victorian MP Andy Meddick. “We will do all we can to stop the brutal slaughter of racehorses, and I support the calls made by EU activists to stop the import of horse meat from Australia” Mr Meddick said. The film will premiere on the Coalition for Protection of Racehorses facebook page tonight at 8pm here. For an advance download link contact Kristin Leigh on 0434 083 635. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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| For Immediate Release, Monday 15 June 2020 The Month of May Takes FIFTEEN Lives on Australian Racetracks May was the most deadly month this racing year on Australian racetracks, with Tasmania not even racing due to COVID-19 restrictions. Racing NSW took the winning prize with seven fatalities from within their jurisdiction. “The racing industry is right on track to maintain their one death on track every three days” said the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) Campaign Director Elio Celotto. “And, of course, these are just the ones that are recorded”. The deaths or injuries sustained which led to the decisions to kill the horses are varied. From fractures, to suspensory apparatus ruptures, to major haemorrhage. “At a time when the racing industry is experiencing an unprecedented animal welfare crisis the question is, what is the industry doing about the carnage on racetracks? Is a modern society willing to accept that horses will continue to suffer and die tragic deaths to sustain a public gambling industry?” Mr Celotto said. The industry refuses to engage in sufficient research and there is no appropriate intervention strategies that compel vets to decide whether a horse is fit to race. “Ultimately, just allowing unsound horses on to the track is in itself an act of cruelty” Mr Celotto said. As stated in the NSW POCTA Act Section 13, with similar acts in other states: A person shall not: (a) ride, drive, use, carry or convey an animal, or (b) where the person is a person in charge of an animal–authorise the riding, driving, using, carrying or conveying of the animal, if the animal is unfit for the purpose of its being so ridden, driven, used, carried or conveyed. “Racehorses must be protected under the various states POCTA Acts, as should all animals. Why do we repeatedly see exceptions made which ultimately render our animal protection laws useless? Our state authorities support and frequently endorse an industry that is constantly in flagrant breach of their own codes.” Mr Celotto said. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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| For Immediate Release Thursday 28 May 2020 Where Are 3,000 Horses Going Each Year? CPR Asks New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) have compiled a report on the number of thoroughbred horses vanishing from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) each year and the numbers are staggering. Read here. In January 2020, NZTR issued a complaint against the Whanganui Chronicle after CPR estimates of approximately 2,500 horses dying each year were published by the media outlet. The article was promptly edited to remove the statistic and an investigation was launched by the New Zealand Media Council. More here. Since this time CPR has done further research to find the number of horses unaccounted for by NZTR each year is greater than originally proposed. “Over 11 years, from the 2007/2008 racing year to the 2017/18 racing year, our research indicates the number of horses unaccounted for each year has been anywhere between 2,459 (2007/08) to 4,165 (2008/09).” CPR Communications Director Kristin Leigh stated. “Overall, the approximate number of New Zealand thoroughbred horses unaccounted for over the 11-year period is 35,105 – averaging 3,191 horses per year” Ms Leigh said. “Similarly to Australia, the number of horses bred into the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing industry each year is the approximate number of horses who vanish from the industry each year without a trace” Ms Leigh said. CPR’s report has also found that there are many inconsistencies on statistics regarding the movement of horses between the various New Zealand reports and even larger inconsistencies between New Zealand reported statistics and those from other countries. “We have had to use various industry resources to gather the data, often having to rely on international racing bodies, as NZTR is simply not providing consistent data. Where the data is provided, it often contradicts international bodies data or even their own” Ms Leigh said. “On reviewing the data provided regarding the import and export of NZ thoroughbred horses by both NZTR and various international bodies, it is difficult to believe any of the racing authorities has sufficient knowledge as to where these horses are going at all” Ms Leigh said. Regarding the traceability of retired racing horses, the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing website states: Individual thoroughbreds can be easily identified by their brands and microchips listed in the New Zealand Studbook. However, it is difficult for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to maintain reliable information on the location and ownership of horses that have been retired and re-homed with unlicensed owners, given unlicensed owners are not subject to NZTR regulatory oversight. Attaining ‘whole-of-life traceability’ for the New Zealand thoroughbred population is an objective which faces practical limitations (Source https://loveracing.nz/welfare/population-traceability) “The average lifespan of a horse is 25-30 years. The average time a horse is used for racing is 3 years. It is simply unacceptable for the industry to wipe their hands of their responsibility to these individuals once they are no longer of use to them and is yet another example of how bringing living beings into the world for the sole purpose of making profits will in most cases lead to unethical outcomes once those profits can no longer be made” Ms Leigh said. Point 28 in the findings by the NZ Media Council reads “Statements of fact and opinion were advanced by the protest group. NZTR said the group was misinformed but the statements were not directly contested so it is not clear where the facts lie.” “In light of our recent findings we welcome any further evidence that can possibly be provided to us on the numbers and whereabouts of these horses” Ms Leigh said. “Horse racing supporters must consider what the likely outcomes are for over 3,000 unwanted horses each year and assess whether they want to continue to support an industry that not only forces these horses into years of isolation, being pushed well beyond their limits and using implements such as whips, bits, spurs and tongue-ties, but also routinely discards the very horses their industry could not exist without” Ms Leigh concluded. CPR has also recently launched an online petition calling on the New Zealand government to redirect the recently announced racing industry bail out of $72.5 million to innovative, sustainable and cruelty-free industries. More here. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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| For Immediate Release, Monday 6 April 2020 Racing industry ignores Stage 3 COVID-19 rules yet again putting employees and the wider public in danger The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) has been handed undercover footage of the races held today at Caulfield Racecourse showing flagrant breaches of the current stage 3 rules. See the video here. While the rest of Australia is playing its part to get through what is probably the most serious crisis in 100 years, the racing industry continues with business as usual. CPR Campaign Director, Elio Celotto had this to say. “We’ve been monitoring the races for the last 2 weeks and have seen the racing industry behave like there’s no problem despite the latest level 3 restrictions that have been put in place.” Further footage from previous race meets can be viewed here. “Today we saw just about every employee visible on screen break the current rule of social distancing.” “If it was happening in a park or on the side of the road the police could fine you, but yet again the racing industry receives special dispensation from laws that every other Australian must abide by. Being a non-essential service, horse racing should not be taking place at all.” “Not only are they putting themselves at risk, but their families and every other person they come into contact with. The government must now act and immediately suspend horse racing if they are serious about putting an end to COVID-19.” “It’s just not acceptable seeing jockeys, strappers and barrier attendants having no regard for the Stage 3 rules and putting the rest of the community at serious risk. It is simply not possible to run horse racing and maintain social distancing as the industry would have us believe” Mr Celotto said. ENDS For More information: horseracingkills.com |
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