This is old news for those with their finger on the pulse, however, we’ve delayed making this announcement until we could confirm further details on the potential of horses being killed for human consumption at other slaughterhouses in Australia (for domestic and export market) and details on horse meat imports.

After many months of going back and forth with Australian food regulators, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and each states individual food safety authority, we can confirm that:

1. Meramist has stopped killing horses (at least for the time being). For those unaware, Meramist slaughterhouse is in Caboolture QLD and the horror scenes of horses being slaughtered there (mostly racehorses) sent shockwaves across Australia when exposed on ABC’s 7:30 – watch here.

2. There are currently no other slaughterhouses in Australia killing horses for human consumption, neighter for the domestic or the export market.

3. The Department of Forestry and Fisheries have been unable to confirm if horse meat for human consumption is being imported into Australia (concerning in itself), however, we do know no animal flesh was imported into Australia under the import code “Meat of horses, asses, mules or hinnies, fresh, chilled or frozen” in the most recent data set.

Having said that, it is possible horse parts may have been imported under the code “Edible offal of sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules or hinnies, frozen”.

DAFF states “Horse meat is a very minor import in Australia. As a result, some of the data that the ABS publishes on horse meat is grouped with other smaller commodities.”

Sadly, this of course does not mean horses are not being slaughtered in Australia. Knackeries continue to operate across the country for the pet food market and countless healthy horses are killed out the back paddock when no longer wanted (including racehorses). Additionally, Meramist could recommence killing horses for human consumption at any time, or another operation could start elsewhere. Killing horses for human consumption remains legal.

To assist in our ongoing work with our international partners Animal Welfare Foundation – if you do see horse meat being sold for human consumption anywhere in Australia, can you please ask the seller its country of origin and report back to us.

Photo: Ruby and Thunder Tamara Kenneally Photography

Dear Supporter, 

In this newsletter:

• Say Nup to the Cup – Join the Movement! Get Involved!
• Spring Racing Carnival Protests and Events
• Call for Volunteers
• Victoria’s 2023 Jumps Season Wrap Up
• Deathwatch 2023
• Damning Review into Racing Victoria’s Victim Support System
• LION Beverages Defends Animal Abuse

CALLING ON BUSINESSES, ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO SAY NUP TO THE CUP!

Say “Nup to the Cup” this year!

but what is it?

It’s about having fun on Melbourne Cup Day but without the cruelty. We want you to join us in celebrating animals – not exploiting them.

Our organisation, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR), has a vision of Nup to the Cup becoming the norm. But we can’t do it alone. We are asking you to get on board this year and say Nup to the Cup. Our collective voice will become louder than ever before and spread the message that celebrating animal abuse is not okay.

We are inviting all businesses, organisation and individuals to say Nup to the Cup. There are so many ways to get involved, big or small, and we’re here to help. From hosting your own large-scale event, to running a fun activity, to simply adding a Nup to the Cup food or drink special to the menu or a dedicated Nup to the Cup item to your online store. However you can get involved, in whatever capacity, your efforts will help towards showing people you can still have a great time without supporting animal abuse.

No matter how big or small you make saying Nup to the Cup, you can register it with us at nuptothecup.org.

Whilst you’re at it, take a squiz around the site. We offer ‘how to’ tips, support kits and more. We can also offer promotional support of your event via our website, socials, and traditional media reach. Anything from a private ticketed event, a live gig, trivia, human races, an exhibition, a club night, a band gig/festival, a day for the kids, or even just a special customer offering. Whatever you have the capacity to create, so long as it is cruelty free and saying Nup to the Cup, it’s a WIN! Why not make it a fundraiser for your favourite animal charity while you’re at it. It could even be on Cup Eve or the weekend prior to the official Melbourne Cup if that suited you better.

From humble beginnings in 2010, the Nup to the Cup movement has slowly but surely been gaining momentum. Help us make Nup to the Cup 2023 HUGE! so that the first Tuesday of November officially becomes a party FOR the animals!

For more information visit nuptothecup.org. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any queries you may have via reply email or phone us on 03 9016 3277.

UPCOMING PROTESTS AND EVENTS  

  

Rally at the Caulfield Cup
Saturday 21 October, 2023
Melbourne Racing Club – Gate 23 Caulfield Racecourse, Station Street, Caulfield, VIC
10:30am – 12:30pm
Dress: Smart casual at a minimum. Dress as if you are going to the races is even better.
Banners and posters will be provided. Follow the event and invite friends here.

Protest at Derby Day
Saturday 4 November, 2023
Flemington Racecourse – opposite main entrance – 448 Epsom Road, Flemington VIC
10:30am – 12:30pm
Dress: Smart casual at a minimum. Dress as if you are going to the races is even better.
Banners and posters will be provided.
Follow the event and invite friends here.

Disrupt Cup Eve Celebrations – to be confirmed
The City of Melbourne seem to be keeping any potential plans for the usual Melbourne Cup Eve Parade close to their chest. So we can’t provide much detail at the moment other than to say SAVE THE DATE! Monday 6 November, 2023.

Farshans on the Field – Australia’s Official Nup to the Cup Party!
Tuesday 7 November, 2023
Flemington – exact location to be announced shortly
11am – 6pm
More details to come including live music, DJ’s, human races, delicious food and more. 
All we can say for now is it is VERY EXCITING!

For other Nup to the Cup events being held across Australia keep an eye on our website here.

CALLING ALL ANGELS      

Volunteers are the bones of the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses – especially during our busiest time of year, the Spring Racing Carnival. If you can help in the leadup to and/or on Nup to the Cup Day (Tuesday 7 November), please complete the form here and we’ll be in touch. 

VICTORIA’S HORROR 2023 JUMPS RACING SEASON WRAP UP 

Watch our 2023 season wrap up here.

24 horses fell
29 finished lame
58 failed to complete the course
5 horses were killed (that we know of)

Almost half of the horses who were used in the 2023 jumps racing season will not be seen in jumps or flat racing again and no explaination will be given of their whereabouts.

These are the industry’s new ‘safe’ hurdles.

Victoria is the last Australian state to support jumps racing.

TAKE ACTION here

DEATHWATCH 2023           

Our Deathwatch Report 2023 and it’s accompanying video will be published any day now. We’re sorry to say, despite the racing propaganda that they acting to address racing injuries and deaths, our reserach proves this is far from the case. Sadly, we are about to publicly reveal that the death toll for the 2022-23 ‘racing year’ is the worst on record.

We’ll need your help in getting this information out to the public. Stay tuned!

DAMNING REVIEW INTO RACING VICTORIA’S VICTIM SUPPORT PROCESS 

The abuse, entitlement and protection of perpertrators to ensure the institution of racing animals for gambling profits and prestige continues has long extended way beyond the horses.

The Guardian’s headline reads ‘Sexual assaults and ritualised violence uncovered in review of Victoria’s racing industry’

.FROM THE ARTICLE:

Carroll said he had heard devastating accounts of physical and sexual abuse, including rape, sexual and physical assault, humiliating initiation practices, “ritualised violence”, grooming and harassment.

Children as young as 12 and young recruits were among the victims, and some of the abuse took place in recent years, the review found.

“The dark flip side of loyalty has been a culture of silence across the industry that is underpinned by an historical and widespread, tacit discouragement of reporting,” the report said.

“At times, those who have raised complaints have been the subject of overt retaliation.

“A number hold the perception that perpetrators of abuse have been protected.”

Read the full article here.

Review into Victorian Racing Industry Victim Support and Complaint Process in full here.

DRINK RESPONSIBLY 

Lion Beverages seem to be unaware that there are many ways to celebrate without harming animals!

Note: this is not an exhaustive list of booze brands that directly support or are under a group that sponsors horse racing.

Thank you for reading and remember… speak up, always! 

CPR Aotearoa make a statement outside New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards Night

Dear Supporter, 

In this newsletter:

• MYER ends Melbourne Cup partnership, FINALLY!
• Singapore ends horse racing
• Discarded thoroughbreds at sales
• Bouvry feedlot investigation
• Warrnambool jumps carnival – RIP St Arnicca
• Spate of QLD track deaths 
• Horse racing cruelty in the international spotlight 
• Pateman and Barton disqualification
• Racing are their own judge and jury
• Peter V’landys loses ABC defamation case
• Raffle! Raffle! Raffle!
• Past and Upcoming Protests

MYER ENDS MELBOURNE CUP PARTNERSHIP!

Thank you MYER

This is amazing news!

After a forty year partnership, Myer has finally pulled the pin on horse racing. Myer’s chief executive John King said it was a difficult decision to end the sponsorship, but one that “aligns with our ongoing strategic objectives and marketing priorities”.

This comes after years of solid campaigning by CPR directed at the department store to stop glamourising the ugly business of gambling and animal abuse.

We hosted demonstrations outside the store, coordinated letter writing campaigns, developed our ‘10 Reasons Why your Business Should Not Be Associated With Horse Racing‘ educational outreach kit, and most fantastically, through our annual online ‘Hijack Myer Fashions on the Front Lawn’ action, so many of you posted fab photos of yourselves saying #nuptothecup from the absolutely divine, to the hilarious, to the grotesque and the outrageous.

Our awesome collaboration with Tenfingerz joining our Nup to the Cup event, facilitated the most fun Farshans on the Field human races, demonstrating you can have an amazing time without supporting animal abuse.

And most recently, through our collaboration with Collective Fashion Justice, Fashion Standing With Horses campaign, you reached out directly to the MYER board members and marketing team and let them know you’d no longer support their store so long as they sponsored horse abuse.

You all told Myer in many different ways to say #nuptothecup and they’ve finally listened.

Huge love and thanks to every single person who helped make this happen!

Please consider taking a moment to thank Myer via email at [email protected] You can also sign our petition to keep the pressure on other racing sponsors here.

From the SMH article:

“The departure of Myer is yet another example of lifestyle brands distancing themselves from horse racing, as concerns over issues like the cost-of-living and animal welfare loom large for younger demographics.”

Read more about Myer cutting ties with horse racing here.

SINGAPORE ENDS HORSE RACING  

Last month Singapore announced that after 180 years, there would no longer be horse racing in the country beyond October 2024. Singapore plans to make space for public housing amid declining popularity of the industry. More here.

CPR called on Albo to follow suit. “What better way to help address Australia’s housing crisis and support people experiencing homelessness – offering city dwellers greater access to green open spaces and healthy leisure activities rather than gambling on animal abuse.”

Racing Post stated: “Falling attendances, exacerbated in the post-Covid-19 era, as well plummeting wagering turnover, have resulted in prize-money being slashed and the horse population decreasing by a quarter in the space of four years from 2014 to 2018, the last time statistics of this nature were published.”

Nice move Singapore!

DISCARDED THOROUGHBREDS AT SALES 

CPR volunteers tracked three horse sales across six days. Among the sales – Andrew Wilson, Laidley, and Triangle, we were able to identify thirty thoroughbreds.

In summary:

• Four were still listed as “active” racehorses by the industry’s own records
• The highest prize money was $139,844 – the lowest $0 of which there were several
• Seven had never been raced – the most anyone had been raced was forty-eight times
• Eleven were sold – the highest price for $1,100 – the lowest just $175
• Seventeen were “passed in”, unable to reach reserves of even $300
• Two were “withdrawn” from the sale
• Many were in poor condition
• Most appeared defeated
• All were knowingly being sold to strangers, their fate unknown.

Meanwhile, we also tracked the Magic Millions online sale, where another forty-four thoroughbreds were listed, of which eighteen were being sold as “breeders”, having already been used to birth sixty-four LIVE foals between them.

Just four of their stories are featured in the graphics below and a further fifteen here.

Dear fifteen year old ‘Electric Current’ has so far been used to breed eight of those LIVE foals (plus two dead at birth) in just eleven years. She was “passed in” with a reserve of just $600. Almost half of the other horses were also “passed in” – mostly “breeders”. Some of the “active” racehorses up for sale had been raced as recently as just days and weeks prior.

Countless others have already this month been sold direct to knackeries and kill buyers, shot out the back paddock or put through racing approved on-farm killing programs.

Please – read and share their stories (listed here), then take the pledge to never bet on or watch a horse race again here.

BOUVRY FEEDLOT INVESTIGATION   

New research: Horse meat from torture production in Canada.
View the full length film here.

Since 2012, our international partners at Animal Welfare Foundation have been researching imports of horse meat from torture production. Their latest research from 2021 to 2023 proves horse meat sourced from horrific abuse endured by horses in Canada still arrives to the EU and Switzerland for human consumption.

Nearly 50% of the horses slaughtered at the Canadian slaughterhouse, Bouvry, come from the United States. In order to reduce the consumer risk of drug residues in meat, due to many having being used as “sports horses” including racing, horses must endure six months of living in terrible conditions whilst being fattened up before slaughter. Their new documentary shows how catastrophic the conditions are.

Help us end torture production horse meat imports. Support our petition to the EU Commission here.

REST IN PEACE ST ARNICCA   

The below words are from a CPR volunteer who witnessed the death of St Arnicca in a jumps race on Tuesday 2 May 2023 at Warrnambool. We are so grateful to those who make such sacrifices to help end the abuse of these magnificent beings.

“St Arnicca took a very long time to die. He did not die well. He suffered terribly. His leg spun like a spinning top from his fetlock. He reared in terror, fought against death in fear and horrific pain. He was six years old, he wanted to live.

The killers held him down with ear twists. They brought another horse in to keep him quiet. That horse was forced to stand beside St Arnicca while they killed him.

Perhaps the level of adrenaline and agony prevented the anaesthetic from working quickly. Perhaps they had to inject him again: he took a lot of killing. It was a very long death. It went on and on, maybe half an hour. It was not instant. It was not humane.

Back at the grandstand, trainers thumped each other on their backs and punched the air in celebration, the crowd roared as St Arnicca lay dying a short distance away on the track. He’d fallen another year at the same jump; this time would be his last.

When it was done, when he was finally gone, they took his body away and dumped it in a shed far from the party to be collected later. The death float returned to trackside in readiness for the next.

Sweet boy we saw you, we heard you, you were not just nothing. We will remember. We are so sorry. Rest in peace.”

CPR have been in touch with people who attended the races that day when St Arnicca was killed. They were only a few hundred metres away and had no idea, until a friend who had seen our footage (available here) brought it to their attention later that day. This is how good the industry is at hiding the cruelty they inflict. You can be right there at the races and have no idea. An important reminder as to why it is so important that we share the truth and educate as much as we can.

A few days after St Arnicca’s death we exposed the zero regard staff showed, laughing as his body lay lifeless. There was public outrage and rightly so. Watch here.

SPATE OF QUEENSLAND TRACK DEATHS

Of course it’s not only jumps racing causing such immense suffering. At least one horse is injured and killed on racetracks across Australia every 2.5 days.

Queensland usually accounts for two of these deaths on average per month. However, the sunny state has seen eleven horses injured and killed on its racetracks in the past six weeks. 

We have emailed the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission asking what they are doing to address the high frequency of deaths. We’ve also made it clear that even one death in the name of gambling profits and entertainment is unacceptable to us and a growing portion of the general public. We are yet to receive a response.  

Huge love and thanks to those who protested outside the recent Caloundra Cup, where one of the recent deaths occurred inside.

Rest in Peace Little Trojan, Zatara, Cooeebaymagic, Miralie, Dominique, Duchess Rothesay, Beau Epoch, Cossie, Star Spirit, Broadway Babe and Yowza. 

HORSE RACING CRUELTY IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

The huge number of track deaths at both the Grand National Carnival, UK and at Churchill Downs, USA – the home of the Kentucky Derby, has thrust the cruelty of horse racing into the global spotlight (LA Times coverage here.) So too has the brave actions of animal rights activists who delayed the start of the Grand National by occupying the track. CPR gave comment to Yahoo News here. The despicable Grand National can be seen here. It is hard to even believe this still takes place.

An important article was published in The Guardian by ex industry participant, Elizabeth Banicki. What do horses feel at the Kentucky Derby? Mostly fear and pain – available here,

CPR Aotearoa Team Leader, Sandra Kyle, also had a piece published after the jumps death of He’s Ric – read here.

IT ONLY TOOK FIVE YEARS…  

It has been five and a half years since Sir Walter Scott was given the prohibited substance of cobalt before a jumps race at Coleraine, and over three years since the couple were found guilty.

During this time, countless horses have been beaten, forced over jumps and injured under Pateman’s saddle.

BUT FINALLY! jumps racing’s golden boy Steven Pateman and his partner in life and in training, Jess Barton, will serve their disqualification. However, after a drawn out legal process, VCAT has reduced the penalty from three years to just eleven months.

You can read our summary on the case background here.

For anyone particularly interested in the reasons VCAT have given for the significantly reduced disqualification you can read more here.

RACING ARE THEIR OWN JUDGE AND JURY

Both mares were used for racing then for breeding.

Both mares were suffering such neglect they were euthanised.

Penalty? Nothing.

Of note: The initial cruelty report on registered breeding mare Rock My Fuji alleged Robbie Laing failed to provide veterinary treatment after she endured a difficult foaling. Nothing about this was mentioned in the hearing report from the Victorian Racing Tribunal. When we asked why and also why there is no mention of Rock My Fuji being in foal in the studbook we were informed the VRT cannot “provide comments on the evidence or submissions that were put forward during a hearing.”

Also of note: the VRT report stated Laing was suffering a severe case of Covid-19 during the course of the neglect. Yet, we found a radio interview with Robbie Laing in the same period of the neglect talking about his good health, his current work with horses and his future plans. He also had at least one horse in training that was hitting the track during the period. Make of that what you will.

PETER V’LANDYS LOSES ABC DEFAMATION CASE

Good news!

It must be difficult to be exposed for being complicit in the horrendous slaughter of the very individual’s whose exploitation provides your very high pay cheque.

Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys attempt to take down those who were brave enough to do actual journalism and challenge him, and the racing industry as a whole, failed.

No doubt if there were a choice, one would prefer to be treated “shabbily” over being exploited, abused, beaten, confined and then killed. Let’s not forget who the actual victims are here.

Another joyous plus…

“V’landys was ordered to pay the broadcaster’s legal costs”. Full article here. Ground breaking investigation here.

DID SOMEBODY SAY RAFFLE?   

Roll Up! Roll Up! For the greatest raffle of all time.

Why? Because the prizes are ACE and all proceeds will go towards our efforts to end horse racing cruelty.

Tickets $5 each or three for $10 – available here.

Huge love and thanks to our raffle sponsors Mt Nebo Railway Carriage and Chalet, Serotonin Eatery, Vegan Perfection, Goodwill Wine, Melbourne Hunt Saboteurs, Vegan Style, Woking Amazing, Red Sparrow Pizza, Wombat Cafe, Gojé Yarraville, Bunnings Warehouse Australia

NB: As promised, those who purchased tickets at our last Nup to the Cup event, will be entered into this draw. Thanks for your patience.

PAST AND UPCOMING PROTESTS  

Huge love and thanks to Animal Liberation Queensland for saying Nup to the Ipswich Cup and to Sunshine Coast locals, ALQ and Coast to Coast Animal Friends for joining us to protest Ladies Oaks Day and to say Nup to the Caloundra Cup. It was impossible for punters to avoid the reality of what it was they were supporting as they entered the course.

Protest: Ban Jumps Racing
August 27, 2023
Ballarat Turf Club, VIC
11am – 2pm
Dress: Smart casual at a minimum. Dress as if you are going to the races is even better.
Banners and posters will be provided.

Thank you for reading and remember… speak up, always! 

Ladies Oaks Day Protest – Sunshine Coast

THANK YOU MYER

This is amazing news!

After a forty year partnership, Myer has finally pulled the pin on horse racing. Myer’s chief executive John King said it was a difficult decision to end the sponsorship, but one that “aligns with our ongoing strategic objectives and marketing priorities”.

This comes after years of solid campaigning by CPR directed at the department store to stop glamourising the ugly business of gambling and animal abuse.

We hosted demonstrations outside the store, coordinated letter writing campaigns, developed our ‘10 Reasons Why your Business Should Not Be Associated With Horse Racing‘ educational outreach kit, and most fantastically, through our annual online ‘Hijack Myer Fashions on the Front Lawn’ action, so many of you posted fab photos of yourselves saying #nuptothecup from the absolutely divine, to the hilarious, to the grotesque and the outrageous.

Our awesome collaboration with Tenfingerz joining our Nup to the Cup event, facilitated the most fun Farshans on the Field human races, demonstrating you can have an amazing time without supporting animal abuse.

And most recently, through our collaboration with Collective Fashion Justice, Fashion Standing With Horses campaign, you reached out directly to the MYER board members and marketing team and let them know you’d no longer support their store so long as they sponsored horse abuse.

You all told Myer in many different ways to say #nuptothecup and they’ve finally listened.

Huge love and thanks to every single person who helped make this happen!

Please consider taking a moment to thank Myer via email at [email protected] You can also sign our petition to keep the pressure on other racing sponsors here.

From the SMH article:

“The departure of Myer is yet another example of lifestyle brands distancing themselves from horse racing, as concerns over issues like the cost-of-living and animal welfare loom large for younger demographics.”

Read more about Myer cutting ties with horse racing here.

CPR volunteers tracked three horse sales across six days. Among the sales – Andrew Wilson, Laidley, and Triangle, we were able to identify thirty thoroughbreds.. Just some of their stories are featured in the graphics below – listed from oldest to youngest.

In summary:

*Four were still listed as “active” racehorses by the industry’s own records

*The highest prize money was $139,844 – the lowest $0 of which there were several

*Seven had never been raced – the most anyone had been raced was forty-eight times

*Eleven were sold – the highest price for $1,100 – the lowest just $175

*Seventeen were “passed in”, unable to reach reserves of even $300

*Two were “withdrawn” from the sale

*Many were in poor condition

*Most appeared defeated

*All were knowingly being sold to strangers, their fate unknown.

Meanwhile, we also tracked the Magic Millions online sale, where another forty-four thoroughbreds were listed, of which eighteen were being sold as “breeders”, having already been used to birth sixty-four LIVE foals between them. Dear fifteen year old ‘Electric Current’ has so far been used to breed eight of those LIVE foals (plus two dead at birth) in just eleven years. She was “passed in” with a reserve of just $600. Almost half of the other horses were also “passed in” – mostly “breeders”. Some of the “active” racehorses up for sale had been raced as recently as just days and weeks prior.

Countless others have already this month been sold direct to knackeries and killbuyers, shot out the back paddock or put through racing approved on-farm killing programs.

What a disgraceful industry!

Please – read and share their stories, then take the pledge to never bet on or watch a horse race again here.