The dark side of horse racing

You may find that when you challenge people on the topic of horse racing, many will tell you that the horse enjoys it, and that horses are just doing what they were born to do: Race. While it's logical to believe they enjoy running, I dont think any of them sign up willingly to be whipped into going faster, suffering injuries and dying as a result of horse racing. If we are going to label it, then let's do it correctly. Horse racing benefits only those who race them, the spectators and the gamblers. My aim is to give you the horses perspective. 

Most people regard horse racing as a harmless sport in which the animals are willing participants who thoroughly enjoy the thrill. The truth is that, behind the scenes, lies a story of immense suffering.

Approximately 12,000 foals are born into the closely-related British and Irish racing industries each year, yet only around 50 per cent go on to become racers. Those horses who do not make the grade may be slaughtered for meat or repeatedly change hands in a downward spiral of neglect. Of those horses who do go on to race, around 420 are raced to death every year. The survivors are denied their freedom and pushed to their limits to serve the financial interests of trainers, owners and bookies. Because they are bred for speed, not strength, many sustain limb and other injuries and are shot.

Our ongoing research into equine fatalities revealed that over 400 horses are raced to death every year and thousands of commercial ‘failures’ are disposed of.It is also common for horses to develop serious racing-related illnesses such as bleeding lungs and gastric ulcers. Whilst performing, they are whipped in an attempt to spur them on, which is painful and makes them fearful and distracted. In fact, the more a horse is whipped, the less likely he or she is to win the race.

Beneath its glamorous façade, commercial horse racing is a ruthless industry motivated by financial gain and prestige. Cruelty? You can bet on it! Our investigations have revealed other horrors behind the scenes. The top breeding stallions are over-worked and kept isolated for years from other horses. Breeding females are subjected to an endless cycle of pregnancy that often involves the use of drugs and other artificial interventions.

Every year, horses are injured and killed in the Grand National - a deliberately hazardous race in which most horses do not even finish. Animal Aid designates the week leading up to this cruel event Horse Racing Awareness Week, staging nationwide demonstrations.

http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/horse

Horse Slaughter: Yes it happens all over the world.

Race Horse Death Watch

Animal Aid's Race Horse Death Watch was launched during the 2007 Cheltenham Festival. Its purpose is to expose and record every on-course Thoroughbred fatality in Britain.

The horse racing authorities have resolutely failed to put horse death information into the public domain, preferring to dismiss equine fatalities as ‘accidental’ and ‘unexplained’. Even when several horses die at a single meeting, the term ‘statistical blip’ is often deployed.

Animal Aid has produced a series of revealing reports over the last seven years exposing the welfare problems associated with Thoroughbred breeding, racing, training and disposal of commercially ‘unproductive’ horses. Our research indicates that around 420 horses are raced to death every year. About 38 per cent die on racecourses, while the others are destroyed as a result of training injuries, or are killed because they are no longer commercially viable.

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All horse deaths since 13 March 2007

Horse	Date	Course	Cause of death
Cheatingsideoftown (IRE)	2012-10-25	Carlisle NH	Fell - Broke Leg - Destroyed
Juarla (IRE)	2012-10-19	Wolverhampton	Injured Behind - Destroyed
Quiamo Malta (FR)	2012-10-18	Uttoxeter	Fell - Fatally Injured
Dirleton (IRE)	2012-10-18	Uttoxeter	Collapsed and Died after race
Keplers Law	2012-10-13	Newmarket	Lost Action - Fatally Injured - Destroyed
Persian Run (IRE)	2012-10-10	Ludlow	Broke Hind Leg - Destroyed
Love Tatoo (IRE)	2012-10-03	Salisbury	Broke Near-Hind Cannon Bone - Destroyed
Shifting Gold (IRE)	2012-10-03	Newcastle Flat	Pulled Up - Fatally Injured
Hong Kong Island (IRE)	2012-10-02	Sedgefield	Fell - Broke Fore-Leg Cannon Bone - Destroyed
Sandsend (IRE)	2012-09-30	Musselburgh Flat	Broke Hind Leg at Starting Stall - Destroyed
Navy List (FR)	2012-09-27	Perth	Broke Hind Cannon Bone - Destroyed
Fatty Foulkes	2012-09-20	Pontefract	Broke Leg - Destroyed
Myanne	2012-09-18	Thirsk	Fractured Pelvis - Destroyed
Never Can Tell (IRE)	2012-09-14	Doncaster Flat	Fractured Off-Hind Pastern - Destroyed
Shan Blue (IRE)	2012-09-11	Worcester	Injured Near-Hind Leg - Destroyed
Ridiyka (IRE)	2012-09-09	Fontwell	Fell - Injured - Destroyed
Persian Gates (IRE)	2012-09-01	Market Rasen	Pulled Up - Injured - Destroyed
South Wing (IRE)	2012-08-29	Worcester	Fell - Broke Near-Fore Leg - Destroyed
Broadway Star (FR)	2012-08-25	Cartmel	Pulled Up - Injured - Destroyed
Tinzapeas	2012-08-24	Goodwood	Fatal Heart Attack During Race
Brave Command (USA)	2012-08-24	York	Broke Leg - Destroyed
Newfangled (USA)	2012-08-23	York	Pelvic Injury - Destroyed
Presenting Ace (IRE)	2012-08-22	Newton Abbot	Fell - Broke Neck
Mike Towey (IRE)	2012-08-21	Worcester	Pulled Up - Injured - Destroyed
Osiris Way	2012-08-09	Brighton	Collapsed and Died after finish line
Good Mind (IRE)	2012-08-06	Kempton AW	Lost Action - Fatally Injured - Destroyed

and the list goes on........http://www.horsedeathwatch.com/

BAN THE GRAND NATIONAL

The Grand National is a deliberately hazardous race. Since 2000, 22 horses have died on the Grand National course and, over the course of the three-day meeting, 38 horses have been killed at the three-day in that same period.

Animal Aid is calling for this punishing, uncivilised event to be banned. Our annual Horse Racing Awareness Week takes place in the seven days leading up to the Grand National meeting in Aintree. Please click the links below to find out how you can help raise awareness and join our campaign.

BAN THE WHIP!

How is this any different from circus animals being prodded and beaten by bullhooks. Why do we see this as acceptable? Is it because we dont hear the horse cry. Pain is pain and sometimes we must rely on common sense and compassion to understand the real truth.

Watch this video and see how many times the horse is whipped, and without reason.  

http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/f/CAMPAIGNS/blog//4//?be_id=16


Horses are the only animals who may be beaten in public for entertainment. Animal Aid has campaigned for many years to ban the whip from racing in Britain. Many jockeys repeatedly misuse the whip because, even when they are found guilty of misconduct, they still keep their riding fees and may not lose their winnings.

Take action at http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/horse/

Other resources:

http://www.dspca.ie/equinecrisis - How horse racing caused Ireland's equine crisis
http://www.peta.org/issues/Animals-in-Entertainment/the-horseracing-industry-drugs-deception-and-death.aspx
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/horse_racing.php
http://www.irelandsequinecrisis.com/
http://www.irelandsequinecrisis.com/#/what-is-the-equine-crisis/4562754098

So what's the solution:    If you want what is best for horses, then please do not support horse racing in any form, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Word of mouth is more powerful than you think. Instead consider rescuing a horse or contributing to the upkeep of horses in sanctuaries. There are many ways we can demonstrate our love and respect for horses, and horse racing is not one of them.

You might think that this multi billion industry will never end, but without spectators, supporters and gamblers, the unthinkable might just happen in time. Education is key and if we are evolving as human beings, then we need to examine our actions, and choose entertainment that does not involve animal cruelty.