This coming weekend is all about big money and starry-eyed dreams. Champions Day punctuates the National Yearling Sale and reflects the glamorous, shiny and happy side of the sport of kings.
South Africa’s champion breeder Mick Goss recently referred to the thoroughbred racehorse as the ‘noblest creature on earth.’ An appropriate tag for this majestic animal from a man who is one of the great leaders and ambassadors of the game.
But the sport also brings out the worst in mankind.
This weekend the powerful minority will race for R7,2 million rand in stakes and another 400 young horses will be introduced into an uncertain cycle of life at the National Yearling Sale.
The grim reality is that there are more losers than winners and many more people who really cannot afford to own racehorses. Syndication marginally aside, it is a rich man’s game. The grim reality recently outlined by a knowledgeable person, who knows the sport inside out, is that it costs R100 000 a year on average to keep a horse in training and a Cape maiden win covers that for just four months. That can only inevitably mean victims – both human and equine. And there are plenty of the latter.
The Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) SPCA were recently asked to inspect a farm in Atlantis where it was alleged that horses were being cruelly treated, SPCA Horse Care Unit (HCU) Inspectors treated it as urgent and responded immediately.
Restless, a neglected ex racehorse with Mary-Anne Knight's Horse Care Unit
Upon arrival they found a horse in terrible condition, completely undernourished and full of pressure sores from lying as she could not stand for any length of time because she was too weak. Said CoGH SPCA HCU Stable Master, Nicole Orchard: “When we arrived to carry out the inspection she was lying flat out under a tree. Malnutrition and dehydration were at an advanced stage; she was covered in flies and looked like she might already be dead.
On further inspection we found that she was alive and thankfully we managed to get her up onto her feet – it took three of us! I then walked her to the top of the paddock where we showed her the water and tried to get her to drink. She had swollen back legs and her coronets were oozing, we suspect from abscesses left untreated. She was also full of cuts and scratches. There was no question that we needed to confiscate her and that we would lay charges of animal cruelty against her owner who seemed surprised that she didn’t eat the ‘slap chips’ he offered her!”
Upon arrival at the CoGH SPCA’s specialist Horse Care Unit in Grassy Park, she was given antibiotics for her swollen back legs and injuries and the cuts and scrapes were cleaned and treated. She was closely monitored and kept in the hospital paddock overnight, where she was given a huge teffnet and plenty of water, along with a bunch of carrots which she ate first. She was bathed and the next morning given her first meal, which she apparently ate very slowly.
The next few days were touch and go for her , but thanks to the dedication and care from SPCA HCU staff and volunteers, she started to show signs of recovery.
Stable Master Nicole Orchard continued : “Initially she spent a lot of time lying down and resting, as she was so weak, but we got her up and walking for ten minutes every day to help reduce the swelling in the legs. Much to our relief she was soon eating her food with a lot more gusto and we knew she would make it when she began to call when the grooms started feeding. She’s developed a tight bond with her stable mate and the two are now inseparable, which is definitely helping her recovery and rehabilitation”.
A month after her arrival in mid-March 2012, she has picked up 70kgs and is well on the road to recovery. X-rays show that her leg injuries are not joint-related and the swelling was due to abscesses in her hind hooves, which after two farrier visits are looking much better. Her teeth have also been done. Her name is Restless and Rowdy and she will stay at the CoGH SPCA HCU until she is fully recovered, which is expected to take three to four months and will then be adopted to a new home.
Restless was bred by a top breeder in this country. She was owned and trained by people who may be standing right next to you at lunch at Turffontein and Germiston.
She is one of too many horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and other animals who are confiscated due to cruelty and neglect. This was one of many in the Cape Town Metropole. Once these poor abused animals get to the CoGH SPCA HCU the slow process of rehabilitation begins to restore them to health and teach them to trust again. This process is expensive and time consuming.
The Western Cape Equine Trust (WCET) supports the SPCA HCU financially on an on-going basis to further the rehabilitation and the rehoming of all equines, but is completely reliant on the generosity and support of donors to continue providing this support.
In 2010 they initiated REHORP – Rehoming of Retired Racehorses Programme – where ex racehorses are donated to the unit and are trained down and then adopted out. Horses only go to homes which have passed a home check and the animal is monitored for the rest of its life by the SPCA.
Newton Phillips, vice Chairman of WCET said: “The programme gives racehorse owners and trainers the opportunity to ensure their horses end up in loving homes with responsible owners, who know how to care for them. Certainly there is no better argument for supporting the REHORP programme and the SPCA Horse Care Unit, than the example of this sad case.”
So if you are bidding this weekend, best of luck. But just remember it’s the start of a cycle that too often ends in heartbreak and tragedy.
For more information on the work of the Western Cape Equine Trust and the SPCA Horse Care Unit, visit www.spca-ct.co.za or email [email protected]
Too Hot In India
Jockey Richard Hughes has failed in his appeal to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to overturn a 50-day ban incurred in India. Hughes was suspended in February for reportedly not riding to instructions in a race in Mumbai, an offence that is not punishable under British rules.
The BHA chose to recognise the ban and upheld that decision at an appeal.Hughes will not be able to compete in Britain until 30 April, when the Mumbai season finishes.
Hughes said on Twitter : “Disappointed on losing appeal. Still don’t know why I’m banned”
It has also damaged his hopes of winning a first jockeys’ championship.
“I thought I could have confidence in the UK system on fairness,” he said.
“The BHA has backed an opinion that I did not let a horse run on its merits without any evidence.”
Jamie Stier, the director of raceday operations and regulation for the BHA, said he felt some sympathy for Hughes but believed it was correct to uphold the suspension imposed by the Royal Western India Turf Club. “We would like to register on record that we recognise the frustration felt by Richard Hughes about this episode,” he said.
“The BHA stands behind the principle of reciprocity of penalties among recognised international racing bodies. Without reciprocity, there is a risk of there being no effective measures to deter visiting participants from breaching the rules of the respective authority.
“Similar applications to those lodged by Richard Hughes are, thankfully, few and far between.
“However, we will be looking to see if there are any lessons to learn that may assist the handling of such matters in the future.”
Hughes has vowed not to return to India. Can’t say we blame him!
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Gagging The Giggle
Tellytrack presenter Alvin August has earned the nickname of ‘The Giggler’ for good cause from his colleagues. The seemingly always smiling presenter even laughs when his PA goes missing.
Kimberley trainer Vernon Rugg produced a slip of the tongue on Monday with an an ego boosting variation on that name. Rugg referred to August as ‘The Gigolo’.
