Wigmore Hall
The death of one of Britain’s top racehorses Wigmore Hall after shattering a leg has sparked a fresh debate about animal welfare. Shocking photographs were taken by Campaign group, Animal Aid, showing the final ‘act of humanity’ at Doncaster racecourse.
Here are three different opinions on an age old debate.
1.Welfare record to be proud of
By Dr Peter Webbon, Ex chief exec of horseracing regulatory authority and former Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust
Racing has a horse welfare record to be proud of and is among the best-regulated animal activities.
Racehorses are the best looked after 2% of horses in the country.
The sport employs 6,000 people to care for 14,000 horses, providing a quality of life virtually unsurpassed by any other domesticated animal.
In exchange, racing asks them to do what they are bred to do – race.
British Racing is open and transparent about the inherent risk of injury involved, which is 0.2% of runners – a drop of around a third in the last 15 years.
Horses are at risk of serious injury throughout their lives, even when turned out in a field.
If racing stopped it would be catastrophic for the thoroughbred as a breed as well as for the rural economy.
2.One in 42 die in a single season
By Andrew Tyler, director of Animal Aid
For racing’s official apologists, every death of a horse on a British racecourse is a tragic accident.
In that case, there have been around 1,500 on-course “accidents” since 2007 when Animal Aid launched Race Horse Deathwatch.
That’s the number of animals that have died or been killed after, typically, breaking their neck, back, pelvis, or suffering a shattered leg.
Our own research indicates one in every 42 horses starting the jump racing season will be dead by the end of it.
Is this an acceptable rate of attrition? Only by the most granite-hearted calculation.
For all its protestations about how horses are cherished and treated as princes, the racing industry regards them as disposable commodities.
3. Facing facts on sport of kings
By David Yates, Daily Mirror tipster Newsboy
Anyone considering betting on a race at Ayr or Newbury – or anywhere else today – should first face one fact squarely in the eyes.
Thoroughbreds die as a result of horse racing. When an animal runs at full speed, it can sustain fatal injuries. That is when the horse is euthanised to limit its suffering.
I have just celebrated 24 years of racing journalism, and have no moral problem with working in an industry of animal conditioning.
Neither, it seems, did the SIX MILLION people who enjoyed a day at the races in 2013.
Horse racing employs thousands of people and puts millions of pounds into the Exchequer every year. That’s a lot of school books.
Think about it.
www.mirror.com
