September Slaughter on the Jumps Tracks

MEDIA RELEASE

28 September 2012

September Slaughter on the Jumps Tracks

Animal advocacy group SAFE says that September has proved to be the worst month for jumps racing casualties in New Zealand, with three horses killed, bringing to six the total number of deaths this season.

The season finishes this Sunday (30 September), at National Jumps Day. “The carnage will be finished for another year, thankfully,” says Campaign director Eliot Pryor.

There was chaos on the track last week when two horses died in jumps races. SON OF ZOFF and SILENCE PLEASE were both euthanised after sustaining injuries on Wednesday (19 September) at Rotorua’s Arawa Park racecourse.

“The industry is fortunate there have not been more deaths this season,” says Mr Pryor. “Jumps races are a lottery for the horses, with a much higher rate of injuries and casualties than flat racing. This is due to horses being forced into jumping barriers at speed – something they would never do naturally.”

SAFE has been monitoring casualties this season and say that the death rate is unacceptable. “On average one horse died per month this season. How can jumps racing be called a sport when it is routinely sending horses to an early death?” asks Mr Pryor.

There may also have been deaths off the track that are not recorded in the stewards’ reports, after a race, or in the trials. “It is likely that the true animal welfare cost of the jumps racing industry is even greater,” says Mr Pryor.

“The industry doesn’t want the public to know that horses are regularly dying on New Zealand race tracks.” SAFE is demanding a ban on this so-called sport and encourages the public to contact Racing Minister Nathan Guy with their concerns.

List of deaths 2012 season: http://safe.org.nz/Campaigns/Jumps-racing/Deaths/

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