...my treasures do not sparkle they clink,
they shine in the sun and neigh in the night...

 

 

Another two fatal accidents on the racecourse, but no-one raises a protest

01/03/2013

(28 February 2013)

For a few months now, appeals from the racing sector have been calling for help from the State to keep alive an industry which is in deep crisis, shamelessly using the threat of slaughter of the horses as an emotional lever to affect people who have no idea how the racing industry works.

No voice is raised, however, to speak for the horses who die on the racetrack, almost as if it was a taboo topic, as if it is something to keep hidden, even more today than in the past, in order not to damage the (questionable) image of love of horses that the racing industry is clumsily trying to promote.

On 17th February, in Pisa, Luxury Baby and Fastidigrass died, accompanied by a general silence. If you read the racing results, you see they ‘fell’ – is this a technical term or a sad passing reference to one who leaves his life on the track while carrying out orders issued by someone else?

Luxury Baby fell badly upon landing after the last hurdle, while Fastidigrass broke a leg rounding the last bend.

What strikes us is that, looking down the lists of runners in the various races, and especially steeplechases, is that very often the horses running are traceable to the same trainers....and the trainers (and often the breeders) are always the same ones; this makes one think that rather than being races in the normal, true sense of the word, these are attempts to fill the racing calendar and amass prize pools (which, it must be remembered are mainly created by the taxpayers). Frequently the horses who end up in these races are not fit enough, which would explain the high incidence of accidents and injuries.

As soon as the new Government is formed, we will address the new Minister of Agriculture to demand an end to financial support of a sector which applies for aid but which has never shown any concern for the well-being of animals, starting with the correct registration of animals which simply doesn’t get done, right up to the end in the slaughterhouse – which is the usual destination of the racehorse and the competition horse. This protest is in fact valid for the other equestrian sports outside of the remit of the MIPAAF (Italian Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forests).

Many people ask us what we think of the various currently active appeals calling for the closure of the racecourses: our response is implicit in our REPORT.

VIDEO OF THE FALL OF LUXURY BABY (from minute 04:15)

VIDEO OF THE ACCIDENT OF FASTIDIGRASS (from minute 03:57)