Bullying a child at the races... really?

There’s only so long you can try and be nice and hold back when it comes to horse racing activists, mainly the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR), and their supporters and volunteers.

But enough is enough.

On Saturday afternoon at Sportingbet Park Sandown, Grace Laing, the 14-year-old daughter of prominent trainer Robbie Laing and a finalist on ‘The Voice’, sang the national anthem in front of nearly 7000 trackside patrons.

Hours later, she was hurled with online abuse from supporters/volunteers of CPR.

I have, in previous pieces, refused to name and shame these people, but given this act, and the fact it was posted in a public forum, I will name her.

Debra Tranter is her name. She sent out a tweet to Grace Laing just hours after the 14 year old’s performance, attaching a billboard showing a lifeless Pride Of Westbury, a horse trained by Robbie who died in the 2009 Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool.

The caption?

“Wonder of she’s seen this? Everyone else has”

Spelling error straight away, but I’ll raise the bat and let that go to the keeper.

I will skip the fact that thousands of dollars was spent on this billboard instead to re-homing retired racehorses.

I will skip the fact that this dysfunctional organisation has done nothing at all in regards to helping retired racehorses.

But I won’t skip the fact that this organisation has bullied a 14-year-old girl in the worst way possible, cyber bullying. How on earth does she have anything to do with their cause? She was singing the national anthem at the races, so where did animal rights come into the picture?

CPR actually do mean well when it comes to the core issue – the welfare of the horse. But they have a horrible way of showing love, care and dignity for the horse. For example recording the death of Melbourne Cup favourite Admire Rakti as well as going to race meetings in the hope of a jumper, or a flat horse, dying.

Facts are facts.

CPR would rather spend money on camera equipment to record horse deaths instead of putting money towards re-homing these animals, which is what Racing Victoria does.

CPR blamed the whip for the death of Admire Rakti after the Melbourne Cup. Replays clearly show that jockey Zac Purton whipped the horse once, then eased the horse out of the race.

I have said previously that CPR is fighting a losing battle… but to go to the level of harassing a teenage girl? That takes the cake.

No, sorry. Tranter’s comments when asked as to why she sent the tweet takes the cake.

“I apologise if Grace is upset by it but I’m an animal activist and I take every opportunity to raise awareness and educate.”

“I do not condone any bullying of any form, I saw my tweet more of posing a question.”

And there goes any credibility they had left.

For too long, we as an industry have sat on our hands and let these people tarnish and paint this wonderful sport we are involved in as horrible, cruel and just plain wrong to the general public who don’t know the full ins and outs. It is time to take a stand and say enough is enough.