Can you be an animal activist and still support horse racing? In short, yes.
The Melbourne Cup raises public passions like no other event. In the last few years this passion has been most evident in the anti-horse racing movement, those who say ‘nup to the Cup’. This argument has been getting nastier lately, with many of those against horse racing failing to see any good in the industry, while a lot of those on the pro side are deaf to the legitimate criticism.
Post-racing care
There are a lot of issues in the racing industry, from greedy trainers and owners to drugged horses and an inefficient focus on what happens to horses once their careers have finished. The 7:30 report of a couple of weeks ago shone a light on this last issue, and it was harrowing. A horse, no matter if it was an ex-racer or a nag from some back paddock, should never be treated the way those horses were. But for the racing industry as a whole to declare that they had no knowledge that this was happening defies credibility and should be an indictment on the industry itself.
However, the anti-racing advocates took this story and ran too far with it. They declared that everyone in the industry was morally responsible for the acts depicted in the footage, including the lowest apprentices, track riders and strappers from the smallest stables. This is the problem with many of the anti-racing arguments – they take what is a genuine issue and surround it with so much hyperbole that is easily argued away by those in the industry.
The whip
A similar thing happened to jockey Michael Walker after the Melbourne Cup. Walker was fined $10,000 and suspended for seven meetings for overuse of the whip on Prince of Arran. While the fine was larger than usual, this would normally be uncontroversial and hardly mentioned. But some in the anti-racing movement decided that this was going to be a moment they seized.
Rather than continuing the debate about the use of the whip in racing, some decided to personally attack Walker. Some even decided to bring his daughter into their argument. This is simply disgusting.
Walker’s use of the whip was also criticised by others, including Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi. I usually support the Greens politically and have supported some of Senator Faruqi’s statements in the past, but her ‘horror’ about the supposed harm that was done to Prince of Arran was overdone and easily disproved respectfully by trainer Charlie Fellowes, who also offered the senator a chance to meet the horse, which wasn’t taken up to the best of my knowledge.
The use of the whip is a genuine debate that needs to be had. Races in which the whip is banned or even more heavily restricted must be trialed. Whips may be a necessity for jockey safety, but their overuse is a bad look for the industry, even if a horse’s welfare isn’t an issue. The jury is still out on the damage a whip may or may not do to a horse, and until that’s settled, the whip will remain controversial.
Rostropovich
The other controversy to come out of the Melbourne Cup was the injury to Rostropovich. The gelding suffered a stress fracture in his pelvis during the race and was pulled up by Dwayne Dunn when he realised there was something wrong. He is expected to make a full recovery, as Kings Will Dream did last year.
But the reaction online was immediate as soon as the public found out there was an injured horse. Most were concerned about the horse’s welfare. The more vocal were pronouncing him dead as soon as they learnt of the injury. Some continue to believe he will be quietly put down and is deliberately being made to suffer to protect the industry.
What does need to be discussed is why so many horses suffer serious injuries after the race. The Victorian Racing Club and Racing Victoria got on the front foot this year with new technology to rule Marmelo out of the race, but this technology was used to scan only foreign horses. It must be extended to all runners next year. Two miles, under high pressure, is a long distance. Stewards must be 110 per cent sure a horse can manage the trip.
Horse racing still has a future, but it does have issues that it must deal with. The criticism directed at the industry must be answered, but it will be impossible to please everyone. There are radicals on both sides who think that either the industry must be completely dismantled or that nothing at all needs to change. These are not the people who need to be listened to. Listen to those who realise that if the sport – and the thousands of jobs it supports – is to survive, it needs carefully thought-out reform based on what’s best for the horses.
Trent
Guest
The reality is that nothing that the racing industry can do in the future is ever going to satisfy these activists. Ban the whip and they'll just move on to something else. The slaughter of retired racehorses however needs to be addressed. It simply is just not good enough. But getting back to these activist freaks, we need to stop pandering to them in all walks of life. It is getting out of control. They will stop at nothing until the industry is completely disbanded so there is just absolutely no room for common ground. With that being the case, we don't need to involve ourselves in an argument with them in any way.
Jockstar
Guest
It’s barbaric but greed will keep the sport going. Governments and the wealthy make too much money for it to close.
Rob
Guest
Horse racing is way too big an industry to be derailed by a group of people who only protest one day a year. These people show their faces every year and then disappear until cup week comes around again. If they ever actually get serious about their protests then it may be an issue for the industry.
Tigranes
Guest
Look what happened with greyhound racing...it was banned and facing extinction, now more $$$ than ever. Thoroughbred racing has too much glamour and money to get threatened by this.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
Nice article, well put. Obviously I could write an essay on the topic, some would say I’ve already written several, but I reckon the oversimplification of complex issues has made it much harder for welfare reforms to be initiated in racing. Conversely, where simple initiatives have a profound effect, deliberate muddying of the waters and weird abstract arguments were used to stymie reforms, all so that people could capitalize on anti-racing sentiment to consolidate power. I haven’t written an article in a few years, the main reason being that the welfare and integrity reforms in greyhound racing have worked. Fewer greyhounds bred, better facilities, a more professional integrity regime and a huge increase in the adoption program. A large price tag, yes, but the job that the anti-racing crowd said many times couldn’t be done, is being done, and there’s a lesson in that. Thoroughbreds will have different problems that I don’t understand and would not lecture people on, but I’m sure that there are plenty of good horse people that could come up with a suitable model for reforms. However, I would strongly urge people in the industry to do what they think is right by their horses and not allow themselves to be dictated to by politicians and the media that have their own egos and agendas as the first priority.
Tony carter smith
Guest
Very well written common sense article pat I make my living putting on the horse number plates and also train a couple for a hobby When the animal activists attack racing l take it personally and would love one of them to spend a day with me so they can have some understanding of what really goes on Whilst I reluctantly agree the whip probably has to go in its present form for perception reasons
Carl
Guest
You needed to add a "Rugby" element to your article to get more comments. ???? As for the horses. Well with the amount of prize money on offer. Should use at least 10 percent on welfare which includes horses as well as jockeys(when injured)and other individuals who work in the industry. Otherwise the powers that be(that is) Bureaucracy not Government will deem it under legislation under the animal cruelty act. Horse and other animal racing better get it's act together or it will be radically different in 2030.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
A fair article. The post industry treatment is a huge concern that actually as waller says occurs largely in change of ownership , this needs heavy reform and better post retirement long term monitoring. The pre race scanning technology is fantastic and should be rigorously used especially on distance racing . Of course there is a natural attrition rate for horses without conditioning of in paddocks neglected outside of racing which is not spoken off and many of those horses are also sent to abboitoir. The racing industry can do more though , it should be simple to hold the various committees and associations accountable to find revenue out of the industry for retired horses outcomes and tracking of them for life.