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2014/17: Should horse racing be banned in Australia?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right:A November 4, 2014, ABC Lateline report on the death of Admire Rakti. If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.
What they said…
‘I do have a soft spot for some horses. But it is business and I can't afford to get too attached’
Peter Moody, Black Caviar's trainer
‘The deaths of both horses are nothing more than freakish events that could not be stopped or predicted’
Ryan Reynolds for the Geelong Advertiser
The issue at a glance
This year, 2014, the annual Melbourne Cup was held on Tuesday, November 4.
Shortly after the race two of the horses which had competed died. The favourite, Admire Rakti, collapsed in a cooling-down stall, apparently having suffered heart failure. Seventh place-getter, Araldo, had to be euthanised when he shattered his hind cannon bone after shying at a flag while being led from the track.
This is the second consecutive year in which at least one horse has died after the Melbourne Cup. (Verema broke down in the back straight in 2013.)
A spokesperson for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, Ward Young, has claimed there have been more than 100 horse deaths during or immediately after races in the past year.
A number of animal welfare groups are now calling horse racing unduly cruel and arguing it should be banned in Australia.