Should Australia ban horse racing?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right: On October 18, 2019, ABC News televised a segment treating the response of racing authorities and some punters to a recent ABC expose dealing with the mistreatment and slaughter of retired racehorses. Warning: this segment shows the mistreatment of horses.What they said...
'If we don't make real changes, the court of public opinion will bury racing'
Lee Freedman, Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer
'I think, without doubt, the racehorses are generally considered to receive the highest standard of care'
Jamie Stier, Racing Victoria's executive general manager of Integrity Services
The issue at a glance
On October 17, 2019, the ABC's current affairs program 7.30 televised an expose on the mistreatment and slaughter of retired racehorses in Australia.
The report has provoked a strong reaction within the racing industry, among animal activists and among the general public. The decline in numbers at the 2019 Melbourne Cup has been attributed by some to popular disgust at what the expose revealed.
The racing industry has indicated its support for a better system of tracking retired racehorses while animal activists and others are strengthening their calls for horse racing to be banned.