[Greens-Media] Greens renew call for jumps racing to be banned after another horse is killed on the track - Pennicuik

[Amanda.Sharp at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Greens renew call for jumps racing to be banned after another horse is 
killed on the track

Thursday 22 May 2014

Show Dancer, a seven-year-old gelding, was put down after suffering a 
horrific and brutal fall during the 3,400m steeplechase at Sandown 
Racecourse yesterday. Two other horses also fell. 

Victorian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Pennicuik MLC said she is 
deeply saddened and dismayed that yet another horse has been killed in a 
jumps race and is calling again on the government to ban this cruel and 
barbaric so called 'sport'. 

"As has been widely reported in the media, the track was so bad that after 
the falls and death of Shadow Dancer in the steeplechase, the final seven 
races were cancelled - only two of the ten scheduled races were run. Then, 
adding insult to death and injury, the steeplechase that resulted in the 
death of Show Dancer was declared a 'no race'.

"This death should never have happened," Ms Pennicuik said. "All events 
should have been cancelled at Sandown yesterday in the interests of the 
health and safety of jockeys and horses, but especially it should have 
been particularly obvious that no jumps events should have been allowed to 
go ahead. It just goes to show that the racing industry puts profits 
before the welfare of horses.

"Every season horses continue to suffer horrific injuries or are killed in 
jumps racing events in Victoria. Animals Australia reports that more than 
110 horses have been killed in jumps races and trials in Victoria since 
2000," Ms Pennicuik said.

"While horses suffer the greatest toll, jockeys are also at risk and have 
also suffered injuries from this deadly 'sport'.

"Jumps racing has long been banned across Australia, but inexplicably is 
still allowed in Victoria and South Australia. If it was banned in 
Victoria, it would probably not be viable in South Australia.

"The Premier, Mr Napthine, who is also the Minister for Racing and a vet, 
continues to defend jumps racing, which the majority of Victorians oppose, 
and so horses continue to be killed and injured under his watch. 

"The Greens call on the Victoria government to end jumps racing in 
Victoria now," Ms Pennicuik said.

For further comment: Sue Pennicuik ? 0409 055 875





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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 

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