The dark side of the horseracing industry
In South Africa horses that can no longer race are often retired to a life of misery, where malnutrition and over-breeding is common.
|||Cape Town - South Africa’s multimillion-rand horse racing industry is often associated with fashion and frivolity. But underneath the glamour is a dark side.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has called on the horse racing fraternity to get its house in order and for breeders and owners to be compelled to “pension” their horses off to a sanctuary when they are retired.
This comes as an emaciated thoroughbred mare belonging to ex-jockey John de Vries was surrendered to them last week, one of dozens of cases throughout the country.
The mare, Medoca, who had been on a farm in Darling, was suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, had hoof and dental damage and no access to food.
Allan Perrins, chief executive of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, said owners and breeders should be compelled to make adequate provision for off-the-track horses who are sometimes “retired” to a life of untold misery.
Robyn Louw, who writes for horse racing publication Sporting Post, said racing officials had in fact picked up on the horse’s condition in January and alerted the authorities.
Tessa Gilbey, of the Western Cape Equine Trust, said in the UK and some other countries there was a formal set-up for ex-racehorses. But in South Africa the bulk landed up pulling carts, bush-racing or being euthanised. She also said there was huge over-breeding.
Dr Eugene Reynders, a vet with the National Horseracing Authority, said the remaining horses on the Darling farm were being monitored.
The National Horseracing Authority, formerly the Jockey Club of Southern Africa, regulates the thoroughbred horseracing industry.
Larry Wainstein, chief executive of the racing association, which represents the interests of race horse owners, said owners needed to ensure they either found a good home or had the animal euthanised.
He said a proposal had been made earlier this year that owners pay for a vet to check their horses to see where they would best be suited to go.
But some owners were unhappy about the cost on top of what they had to pay for the upkeep of the animals. He said costs were rising every year and were chasing smaller owners out of the industry.
“But there will be a ruling next month on who will pay and it will be monitored by the National Horseracing Authority,” he said.
Wainstein said he was looking into the case of Medoca after seeing the photographs. He said those found guilty should be named and shamed.
Cape Argus