Friday, 17 March 2006

The death of eight horses at Cheltenham sparks animal rights protest

The death of eight horses in the first three days of the Cheltenham Festival is to be looked into by organisers and Animal rights group Animal Aid has called for the public to boycott the meeting, which ends on Friday.

Two horses died in the first two days and another three horses died in Thursday's fifth race.

Sh Boom, who fell during the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, died because of his injuries overnight on Thursday.

The Cheltenham racecourse's managing director Edward Gillespie said: "While the death of any horse is very regrettable, there is no evidence to link them in any way.

"We have had a large entry for many races this season and I think that is a factor."

But Animal Aid director Andrew Tyler responded to this saying "There is no justification for events such as this to continue while routinely horses are dying."

Millenaire, Basilea Star and Mr Babbage all died in Thursday's National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup and two more horses - Holy Orders in the third and Olaso in the last - broke bones in their legs and were put down.

It was the worst one-day death toll at the Festival in 20 years

Prince Charles and Camilla were asked by animal rights campaigners to boycott the Cheltenham Festival but the royal couple turned up for the event.

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Name: Maria Daines	Comment: This is a terrible shame that 8 beautiful horses are now dead in the name of 'sport' - this should never be allowed to happen again.
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Name: Mary Alice Pollard, Cornwall's Voice for Animals /UK

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Would you expect the ' Royal Couple ' to do anything else but show up and support an event where so many horses have died over the years - it is a horrible race, one in which horses every year die ... riders hurt ? well they decide to go into this race ( and others ) but the horses do not have the right to do anything other than what a very selfish and cruel business puts them into ! These horses work the best years of their lives only to put money in the pockets of those who invest in this sport - where do so many end up when their days are finished ? Slaughterhouses - or being sent off live to France to end up eventually on someone's plate ... what a sad ending that is for these wonderful animals ! Too few are fortunate enough to be retired to live out their lives in peace.

Each year I dread this race - my only thought is how many horses will die this time ?

One is one too many.

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 22 March 2006 )

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