Outcry over ‘sickening’ abattoir clip

RACING NSW has called for the “strongest possible action” to be taken against a Queensland abattoir caught on hidden ABC cameras abusing and slaughtering former race horses.

The footage has rocked the racing industry on the eve of its biggest race days – The Everest in NSW and the Caulfield Cup in Victoria.

One of racing’s biggest names, trainer Gai Waterhouse, jumped to the defence of the industry. “It is certainly not the norm, we go to huge lengths to care for our horses and rehome them when they retire,” she said.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said the vision was “sickening and horrendous” and called for the Queensland Government to take “strongest possible action” in response.

“Such conduct and any mistreatment of horses is not tolerated in the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry,” he said.

His comments were echoed by Victoria Racing Club chief executive Neil Wilson who said: “The welfare of horses is the responsibility of everyone associated with the industry and none of us can walk away from what was shown last night.

“Everyone who comes to Flemington Racecourse must be assured that the welfare of the horses they see compete on the track doesn’t end when the horse goes home after the races.”

Queensland Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the abattoir where the footage was taken will be investigated.

“The Minister for Agriculture has directed biosecurity officers to go in today and investigate animal cruelty allegations at the Meramist Abattoir,” he said.

Mr V’landys also told 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones that the ABC had not responded to calls to correct inaccuracies in its story.

“Out of 10,000 horses, we rehomed almost every one of them ... the ABC never returned our calls to give them that advice,” Mr V’landys said.

Racing NSW spends 1 per cent of all prize money on horse welfare – more than $2.5 million last year – and has bought property all over the state including 2500 acres at Capertree as part of its rehoming program.

“There’s no people that look after their animals better than what the thoroughbred people do. They treat them like family.

“And to take one or two people that do the wrong thing and portray a whole industry like that is completely unfair and unjust.”

Racing Australia chief executive Barry O’ Farrell said that once horses were retired and rehomed from the industry stewards no longer had the power to track them or monitor their welfare. They fell under the same welfare restrictions as the 90 per cent of nonthoroughbred horses in Australia.

“That is why the board of Racing Australia has supported a proposal for a national horse traceability register.”