We share in guilt at horse deaths

“Oh! Pray do not whip your good horse any more; I am sure he is doing all he can.” So wrote Anna Sewell in her classic novel ‘Black Beauty’.

Now, 140 years on, the whipping of horses continues. Once condemned as barbaric and indefensible by racing pundit John McCririck, it can be seen this week in Cheltenham as horses are pushed to their limits and beyond, sometimes resulting in horrific injuries and deaths.

There was shock and disgust this time last year when seven horses died at Cheltenham. Most are unaware, however, that this is only a small fraction of fatalities.

In 2016, for example, at least 136 thoroughbreds (including 76 from Ireland) died at British racetracks. So far this year, 34 have lost their lives (19 of them Irish) – some dying with broken necks, some falling and not getting up and others destroyed after sustaining painful leg, knee or spinal injuries.

Many Clouds is one of the latest Irish victims. In January, he collapsed at the end of a race at the Cheltenham track. According to Animal Aid, which maintains the Race Horse Death Watch website, he was “raced to death”.

Animal Aid has documented over 1,500 deaths at UK tracks in the past decade, noting that even more horses are killed due to training injuries.

Those following the Cheltenham Festival should consider another of Anna Sewell’s famous quotes – “if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.” Philip Kiernan Mullingar, Co Westmeath