Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Racecourse protesters urge action over hunts
AGROUP against hunting and racing staged a protest outside Cheltenham Racecourse at the start of its three-day fixture yesterday.
The Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs stood by the roundabout off Swindon Road with banners and placards.
The main message that could be seen by drivers heading to the November Meeting was, ‘ Stop the killing of animals by hunts’.
Activists handed out leaflets to racegoers before the start of Countryside Day, an event dating back two decades.
It is a fundraiser for the Country- side Alliance, an organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as farming, rural services, small businesses and country sports.
A number of hunts from the South West and Midlands parade on the course, with the Cotswold hounds, between the races.
Spokesman for the Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, Gordon Tye, said: “By us attending today we hope people may rethink their choice of hobby. These events may look grand but some don’t realise there can be cruelty behind what they are seeing with hunting, and horses can die at the races. We believe it is important to raise awareness on Countryside Day.”
The Countryside Alliance says it protects 80,000 jobs in shooting, hunting and conservation.
During yesterday’s event, the public had the opportunity to see trail hounds race in the paddock and a gundog display in front of the Princess Royal Stand.
A leaflet from the protesters said they were monitoring “a number of fox and hare hunts locally, interven- ing where necessary to help hunted animals to escape and prevent illegal activity, such as the blocking of badger setts”.
A spokeswoman for Cheltenham Racecourse said they were aware of the group’s presence.
She added: “We believe there are six protesters at the main entrance that are anti-hunt. They are not on our property.”
In licensing every racecourse, the British Horseracing Authority sets standards for the racing surface and all parts of the course used by competitors, both human and equine.
None of the 1,400-plus fixtures held annually in Britain can take place unless key welfare criteria have been satisfied. The sport’s governing body says more than 6,000 people provide first-class care and attention for an average of 14,000 horses in training at any one time.
A spokeswoman for the Countryside Alliance said: “Tens of thousands of racegoers have supported the Countryside Day at Cheltenham today. It is one of the highlights of the calendar for country supporters and raises important funds for Racing Welfare.”