Animal Aid

The Cheltenham Racing Festival has claimed the life of a second horse on the second day of the meeting.

Citizen Vic, a seven-year-old Irish gelding, died racing in the gruelling 3-mile RSA (Royal and Sun Alliance) Chase. He took a fatal fall at the dangerous second last fence – an obstacle that has killed many horses in recent years and one that Animal Aid has campaigned to have removed from the Prestbury Park course.

Citizen Vic is the 32nd horse to be killed at the Festival since 1999.

An hour earlier, amateur jockeys Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry were both seen to thrash their horses – Poker De Sivola and Becauseicouldntsee – with their whips when finishing first and second respectively in the exhausting 4-mile National Hunt Challenge Cup; a race for novice horses. Both were banned from racing for a few days but, in keeping with racing tradition, they and their ‘connections’ retain the rewards that go with finishing ahead of the other riders.

Says Animal Aid Director Andrew Tyler:

‘For many years Cheltenham has shown itself to be one of the world’s most deadly courses for horses. This year is sadly proving to be no exception. The death of horses gets little or no attention at this lucrative racing event. Once again, money and glory triumph over common compassion.’

More information:

• For full background and interviews, contact Andrew Tyler or Dene Stansall on 01732 364546.
• An ISDN line is available for broadcast-quality interviews.
• Images are available on request.

Notes to editors:

• Of the approximately18,000 horses bred each year by the closely related British and Irish racing industries, only around 40 per cent go on to race. Many of the ‘low quality’ newborns are destroyed, while those who do enter racing suffer a high level of fatal injuries and stress-related illnesses, such as gastric ulcers and bleeding lungs. Around 7,500 race horses leave British racing each year, yet very few go on to a sanctuary or adoptive home.
• View our powerful 90-second web film
• Read Animal Aid’s report on breeding and slaughter

List of all Thoroughbreds killed at the Cheltenham Festival 1999-2009

2010: Citizen Vic – aged 7 – Chase – Fatal Fall
Casey Jones – aged 9 – Chase – Injured Destroyed

2009: Clarified – aged 7 – Chase – Injured: Destroyed

2008: Whispered Promises – aged 7 – Hurdle – Fatal Fall

2007: Swift Thyne – aged 7 – Novice Chase – Spinal Injury: Destroyed
Little Brick – aged 8 – Chase – Broke Shoulder: Destroyed

2006: Bayard – aged 4 – Novice Hurdle – Broke Neck
No Where To Hyde – aged 6 – Hurdle – Broke Leg: Destroyed
Holy Orders – aged 9 – Hurdle – Broke Hind Leg: Destroyed
Sh Boom – aged 8 – Hurdle – Injured: Died During the Night
Basilea Star – aged 9 - Novice Chase – Fatal Fall
Mr Babbage – aged 8 – Novice Chase – Broke Shoulder: Destroyed
Millenaire – aged 7 – Novice Chase – Broke Back: Destroyed
Olaso – aged 7 – Hurdle -- Broke Foreleg: Destroyed
Buck Whaley – aged 6 – Hurdle – Broke Neck
Alfred The Great – aged 4 – Novice Hurdle – Severed Tendon: Destroyed
Kalmini – aged 4 – Novice Hurdle – Injured: Destroyed

2005: Persian Waters – aged 9 – Chase – Collapsed and Died
Laska De Thaix – aged 6 – Novice Chase – Broke Foreleg: Destroyed
Great Travel – aged 6 – Chase – Fatal Fall

2004: Tardar – aged 8 – Hurdle – Fatal Fall
Atlastaboy – aged 8 – Novice Chase – Injured: Destroyed
Magic Bailiwick – aged 8 – Novice Chase – Fatal Fall

2003: Old California – aged 4 – Novice Hurdle – Fatal Fall
Dorans Pride – aged 14 – Chase – Fatal Fall
Comex Flyer – aged 6 – Hurdle – Fatal Fall

2002: Valiramix – aged 6 – Hurdle – Broke Shoulder: Destroyed
Rouble – aged 6 – Novice Hurdle – Broke Leg: Destroyed
Tapping Tam – aged 6 – Novice Chase – Injured: Destroyed

2001: Abandoned Meeting due to Foot and Mouth outbreak

2000: Gloria Victis – aged 6 – Chase – Fatal Fall

1999: Nearly An Eye – aged 8 - Chase – Fatal Fall
Glazeaway – aged 6 – Novice Hurdle – Injured: Destroyed