Three race horses killed within hours of each other in shocking circumstances

The first victim of the afternoon was six-year-old gelding Culloden at Catterick Racecourse. During the race he suddenly started to wobble when running at full-speed then moments later he staggered across the racecourse and fatally collapsed onto his side – a pitiful sight.

Shortly after this, two horses, North West Wind and Dessinateur, were killed at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse. North West Wind broke a hind leg in a hurdle race whilst Dessinateur fell and was fatally injured. It is Animal Aid’s view that Dessinateur should have been pulled up due to the horse being exhausted, yet he was forced to carry on by his jockey which, we believe, resulted in a tired fall and his death.

The three deaths follow that of Havana Beat who was killed at on Friday (26 Oct) at the notorious Cheltenham Racecourse, and Jump For Dough who broke a foreleg on Sunday (28 Oct) at Aintree racecourse.

Since Animal Aid’s government e-petition debate in Parliament (15 Oct) on horse welfare, ten horses have died due to racing, and a total of 18 deaths have occurred during the month of October.

Says Animal Aid’s Horse Racing Consultant, Dene Stansall:

‘The need to remove the British Horseracing Authority from their role as racing’s horse welfare regulators is evermore urgent – the evidence for this is overwhelming in the light of the alarming rate of horse deaths in racing. Animal Aid will campaign to bring this about, there will be no excuses accepted or any hiding place for the BHA’s welfare failings.’

Notes for Editors

• For more information, contact Dene Stansall on 01732 364546
• Visit Race Horse Deathwatch, our database of on-course horse deaths