Animal Aid’s battle bus visits Catterick Bridge

One of the most lethal racecourses in the country

On Wednesday, 20 July, campaign group Animal Aid’s Battle Bus will be at Catterick Bridge racecourse to tell punters about the shocking number of race horses who have died at the course, and to show a short film that looks at the fate of race horses across the country.

Since 2008, no fewer than 25 horses have died at the venue: six on the Flat course and 19 on the Jumps course. In 2015, the racecourse was the joint fifth most deadly in the country, with five known deaths at the venue.

Five more horses have been killed at Catterick Bridge so far this year – the most recent fatality occurred on 20 May. Four horses were killed in January 2016 – two of whom died on the same day (27 January).

Says Campaign Manager Fiona Pereira:

‘We have highlighted Catterick Bridge’s terrible death toll over the years but we can see no signs of effective action being taken, either by the course officials or by racing’s regulatory body. Racegoers have the right to know about equine deaths so that they can decide whether they want to support the industry or, as we would urge, boycott it.’

With the help of local volunteers, Animal Aid will also be handing out free information to passers-by about the racing industry and urging people not to support it with their attendance fees or betting money.

Notes to editors

• To find out more, or to arrange an interview, please call Fiona Pereira on 01732 364546 ext 228
• Visit Race Horse Deathwatch, our online database of on-course Thoroughbred fatalities in Britain

Animal Aid will be showing the following film: