Southwell Racecourse: Three horses dead in two days of racing

In June, over a period of just two days of racing, three horses were killed at Southwell Racecourse. Animal Aid is to protest at the racecourse gates.

►Date: 26 June 2017
►Time: photocall at 5pm
►Location: Southwell Racecourse (please phone Animal Aid for precise location)

On 6 June nine-year-old Golanova was killed at the course. The 13 June meeting saw two horses lose their lives – Insight (IRE) and Paloma’s Prince (IRE).

Their deaths mean that six horses have been killed at Southwell in 2017.

Back in November last year, Animal Aid protested at Southwell to highlight that it is one of the most deadly courses in Britain. Since June 2007, no fewer than 77 horses have died at the venue: 24 on the All Weather course and 53 on the Jumps course. In 2016, there were nine equine fatalities at the course, making it the second most dangerous (after Cheltenham) that year. The course has consistently ranked in the list of most lethal venues in the country.

On 26 June, Animal Aid supporters, wearing black and carrying banners that list the names of the horses who have died at the course, will be asking punters not to give their betting or attendance money to the racecourse.

Says Animal Aid’s Horseracing Consultant Dene Stansall:

‘Southwell Racecourse has seen six equine fatalities in 2017, and three of those were in June alone. It is utterly outrageous that this course continues to operate without, as far as we know, any inquiry as to what is happening to the horses who have died there.

‘If animal welfare is a priority for the British Horseracing Authority, then, as regulator, it should be taking action and taking this matter extremely seriously. We will continue to publicise horse deaths where the racing industry fails to do so: the public has a right to know.’

Notes to editors

• To find out more, or to arrange an interview, please call Dene Stansall on 01732 364546 or email Dene@animalaid.co.uk
• Watch Animal Aid’s film on horseracing
• Visit Race Horse Deathwatch, our online database of on-course Thoroughbred fatalities in Britain