Three horses dead in a day

In the 4.30 pm Handicap Chase, 9-year-old gelding Best Horse and 10-year-old Troodos Jet both fell at the fifth fence and broke their necks within seconds of each other. Half an hour later, in the handicap hurdle, Provost fell and was fatally injured.

This means that six horses have been killed in the past few weeks at Sedgefield. Thirty-three have perished at the County Durham venue since March 2007 when Animal Aid established Race Horse Deathwatch, its online database of equine fatalities on Britain’s 60 racecourses.

Says Animal Aid Horse Racing Consultant, Dene Stansall:

‘Sedgefield’s record of race horse deaths is second to none. Neither the racecourse, its owners Northern Racing, nor the welfare regulator, the British Horseracing Authority, seem willing or able to deal with what is a major welfare problem. There should be no second chances with this racecourse. There is only one logical course of action to stop further horse deaths, and that is to shut the place down.’

More information:

• For full background and interviews, contact Andrew Tyler or Dene Stansall on 01732 364546. Out of hours 07918 083 774
• ISDN line available for broadcast-quality interviews

Notes to editors:

*Race Horse Deathwatch also records 33 deaths at Cheltenham Racecourse since March 2007.

• Animal Aid’s Deathwatch website reveals that 706 horses have been killed on British racecourses in just over four years. And even this figure falls well short of the true tally. An authoritative industry source has provided Animal Aid, in confidence, with data indicating that the Deathwatch total is nearly 30 per cent short of the true figure.
• Visit our Race Horse Death Watch website for full listings of on-course deaths
• View our powerful 90-second web film