Tragic scenes at Hexham Racecourse: Three horses lose their lives in 30 minutes of disastrous racing

The first victim was 7 year-old gelding Skywards Reward (IRE) who broke a foreleg on the approach to jumping a hurdle. The leg shattered on landing after he jumped the obstacle with the broken limb. The horse was seen to be terribly distressed as he came to an abrupt halt.

Just thirty minutes later in the 3.50 Handicap Chase over three miles and 18 fences, two more horses lost their lives. Flemerina (IRE), a 9 year-old mare, fell fatally in the back straight of the racecourse, out of sight of most racegoers. It is not clear whether she died instantly or was destroyed – such is the poor reporting of horse deaths by the racing industry. Then just minutes later in the same race, Nelly La Rue (IRE), an 11 year-old mare, looked to break a foreleg that she trailed along the ground until she eventually pulled up on the turn into the home straight.

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

‘The distressing scenes at Hexham highlight a major problem with horse racing. In the past six weeks we have seen at least 24 horses die as a result of racing – though we understand that figure is probably higher – with not only one horse dying at a race meeting but, two, three and even four losing their lives in the pursuit of entertainment and betting purposes.

It is time the welfare of horses was taken out of the hands of the British Horseracing Authority as it is failing horses abysmally. Please sign our petition and help make that happen.’

Editors’ Notes

• Please sign Animal Aid’s e-petition to demand change to welfare regulation
• For a full list of horse deaths since 2007 see our Race Horse Death Watch website
• For more information, contact Dene Stansall on 01732 364546