15 March, 2012

Racing

At the recent Crufts Dog show, five pedigree dogs, while being put through their paces, were injured; their owners decided that rather than keep them alive it was easier and cheaper to have them put down.

Well, actually, no. But this is what happened to five horses at the current Cheltenham Festival. I invite you to imagine what, say, the Daily Mail would have made of it, if it had been dogs.

Racing is watched or attended by millions of people but managed by a group of self-appointed and, on the surface at least, rather smug individuals called the Jockey Club. I have wondered before whether it isn't time to review who is responsible for the sport: the rules, the betting, safety at the track, animal welfare.

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