Reply byRacingNSW
Followingthe program that aired on the ABC’s 7.30 Report last night, Racing NSW Chief Executive, Peter V’landys AM, unequivocally condemned the alleged abhorrent actions of the Meramist Queensland Abattoir.
The vision was sickening, and horrendous and Racing NSW callsupon the Queensland Government and its Department of Primary Industries to takethe strongest possible action against the alleged perpetrators of such cruelty.Such conduct and any mistreatment of horses is not tolerated in the NSWThoroughbred Racing Industry.
In responding to the 7.30 Report, Mr V’landys AM said “I willlet the facts below speak for themselves:
• Racing NSW is the only State in Australia that has a Rule ofRacing that prohibits horses from being sent to a knackery or abattoir if theyhave been predominantly domiciled in the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry.Further, in NSW it is illegal for an abattoir to process a horse for humanconsumption, unlike other States.
• That Rule is targeted at eradicating treatment such as that ofthe Meramist Queensland Abattoir detailed in the 7.30 Report. The effectivenessof that Rule is highlighted by the fact that the 7.30 Report did not identifyany horses from NSW that had been sent to that facility, which is where thisappalling mistreatment took place.
• As to the 14 horses identified by the ABC, Racing NSWresponded to the ABC in respect to those horses and advised that at least 12 ofthose horses had either predominately raced or been domiciled in other States(where Racing NSW does not have jurisdiction) or had been officially retired tobe re-homed as a pleasure horse. Accordingly, these horses were outside ofRacing NSW’s jurisdiction and this illustrates why Racing NSW is supportive ofa National Horse Traceability Register.
• There have been in excess of 10,000 horses retired in NSW overthe past three years and even based on the ABC’s unsubstantiated claim that 14horses were found at a NSW knackery this shows that the Rule has been effective.No Rule is foolproof and in the racing industry, as in any other element of thecommunity, there is unfortunately 1% of participants who will break the rulesdespite 99% doing the completely right thing.
• To show Racing NSW’s determination to enforce the Rule, it hasover a period of time purchased 10 NSW domiciled horses from a Victorian salelocated at Echuca which were at risk of being purchased by a knackery and also made bids on many other horses to make it unviable for the knackery to purchase them.
• Racing NSW has also seized over 120 retired thoroughbredhorses on welfare grounds and, over a long period of time, brought these horsesback to health and then proceeded to re-home them. Racing NSW has also seizedretired thoroughbred horses that were to be exported to Asia to race due toconcerns about their ongoing welfare.
• Racing NSW has purchased property throughout NSW including2,500 acres at Capertee to have sufficient areas to enable its rehomingprogram.
• Racing NSW has a specific equine welfare fund which requires1% of all prizemoney to be assigned to horse welfare, which was over $2.5million last year. Racing NSW was the first jurisdiction in Australia to introducethis initiative, doing so in 2016.
• Unfortunately, there will always be people that break theRules. Racing NSW immediately commenced investigations into the allegationsmade by the ABC and will prosecute any person that Racing NSW has jurisdictionover that has breached the Rules of Racing and sent a horse to a knackery.
• Racing NSW has not been provided with specific evidence fromthe ABC in respect to the identity of horses alleged to have been sent toknackeries and will be seeking those details to continue its investigations.
• Despite repeated requests from Racing NSW, the ABC has notreturned Racing NSW calls so that Racing NSW could correct some of theincorrect facts that were subsequently aired and to provide any evidence sothat Racing NSW can successfully investigate and prosecute breaches of theRules of Racing. This information included evidence that one horse the ABCclaimed was destroyed in a knackery was alive and well and that the ABC wasaware of such.
• Racing NSW calls upon any person who has evidence in respectto the mistreatment of a thoroughbred to immediately make contact with theRacing NSW Integrity department for investigation.
