I like to keep things fun and happy usually on my blog, but this week, something happened that I feel I need to talk about. I have been pretty vocal on social media of late about The Melbourne Cup and everything that happened post race.
Back on Sunday I went for a run. I ran for 1.6km in one direction, turned around and ran 1.6km back home. I pushed myself pretty hard, and at the end was exhausted. When I got home I had a drink, had a shower and was then ok. Bit sore the next day, but ok.
I am sure that if I had tried to run the 3.2km (which coincidentally is the same length as the Melbourne cup), at full pelt with someone on my back, an extra 58kg strapped to me, whilst also being whipped, I am pretty sure I would have had a heart attack and died. Just like the thoroughbred racing horse Admire Rakti did after “The Cup” yesterday.
I have watched the image of Admire Rakti collapsing and dying in it’s stables tens of times and I get sad and angry at it each time. I am also upset at the thought that some drunken fool decided to spook a horse by waving an Australian flag in its face, and that that incident led to a horse (Araldo) being so scared and afraid that it tried to leap away and got it’s leg caught in a railing. It couldn’t be fixed and so Araldo was euthanised.
I understand that these horses are bred, specifically selected and are highly trained athletes. All for racing.
I also respect and appreciate that these horses are extremely well cared for (in most cases) and well looked after by their trainers, handlers and jockeys. This was evident by Admire Rakti‘s jockey, pulling the horse up mid race when it was evident something was wrong, also by the reaction on the handlers faces in the stables when the horse collapsed.
The possible heart attack that Admire Rakti suffered has been labelled as a one off, a rare, next to zero occurrence that could have happened to any athlete, equine or human. I know that highly trained athletes and people that run marathons and long distance events sometimes also push themselves to the limit and injury themselves, or could also suffer a heart attack. I guess the difference is that the human athletes choose to push themselves, the horses don’t have a choice, they are beaten to run faster all the way down the track. And if a human athlete doesn’t perform to expectations, we don’t euthanise them. Or send them to the ‘knackery’.
I believe the horse racing industry exploits the fright or flight instinct that is present in all animals, the beating of the horse scares them so much that they try to run away from the danger. As fast as they can. The fact horses also want to run in a pack and a ‘good horse’ will by nature want to lead the pack is also exploited. Basically, the more the horse ‘freaks out’ the better.
The horse racing industry is not only a huge risk for the horses but there have been a number of reported Jockeys deaths in Australia this year. Some of which were young women jockeys.
I just cannot support the racing of any animals for spectacle, profit and fun. Australia, it’s time we put animal welfare above tradition and having another excuse to get drunk and have a day off. Just one girl’s opinion.
*For the record, I also don’t support greyhound racing, camel racing, pigeon racing or even cockroach racing.
*Note: For those reading from overseas The Melbourne Cup is a A$6M horse race that is known as “The Race That Stops a Nation” most workplaces stop work to watch the race. Most people place bets on the race. The day is a public holiday in Victoria, the state in which it is run. It is the biggest race on the Australian racing calendar and attracts horses to run from all over the world.
*The beautiful print in this post is by Kara Rosenlund and is available for sale on her website. Link.
