Deathwatch Report 2014 - Horse Racing Kills.com | Coalition for the

Deathwatch Report 2014
Introduction
the true number of horse deaths is much
higher.
The Deathwatch Report 2014 is the first of
an annual report to be produced by the
Coalition for the Protection of
Racehorses (CPR).
CPR believes that a large percentage of
horses die every year from racing related
injuries off track, in training or they are killed
prematurely when they are no longer
commercially viable.
This report was initiated because the
racing industry does not report this data
themselves. From the period 1st of August
2013 to 31st of July 2014, CPR monitored
every race Australia wide and gathered
data on the deaths of Racehorses on
Australian Racetracks.
The 125 horses that died on track during
this period represent only 0.42% of the
30,000 horses racing each year. Many
thousands more disappear or “cycle out” of
the racing industry; our best estimate is that
1 in five horses will leave the industry as
a whole every year
CPR recorded the deaths of 125 horses on
tracks around Australia this year. That’s 1
horse every 2.9 days. However we believe
1 • 6 tracks had more than one horse killed
Key Findings
on the same day; Benalla, Gold Coast,
Hamilton, Roma, Cessnock and
Gosford.
• 125 horses killed on track for a number
of reasons, most commonly for
catastrophic limb injury.
• A total of 7 trainers lost multiple horses
this year; Terry & Karina O'Sullivan (3),
Tara & Philippe Vigouroux (2), Chris
Waller (2), Colin Little (2), Paul Messara
(2), Bill & Symon Wilde (2) and Peter
Moody (2).
• On average one horse died on
Australian racetracks every 2.9 days
• Six horses collapsed and died, including
Peter Moody’s Kiss A Rose who died
during extreme Melbourne heat.
• The most likely gender of horse to die
was geldings with a massive 80 of the
125 deaths. This could be attributed to
the fact that they have no commercial
viability (cannot be put into breeding)
and therefore race longer.
• The state with the highest recorded
deaths was NSW (41) followed closely
by Vic (34).
• The most dangerous age for a
racehorse was a 5 year old.
• Of the horse genders with “commercial”
breeding value, the most likely deaths
were mares or fillies.
• 69 of the 125 horses that were killed
had been raced as a 2 year old.
Sources of Data
• The most lethal track in Australia was in
Data for the CPR Deathwatch Report has
been gathered from each state’s official
stewards reports, which are published on
the individual state websites, as well as the
Australian Racing Fact Book and various
media outlets.
QLD at the Sunshine Coast Racetrack,
with a total of 6 horses dying on their
track over the one-year span.
2 Australian Courses
Australia is home to around 400 racetracks across the country - classed as metropolitan,
provincial or country racetracks. Metropolitan racecourses are generally home to the big group
races and are often better quality than other racecourses. Being closer to the city, they are
more accessible and attract larger crowds. Provincial racecourses are usually located just
outside major cities, and country racetracks are usually rural and much smaller.
Horses racing on racetracks in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia will
race in an anti-clockwise direction, while Queensland and New South Wales race in a
clockwise direction. 1
Distribution of Racetracks in Australia
NSW
Metropolitan
Provincial
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
5
6
6
17
2
6
4
4
2
6
2
2
1
Country
115
49
123
19
34
3
9
Total
126
72
131
27
42
7
10
Fig. 1
The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses initial Deathwatch Report showed the two most
lethal courses to be situated in QLD. The most lethal being the Sunshine Coast Course with 6
horses dying on their track, followed closely by the Gold Coast Course with 5 horses dying on
their track.
3 Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast may be regarded as one of the best in Australia due to its $6 million
“cushion track” used for training, but not so for the horses. The Sunshine Coast is the most
lethal track in Australia killing a total of 6 horses over the one-year span the data was
collected.
Sunshine Coast Track Horse Deaths
Date
Horse
Cause of Death as written in the Stewards Reports
31/08/13
Minsky’s
Girl
Broke down in the near foreleg after passing the winning post and
was euthanased on humane grounds
21/09/13
Brim's
Choice
25/10/13
Kiralim
Broke down approaching the 700m. A veterinary examination of
BRIM'S CHOICE, revealed the horse had fractured its pelvis and
was subsequently euthanased by the veterinary surgeon on
humane grounds
Broke down in the near fore sesamoid on pulling up and was
euthanased on humane grounds.
1/12/13
My Little
Machine
19/01/14
Hi Jo Silver
4/02/14
Jhelum
Faltered leaving the 300m and was retired from the race. A
subsequent post race veterinary examination of MY LITTLE
MACHINE revealed the gelding to have fractured its near-side
sesamoid and as a result of these injuries, MY LITTLE MACHINE
was euthanased on humane grounds.
Broke down in the near fore fetlock on pulling up and was
euthanased on humane grounds.
The start was delayed a considerable time as a result of JHELUM
(A. Taylor), when working strongly in its preliminary, was unable to
avoid NIELLO'S GIFT (K. Wharton), which was also proving difficult
to handle. This resulted in JHELUM making heavy contact with
NIELLO'S GIFT, resulting both A. Taylor, rider JHELUM, and K.
Wharton, rider of NIELLO'S GIFT, being dislodged. After galloping a
considerable distance, JHELUM was declared a late scratching at 5
pm.
As a result of JHELUM attempting to jump the running rail and
sustaining a severe injury to its near shoulder, JHELUM was
euthanased on humane grounds.
Fig. 2
SUNSHINE COAST TURF CLUB
Contact:
PO Box 301
Caloundra, QLD 4551
Ph. (07) 5491 6788
Fax (07) 5491 3303
Email: sctc85@one.net.au
4 Causes of Death
Of the 125 horses that died on track, by far the most common cause of death was catastrophic
limb injury. This is a term used to categorise any break or fracture to the skeletal system, or
injury to the muscles, tendons or ligaments so severe that they cannot be mended. In some
cases this will be termed “breaking down”.
Other causes of death recorded include incidents in the barriers including horses breaking
free, one horse who suffered a severe chest injury and bleed to death, two horses suffered
pelvis fractures, and a number of horses suffered “a serious racing injury”.
The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses has selected three horses to represent all the
horses that have died in the past year.
Kiss A Rose:
Of the 5 horses that were recorded as having collapsed and died, one belonged to leading
trainer Peter Moody who was also one of the 7 trainers who had multiple horses die. That
horse was 3-year-old filly, Kiss A Rose, who had already won almost $150,000 in her short
career.
She was having her eighth start and her first after a nineteen-week spell when she collapsed
and died in the mounting yards of Caulfield Racetrack on the 1st of February 2014. In the
weeks leading up to Kiss A Rose’s death temperatures in Victoria reached extreme levels on
some days as high as 40 degrees. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses raised
numerous concerns over the welfare of horses being raced in extreme heat.
Racing Victoria’s hot weather policy states:
“If the ambient temperature is forecast to 38 degrees Celsius or higher on the
day of racing at 16 00 hours on the day before racing, serious consideration
will be given to transferring or abandoning the race meeting.” 2
The race day temperature was around 31 degrees, and in the Sydney Morning Herald jockeys
were quoted as complaining about the length of time the horses were waiting behind the
barriers prior to the start of the
race.
Kiss A Rose, after running 11th in a
field of 13, collapsed in the
mounting yard in front of the grand
stand, in front of the racing
spectators. Despite attempts to
cool the filly and get her to her
feet, she died. Racing Victoria
made two subsequent statements
on her death denying that the heat
played a factor in her death.
Credit: SMH – Getty Images
5 Verema:
It’s the race that “stops a nation” but last year it was not immune to the perils that face
racehorse’s everyday, and for the first time since 1979 a horse was euthanised during the
running of the Melbourne Cup.
That horse was 5-year-old mare Verema, owned by His Royal Highness The Aga Khan, a
successful racehorse trainer who
also operates one of the biggest
training and breeding facilities in
France.
Verema travelled to Australia
from France to compete in the
Melbourne Cup, as did previous
Melbourne Cup winner
Americain.
However just following the 2000
metre mark Verema dropped out
of the race when she broke down
badly in the near foreleg and was
subsequently euthanised on track.
Credit: News Limited - Jake Nowakowski
Strabeel:
3-year-old Sydney Gelding Strabeel, having just twelve starts in his short career and having
won less that $3000, was by all accounts an unsuccessful racehorse and probably more
indicative of the majority of horses that race on Australian tracks and die.
On the 1st of May 2014 as he made his preliminary gallop to the barriers in Wyong, jockey Paul
King felt that there was something amiss with the gelding and requested that he under go a
veterinary inspection prior to racing, which he was passed fit to race.
At the 900-meter mark Strabeel subsequently broke down and was euthanised on humane
grounds. An enquiry was opened into his death with evidence taken from the jockey and a
stable representative, as well as his medical records. It was later concluded that there were no
pre-existing conditions contributing to Strabeel’s break down.
However it is well known that the racing of young horses on less than mature bones can have
long-term soundness issues as well as contributing to industry “wastage” where horses are
retired with career ending injuries.
6 Industry Wastage
Sadly the horses that have been recorded as having died on track are a small percentage of the true figure of Racing Industry “wastage”.
Every year thousands of Thoroughbred foals are born to race and despite this number decreasing in recent years, a significant number of
foals will never make it to track.
The statistics below from the Australian Racing Fact Book,(3) show that an average of more than 20% of racehorses are never registered
which means they cannot race and cannot be used for breeding. With no earning potential, they face an uncertain future. Even for the horses
who are registered, many will simply not have the ability or temperament for racing and will suffer the same fate.
Horse Registrations
Season
Reference
Year Of
Foaling
No#
Live
Foals
Born
2012/2013
2011/2012
2010/2011
2009/2010
2008/2009
2007/2008
2006/7007
2005/2006
2004/2005
2003/2005
2002/2003
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
13,365
14,603
16,089
16,411
17,779
16,687
18,502
18,758
18,592
17,742
17,338
Yearlings
Reg.
1778
1710
1896
1959
2426
2195
1992
2329
2428
2623
2YOs
Reg.
7353
7769
7415
7656
8222
8036
8156
7828
7950
3YOs
Reg.
2558
2394
2674
2657
2573
2376
2715
2456
4YOs
Reg.
5YOs
Reg.
638
664
643
619
684
613
751
211
180
206
193
211
197
6YOs
Reg.
56
70
64
59
66
7YOs
Reg.
57
32
15
34
8YOs
Reg.
Not Yet
Registered
% Not
Registered
Total
Registered
33
38
58
13,365
12,825
7,026
4,188
5,373
3,056
4,549
5,205
4,725
3,835
3,203
100%
88%
44%
26%
30%
18%
25%
28%
25%
22%
18%
0
1,778
9,063
12,223
12,406
13,631
13,953
13,553
13,867
13,907
14,135
Fig 4.
** Stats as of 31 July 2013
Table 21 - Breeding Figures
Table 39 - Registrations by Age
Table 20 - 2-year-old Registrations
7 The below statistics were also obtained from the Australian Racing Fact Book,(3)They have been used to determine the total number of
horses that work within the industry in a year as well as the number of horses that leave each year.
As the number of horses competing in horseracing has remained relatively constant, the number of horses leaving the industry must be equal
to the number foals born each year. It is important to note that a significant percentage of these foals will not have the ability or temperament
for racing and will never race and therefore make up a significant percentage of horses leaving the industry. Furthermore, with a decline in
the breeding pool in recent years, the true number of horses leaving the industry will be much higher. Our best estimate from available data is
that approximately 18,000 horses or around 1 in 5 horses leave the industry every year. This figure is an estimate based on the sum of
foal crop and the decline of the breeding stock from the previous year.
Thoroughbred Industry Pool
2012
748
20,530
21,278
2011
790
23,792
24,582
2010
823
26,661
27,484
2009
871
28,238
29,109
2008
891
29,240
30,131
2007
859
30,202
31,061
2006
879
29,706
30,585
2005
939
29,070
30,009
2004
967
29,898
30,865
2003
994
30,358
31,352
Loss of Breeding Horses from
Previous Year
3,304
2,902
1,625
1,022
930
-476
-576
856
487
706
Current Racing Horses
30,489
30,545
30,989
31,773
31,659
29,972
31,419
31,248
31,037
31,126
Previous Years Foals
14,603
13,365
16,089
14,603
16,411
16,089
17,779
16,411
16,687
17,779
18,502
16,687
18,758
18,502
18,592
18,758
17,742
18,592
17,338
17,742
31,639
**Estimat
e
17,000
17,338
79,735
85,819
90,973
95,072
96,256
96,222
99,264
98,607
98,236
97,558
98,035
6,084
5,154
4,099
1,184
-34
3,042
-657
-371
-678
477
Stallions
Brood Mares
Breeding Pool Total
New Foals Coming in
Industry Pool Total of
Thoroughbreds
Loss from Previous Year
2002
1,046
31,012
32,058
**EI Outbreak
Fig 5.
** Stats as of 31 July 2013
Table 1 - Australian Racing Statistic By State 2012/2013, Table 21 - Breeding Figures Table 22 - Shuttle Stallions in Australia, Table 25 - Broodmare Distribution By State
8 Statistical Information
All data was gathered from the period of the 1st of August 2013 to the 31st of July 2014.
9 10 11 12 13 In Memoriam…
Rock Formation
Control
Curlin Toes
Latin News
Eddie Bidder Boy
Minsky’s Girl
Bartrev
Acero
My Friend Frank
Money Sox
Sancy Crown
Commanche Warrior
Brim's Choice
Perfect Puzzle
Skartle
Commandantree
The Tyrant
Lucripetous
Forty Two Below
Niptious
Flaubert
Kiralim
Whooroo
Haut Normandie
Serephin
Korowai
Anabaa Kid
Epic Terra
Falls Creek
Verema
Kai Hayyler
Raku Tu
Centrefold Babe
Angel From Above
Small Patch
Ambers Kingdom
Asprilla
Yasmina
Abe's Choice
Wantara
Leconi
Silky Red
Te Aroha
My Little Machine
Feral Cowboy
Acidity
Fortune Giant
Magical King
Joey Boy
Surfcat
Tazlina
Harders
Miss Trixie
Kentucky Treasure
Rockin Riley
Darwin George
Hi Jo Silver
Madame Sleeper
Hezoff
Braggin' Dragon
Rapauric
Kiss a Rose
Bit Of A Bash
Little Pablo
Jhelum
Rue Clinique
Intercites
Cahier
Second String
Sky Prince
Hearts of Angels
Fallon Street
Save The Star
Soul Brother
Vindicator
Atlanta Rock
Can't Teach That
Sunstroem
Hope Diamond
Not a Single Drop
Roxanne of Sydney
Viva Delspec
Irock
I Am Snippety
Black Moon
Love Or Gold
Spud's Pride
Hialeah Jet
Must Bid
Sin Miedo
Pure Quartz
Done It
Arctic Passage
Beyonce Babe
Marsa
Come By Sunday
Strabeel
Princess Deauville
Media Flyer
Immaculate
Lapel
Time to Excite
Elevenkayvee
Strict Tempo
Show Dancer
Elms
Glendevie
Brilliant Dragon
Mummy's Girl
Indigo Angel
Tread Well
Made Of Ice
Scarlet Arrow
Outback Fighter
Prince of Belaire
Shot Of Glory
Rastro
Gloucester Storm
Fear the Faith
Sir Fernando
Manhatten Beach
Red Eye Express
More Than Eagle
Deceitful Cove
Tenby Lady
14 References and Further Reading
References:
1. Horseracing.com.au: http://www.horseracing.com.au/racecourses
2. Racing Victoria (RV): http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_Hot_Weather_Policy.aspx
3. 2012/13 Australian Racing Fact Book: A Guide to the Racing Industry in Australian 20122013, Australian Racing Board (ARB),
http://www.australianracingboard.com.au/fact_book.aspx
Further Reading
•
•
Deathwatch Reports UK: http://www.horsedeathwatch.com/reports.php
The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses 2014: http://www.horseracingkills.com/
15