JSE-listed horseracing and tote betting company Phumelela rejects the SPCA’s comments about horseracing following the death of Big City Life in the Vodacom Durban July last Saturday. “We expected a more realistic response from a major animal welfare organisation like the SPCA,” said Robert Garner, Phumelela GM Marketing and Communications.

Big City Life, winner of the Durban July in 2009, ran sixth last Saturday but broke his left leg at the winning post and was humanely put down. The South African Press Association subsequently issued a story titled “SPCA opposes horse races” in which the National Council of the SPCA claimed that “animals suffer when they are used for sport and entertainment” and that Big City Life’s death was “a classic example of why the SPCA movement takes a stance of opposing racing with animals”.

“The SPCA’s statements were misleading, unrealistic and in some instances incorrect,” said Garner.

“For example it’s incorrect to generalise and say that animals suffer when they are used for sport,” said Garner. “Thoroughbred racehorses are generally better looked after during their time in racing than any other animal on earth. Let’s get realistic - horses in the wild also suffer injuries and break legs and there’s nobody to provide instant veterinary treatment.

“For a horseracing fan, there is no sadder sight than a thoroughbred who has broken down so badly that euthanasia is the kindest option. And for the owners and trainers of horses who suffer this fate, it’s heart-breaking. “But as in many other sports, fatalities do occur. In South African horseracing over the last five years, there were on average only 13 fatalities annually resulting from breakdowns in races. While each and every one of those deaths is tragic, they are rare and represent a tiny percentage of the 43,000-odd runners in races in this country every year,” Garner said.

“Sadly with severe breakdowns like a cannon bone or ankle fracture, it is often unfair to attempt to save the animal. The horse has to be immobilised for weeks and as a result of the pain and stress, toxins are released into the system that very often result in laminitis which is extremely painful and nearly always fatal.

“South African horseracing spends tens of millions of rand annually looking after the horses, who are, after all, the stars of the show. Racing surfaces are constantly being improved in order to reduce the incidence of injuries and technological advances in scanning and x-ray devices are now enabling injuries to be detected before they become life-threatening.

“There are also strict rules pertaining to the use of drugs and more than 5,000 urine samples are tested annually to prevent the illegal use of drugs. Plus horseracing has organisations like the Highveld Horse Care Unit, which does fantastic work in both preventing and treating abuse and neglect of all equines, including ex-racehorses,” Garner said.