Twenty horses died in as many months at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver due mainly to bone fractures, according to provincial documents released through freedom-of-information legislation.
Thirteen horses were euthanized after leg, shoulder, or pelvis fractures, the documents show. Other deaths related to medical problems such as pulmonary edema and hemorrhage, perforated intestinal ulcers, foot infections, and brain disease. One horse no longer used for racing had a colon tear.
The documents detail province necropsy results from the provincial Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford on horses between Jan. 1, 2010, and Sept. 13, 2011.
Peter Fricker of the Vancouver Humane Society urged the public on Monday to think twice before supporting any event – horse racing or otherwise – that subjects animals to undue risk or stress.
“These statistics are very disturbing,” he said, noting there are also concerns about horses going to auction and slaughter once they can no longer race. “I certainly wouldn’t attend a horse race.”
Peter Hamilton of Lifeforce said the public “would be appalled” if they knew the extent of injuries and deaths of horses in the race industry. He added that too often “any love of horses…ends when the love of money ends.”
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Great Canadian Gaming Corporation vice-president Howard Blank agreed that the 20 deaths are unfortunate, but said they must be put in context with the 5,000 to 6,000 horses racing per season at Hastings. (A thoroughbred horse typically races about once every month, he said.)
Blank added that the Hastings fatality rates are below the industry norm in North America, in part, because owners and trainers can withdraw a horse prior to a race without penalty if they have last-minute concerns. Prior to races, vets also look at the horses for any problems.
Thoroughbred horses are bred for speed, he noted. “The horses are so delicate when it comes to the lower half, with their legs. Its weight is so massive compared with the little sticks it runs on.
“It’s like putting a Corvette engine in a Volkswagen. It’s got the amazing speed and power but if we kept doing it without maintaining meticulous care, the Volkswagen would disintegrate as it was running….”
Blank added that jockeys and trainers consider a horse part of their family, and deaths represent a costly blow to owners. “The death of an animal is tragic. It’s not something anyone wants.”
He also said the race track works with New Stride, a thoroughbred adoption society, to find homes for horses that can no longer race, including as show and riding horses and as ponies that work with active race horses.
He added he discourages their sale to slaughterhouses. “In many jurisdictions, the slaughtering of horses is now illegal. It is not in B.C. or Canada, but it is something that is severely frowned upon.”
The U.S. Congress last month lifted a five-year ban on funding horse meat inspections, opening the way for horse slaughterhouses. There’d been concerns about horses being neglected or shipped to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.
Great Canadian owns both Hastings Racecourse and Fraser Downs harness track in Cloverdale. Blank did not have comparable statistics for Fraser Downs but suspected horse deaths would be fewer due to slower speeds.
View details of the 20 necropsies at http://bit.ly/rY9DOo.
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