THE HORSE racing industry has felt the heat of the recent state-wide greyhound racing ban as animal activists expand their focus onto other “cruel, unjust practices”.
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Animal “mistreatment and wastage” taking place in self-regulated sports like racing, trots and jumps has come under fire.
Local animal rights advocate Lisa Ryan said the greyhound racing ban should come as a wake-up call to people “exploiting animals for financial gain”.
“It’s in the spotlight now and these industries will have to start realising that if they don’t clean up their act the government and the public will step in,” she said.
“Horses are often taken to knackeries when they stop winning and are slaughtered in horrific fashion; it’s not that far off from the greyhounds.
“The greyhound ban was a gutsy move and it’s really put these sports under a microscope.”
A damning report released by the state government condemned live baiting measures used in greyhound racing and found many dogs were treated horrifically.
Murrumbidgee Turf Club chief Scott Sanbrook said the issues relating to greyhound racing had no parallels with horse racing and were “totally separate issues”.
“The welfare of both the horses and jockeys are always paramount and absolutely the top priority,” he said.
“It really is an issue for the wider racing community to consider.”
It comes after an investigation alleged at least 99 “under performing” greyhounds were brutally killed and buried at a Hunter Valley property.
