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Jumps racing putting horses at risk for a profit

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Aug 2016, 2:59PM
Jumps racing's had a rough season so far - with seven horses having fatal injuries this year (Getty Images).

Jumps racing putting horses at risk for a profit

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Aug 2016, 2:59PM

LISTEN ABOVE: Larry Williams speaks to the Head of Campaigns for SAFE Mandy Carter about changing the racing industry.  

UPDATED 3.50PM: An animal rights organisation said the New Zealand racing industry is putting horses at risk for the sake of profit, after a third racehorse this month had to be out down due to injury.

Jumps racing's had a rough season so far - with seven horses having fatal injuries in race events this year.

The most recent happened during a steeplechase in Te Aroha on Sunday, when racehorse Twentythirtyfour was put down after fracturing a hind leg.

SAFE's Marianne Macdonald said seven horses have been put down this season - making it clear jump racing is just too dangerous.

"They are pushed to jump huge fences at speed in a bunch with other horses."

"This is why they are often bald or they crash against the barriers. The reality is that most horses, when they have an injury, will be euthanised."

Macdonald said it is time Parliament put an outright ban on jumps racing.

"Although all types of horse racing do have welfare issues, jumps racing has much higher levels of fatalities and injuries and that's why we're focusing on jumps racing in particular."

Marianne Macdonald said SAFE's had thousands of people sign a pledge to not bet on jumps races, and Parliament should pay attention to that.

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