11 horses killed at 11 different racecourses in 11 days

Posted on the 1st March 2016

Eleven horses were killed on British racecourses in as many days during February – a death toll that serves as a depressing curtain-raiser for the Cheltenham Festival (March 15-18), which itself is a graveyard for horses*.

The eleven deaths occurred at eleven different courses, highlighting the risks horses face every time they run on a British racecourse. The victims suffered a range of catastrophic injuries, including a broken leg, a broken pelvis, or they ‘collapsed and died’ – probably from a heart attack.

Says Animal Aid Horse Racing Consultant, Dene Stansall:

‘Horse racing makes ruthless use of horses, gambling with their lives in the pursuit of money and what passes for glory in racing circles. The industry has done little of any consequence to stem the tide of deaths. It seems to prefer to remain silent on the issue – the eleven victims having passed virtually without public mention by racing figures. Animal Aid is bringing the fatalities to light in the hope that even hardened punters, if they have a trace of compassion for animals, will withdraw their support for such a pitiless industry.’

* 22 horses have been killed at the Cheltenham Festival since Animal Aid launched its online database, Race Horse Death Watch, in March 2007.

The Eleven Victims – 18 February to 28 February 2016

Race Horse’s Name	Date related to Death	Racecourse where they died
Netherby	28-Feb	Southwell
Mon Successeur	27-Feb	Kempton
Ballyglasheen	27-Feb	Chepstow
Hey Up Ashey	25-Feb	Sedgefield
Night In Milan	24-Feb	Doncaster
Deputy Dan	20-Feb	Haydock
Claret Cloak	19-Feb	Lingfield
Marden Court	19-Feb	Fakenham
Jajamcool	19-Feb	Sandown
Neptune Equester	18-Feb	Kelso
Crack Shot	18-Feb	Chelmsford