SMILES AND PART FALSEHOODS HIDING THE DARK SIDE

No idea whether people who casualty tune into the odd race on TV, or who pay a visit to a racecourse as part of a social gathering, think too much about what happens to racehorses when they finish racing. It's more likely that they don't really consider this issue at all. 

The racing broadcasting media has a responsibility to bring those on the perimiter into the knowledge loop on this delicate subject by highlighting the good aspects of equine welfare, but at the same time they must also reveal the wider picture in an honest light, with warts and without bias. This was never more apparent when they put the old stalwart Mister McGoldrick (in picture) in front of the camera at York last week.

We can all remember some of races that he ran in for Sue Smith, the Cheltenham Festival success, the Castleford victory at his local track, and for being a bit part player in races won by animals out of the top drawer. Whatever, he is now the face of the retired racehorses re- training charity New Beginnings which performs a commendable role in shaping thoroughbreds for a new role.

It can do nothing but good to highlight the work of such organisations, so what better way than to have a healthy looking twenty two year old gelding present on course where racegoers could take a peep at him and marvel at his wellbeing.

But without wanting to spoil the picture by throwing a pot of black paint over it, the likes of ITV racing are shy in telling the full story and are in comfort mode concentrating on the happy stories as though these are the norm. They should ensure that the public is informed that room at the inn is sparse, that many fit and healthy racehorses with years ahead end up in a grim slaughterhouse, or live on for a few years in the hands of people who don't have their welfare as an issue.

To put some balanced perspective into the gist of the Mister McGoldrick's piece, they could have stressed with an urgent tone that the future of these centres rests on continued funding. They then should have revealed that a similar, established operation, The Racehorse Welfare Centre, based in Malvern, Worcester, has been forced to shut down.

The centre is run by Lee Morse who became aware of many ex racehorse's plight when her son attended a BHB training school. It is a registered charity relying on volunteer workers and donations. It makes every effort to ensure it's inmates are lent out or moved on to properly pre- vetted owners. No purchase fee is involved. If they later find that the animal is not being cared for to a standard of their satisfaction, the Centre will take the animal back.

On the Facebook Page for the Centre, there is a post thanking those who have supported the centre but poignantly adds that, " It's a shame no local trainers were willing to make any statements regarding the subject of ex racehorse welfare as we've often taken in unsellable horse off them."

Someone posted a comment, "......so sad, I've said for a long time many owners are happy to have horses whilst they are able to run but as soon as they are no longer useful they offload them at first opportunity without a second thought. High time they paid a 'levy' and all horses go to registered rehoming centres....."

The Racing Post did announce the centre's closure last week but did not delve into a number crunching regarding the finances, or offer some suggestions of who should have been helping.

Whenever these situations arise in racing, many who should know better skirt the issue by going around in circles blaming issues such as the legislation restricting the maximum stake on FOBT's , and insinuating that the loss of revenue from the machine addicts makes making the racehorse owners life a miserable one.

They rarely face the key factor head on, namely that there are too many racehorse owners whose finances, if checked by a third body, would be unlikely to withstand the relentless cost of keeping a racehorse in training for a sustainable period, never mind being able to have funds to maintain the animal's well being on retirement.

These are characters who have accumulated a a quick bounty in high risk busineses areas, where a sudden unexpected downfall can come along and take everything back. When business is good, it's all fine and dandy on the racecourse, with smiles and champagne,

But when it all goes wrong, concern for the welfare of the horses they own is not a consideration. They'll often have their horse taken back off them to offset some of the training fees owed, or will happily cash in the carcass. If the horse has no prospect of earning its keep as a racehorse, then the trainer may choose to cash in the carcass.

There are many owners who, if properly vetted, should not be owning racehorses. We had one such case that ended with tragic consequences fifteen years ago.

A look at Michael Bell's string in the 2003 edition of Horses In Training shows seven horses owned by Mrs Anne Yearley. In fact Mrs Yearley had been a patron at the yard for a full decade.

Mrs Yearley's hobby was funded by her husband Henry, who was found to have stolen almost one and a half million pounds from Specialist Cars, of which he was company secretary. Henry Yearly had served a prison sentence two decades earlier for embezzlement.

Rather than serving imminent prison sentences, the couple stepped out infront of a speeding train during 2004, ending their lives.

Owners and trainers moan about the lack of prize money on offer. They seem to think the punters should be paying more in. Trapped in a time warp, they forget that today's punter's under forty prefer betting on other sports to racing. By returning to a tax on bets. then they'll just decide to forego the uneccessary expense.

Some say that betting on the likes of football, cricket, tennis and golf are immoral. That they taint these sports. They rightly point out that unlike racing that could not survive without punters betting on it, their sports are true sports in the sense that they can survive without any such distractions.

If betting was outlawed on just football alone, it would be a possible saving grace for UK racing. However, the genie is long out of the bottle on that one and it might as well be classed as a closed topic. It could be that racing may soon have no option than to re-adjust by downsizing. No one should think that this could not become reality.

image taken by author