Two horses died today on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
RIP Mossback and RIP Report To Base.
More horses have died at Cheltenham Racecourse than any other in Britain. In 2017, twelve horses died there, four of whom were killed during the four-day Cheltenham Festival. Last Spring, I wrote to the racecourse, via its website, to register my sadness and to request information about what - if anything - was to be done to reduce injury and fatality. I did not receive a response.
Jockeys Ruby Walsh and Patrick Mullins have both been handed suspensions for over-use of the whip in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle today.
Animal Aid, a Kent-based animal welfare charity, has recently launched an e-petition urging the government to set up an
independent regulatory body, with horse welfare as its only interest.
I invite Charlton Lifers to sign and share the petition. Thank you.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/211950 
Comments
If you disagree then give a counter argument.
Like Henry, I don’t really have an opinion but the OP would be shouted down if he put it on the main Cheltenham thread so he’s avoided that by starting his own.
If you actually read his post he is promoting a petition which is asking the government to set up an independent regulatory body to oversee the welfare of race horses, given the numbers that are dying at Cheltenham this week how can that aim be considered "crap" unless you don't care about the welfare of animals (which is pretty good indicator of the calibre of a man)?
Well done for raising awareness and posting this thread.
It is reported in the media for a start
Plus there is no big money as you say in National Hunt racing
Plus if you really knew what happened at the stables you would know that it certainly isn’t business as normal when a tragic accident has occured
Once upon a time a high risk of death was seen as just part and parcel of motor racing, but fortunately some people realised it didn't have to be that way.
He always opens a different thread and does not interfere with the Cheltenham thread in any way - and is never offensive.
No surprise that I love horse racing and would defend it - but the welfare of horses is also vitally important to the industry and an independent body set up to, I would suggest, work with the racing industry is a very good idea.
Signed.
See Animal Aid's horsedeathwatch.com/
Patrick Mullins, Rathvinden’s jockey, was suspended for six days for using his whip above the permitted level and without giving his horse a chance to respond after jumping the final fence.
Ruby Walsh, who rode Mullins’s Benie Des Dieux to win the Mares’ Hurdle, was banned for two days for using his whip above the permitted level from the approach to the last.