Racing forced on defense after Doc’s shock claims of horse cruelty

The Department of Agriculture has already launched an investigation into scenes of cruelty broadcast on RTÉ last night from a horse slaughterhouse in Straffan, Country Kildare.

Difficult to watch and recorded in a part of the facility not inspected by authorities, the program prompted a quick response from Horse Racing Ireland.

The program said the horses slaughtered at the scene included former racehorses who had raced 3,000 times and won more than €1.5 million in prize money, although these figures had not been verified.

“The board, management and staff of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) are deeply shocked and dismayed by the content of the RTÉ Investigates documentary broadcast on RTÉ 1 on Wednesday evening,” read a statement released last night after the show.

“The criminal behavior depicted in the RTÉ documentary is disgusting and does not reflect the experience of the vast majority of the 30,000 people who earn their living in the horse racing and breeding industry in Ireland.”

“HRI has zero tolerance for the mistreatment of horses in any circumstance, and criminal and regulatory sanctions must be imposed on anyone who has behaved unlawfully towards horses.”

“The safety and care of equines is HRI’s top priority, and this year HRI will invest €16.1 million in welfare and integrity services. The thoroughbred horse is enshrined in Irish and European law. Significant legal and regulatory checks and balances are in place for Thoroughbred horses from birth through their racing career and life cycle. »

“HRI will look into the issues raised in the RTÉ documentary and will actively support any Department of Agriculture or Garda investigations, and urge anyone with information about horse mistreatment to report it to An Garda Síochána.”

These programs are usually designed to shock for a very good reason. The impact they can have on public perception of an industry can however be detrimental in areas beyond the reach of those who clearly need sanctions, and Horse Racing Ireland and the Department will now be on the back foot in regarding the current comments. .

Primetime should continue the program this evening at 9:35 p.m.

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