Racing Victoria (RV) Chief Executive, Bernard Saundry, has issued the following statement on equine welfare in response to a billboard erected on CityLink with an image of a dead horse.

“To put a dead animal, be it a horse, a dog or a cat, on a billboard is highly inappropriate and distasteful,” Mr Saundry said.

“The billboard is offensive both to the 70,000 participants within the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry who love and care for their animals and indeed to the wider community who are travelling past this distasteful image.

“The health and wellbeing of our equine athletes is at the heart of our industry and central to the thinking of participants and administrators alike.

“The level of care afforded the industry’s equine athletes is practically unmatched by any other domesticated animal. Trainers, owners and breeders afford outstanding care to their horses.

“Indeed, over $300 million is spent annually in Victoria alone by owners on the training, care and welfare of the state’s racehorse population.

“Trainers and breeders each have their own vets to ensure the welfare of their horses is maintained.This is complimented by 60 vets contracted by Racing Victoria to afford care on racedays.

“The inference that horse racing kills its equine athletes is misleading and very disappointing for the many people within our industry who have spent the best part of a lifetime caring for horses.

“The average fatality rate in Victorian thoroughbred racing is the lowest in world racing and we are working hard to reduce it even further through stricter medication controls, significant investments in improving tracks and training facilities and the funding of major research studies.

“Beyond the track, the vast majority of participants retire their racehorses in an appropriate manner and through initiatives like our Off the Track Program we are working to ensure that every healthy thoroughbred has a fruitful life after racing.”