Story By: Buli Liang, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport
Video Credit: Golders/PETA Asia
This is the moment a racehorse’s leg shatters on the course and flops around as the poor animal neighs in agony leading to it being euthanised shortly afterwards and sparking outrage.
The incident was filmed at the Happy Valley Racecourse in the south-eastern Chinese region of Hong Kong and the footage was shared online by the animal rights group PETA Asia who also sent a complaint to the Hong Kong government and the racecourse Jockey Club.
The footage shows Voyage King’s leg breaking during the race and PETA Asia has demanded to know how the horse was allowed to race despite being reportedly diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both front legs six months ago.
The group has requested an investigation into the incident from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and The Hong Kong Jockey Club, according to local media.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club described the injury as “fractured bones within its front fetlock joint which were irreparable” and confirmed that the horse was later euthanised, according to PETA Asia.
According to records kept by the Jockey Club, Voyage King also had substantial blood in its trachea after a race in September 2019.
PETA Senior Vice President of International Campaigns Jason Baker said: “People who care about horses should turn their backs on the horseracing industry.
“Anyone who supports this industry supports abuse and carnage for human entertainment.”
In a letter to the Jockey Club, Baker wrote: “Hong Kong racing was once considered an exemplary model in terms of veterinary records transparency and comprehensive measures to prevent incidents like this. However, the hideous death of Voyage King demonstrates that the system has serious flaws that need to be remedied immediately.
“We also strongly urge the Hong Kong Jockey Club to install high-resolution, standing CT scanning equipment to be used as a preventive mechanism in pre-race screening which would detect damage and flag high-risk horses such as Voyage King.”
The Jockey Club and local authorities have yet to respond to the incident.
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