Phumelela release on SPCA's comments re: horseracing

PHUMELELA MEDIA RELEASE
SUBJECT: Phumelela rejects SPCA comments
DATE: Wednesday 6 July 2011
RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming And Leisure Limited

JSE-listed horseracing and tote betting company Phumelela rejects the SPCA’s comments about horseracing following the death of Big City Life in the Vodacom Durban July last Saturday.
“We expected a more realistic response from a major animal welfare organisation like the SPCA,” said Robert Garner, Phumelela GM Marketing and Communications.
Big City Life, winner of the Durban July in 2009, ran sixth last Saturday but broke his left leg at the winning post and was humanely put down.
The South African Press Association subsequently issued a story titled “SPCA opposes horse races” in which the National Council of the SPCA claimed that “animals suffer when they are used for sport and entertainment” and that Big City Life’s death was “a classic example of why the SPCA movement takes a stance of opposing racing with animals”.
“The SPCA’s statements were misleading, unrealistic and in some instances incorrect,” said Garner. “For example it’s incorrect to generalise and say that animals suffer when they are used for sport,” said Garner.
“Thoroughbred racehorses are generally better looked after during their time in racing than any other animal on earth. Let’s get realistic - horses in the wild also suffer injuries and break legs and there’s nobody to provide instant veterinary treatment.“For a horseracing fan, there is no sadder sight than a thoroughbred who has broken down so badly that euthanasia is the kindest option. And for the owners and trainers of horses who suffer this fate, it’s heart-breaking.
“But as in many other sports, fatalities do occur. In South African horseracing over the last five years, there were on average only 13 fatalities annually resulting from breakdowns in races. While each and every one of those deaths is tragic, they are rare and represent a tiny percentage of the 43,000-odd runners in races in this country every year,” Garner said.
“Sadly with severe breakdowns like a cannon bone or ankle fracture, it is often unfair to attempt to save the animal. The horse has to be immobilised for weeks and as a result of the pain and stress, toxins are released into the system that very often result in laminitis which is extremely painful and nearly always fatal.
“South African horseracing spends tens of millions of rand annually looking after the horses, who are, after all, the stars of the show. Racing surfaces are constantly being improved in order to reduce the incidence of injuries and technological advances in scanning and x-ray devices are now enabling injuries to be detected before they become life-threatening.
“There are also strict rules pertaining to the use of drugs and more than 5,000 urine samples are tested annually to prevent the illegal use of drugs. Plus horseracing has organisations like the Highveld Horse Care Unit, which does fantastic work in both preventing and treating abuse and neglect of all equines, including ex-racehorses,” Garner said.

....I just wish in my heart of hearts that Phumelela would issue statements and jump on other racing issues just as quick as they did this one!!!

Amazing to me........

From Bonski


Has anyone considered this.
Big City Life, ran the BEST RACE OF HIS LIFE this past Saturday.
When he won the Vodacom July in 2009, he carried 51 kg and ran a time of 2 MIN 15, 55
2009-07-04 GE 2200 107 51.0 A 10 1 0.75 *ZIRCONEUM Greg Cheyne 135.55 13-2 11-2 Race 7 - R3M - VODACOM DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)
This year he carried 59.5 kgs and ran a time of 133.24 abou a length and a bit behind the awesome Igugu. Thats 8.8 kgs worse off and 2, 24 seconds faster.
2011-07-02 GE 2200 112 59.5 A B 2 6 2.25 IGUGU (AUS) Andrew Fortune 133.24 28/1 33/1 R3M-DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)
Give or take a few farctions for course conditions, he is the handicap winner of this years race.
How brave, how fit, how terribly sad.
He won 8 races. 4 Grade 1 , 2 Grade 2 races and a listed evnt beating Lizzards Desire.
How good was this horse.
The Sunday Tribune should be banned.
Shocking.


BIG CITY LIFE
Age: 5 (at last run)
Sex: h
M/Rating: 112 (at last run)
Owner: Messrs R W Deacon, G S Kotzen and G W Mitchell and Mesdames P D Deacon, L de Jager and Sue Whitmore
Breeder: Bred by Mrs J A Wintle
Trainer: Glen Kotzen
Breeding: Casey Tibbs (IRE) - Dollar Crisis by Goldmark
Colours: Purple and white checks, white sleeves, purple cap
Date of last run: 2011-07-02
Next race: Not carded
Race Date Trk Dist MR Wght AIBI Dr Fi W/D Winner/*2nd Jockey Time OP SP Race
2008-02-23 KW 1200 57.0 A - 5 6 6.35 BUSH PIRATE Raymond Danielson 76.39 Good: R58K - MAIDEN JUV PLATE 2yolds
2008-03-08 KW 1200 ? 54.0 A - 11 2 0.75 CHIEF BLACKFOOT Mark Neisius 73.73 Good:R250K - EQUIMARK STAKES 2 yolds
2008-09-13 KW 1400 ? 58.0 A - 2 1 2.50 *JODEE'S PROSPECT Marthinus Mienie 93.15 S/Soft:R58K - MAIDEN PLATE 3yolds
2008-10-03 AN 1400 88 56.0 A - 7 1 2.00 *SPARKLING GEM Alec Forbes 87.22 Good:R70K - PLATE 3 yolds
2008-10-24 FW 1600 95 58.0 A - 4 1 0.05 *LIZARD'S DESIRE Alec Forbes 99.94 Good:R125K - THE R A STAKES (Listed) 3yolds
2008-11-22 KW 1600 95 51.0 A - 9 2 2.25 POCKET POWER Gerrit Schlechter 98.54 14-1 20-1 Good:R300K - GREEN POINT STAKES (WFA) (G2)
2008-12-20 KW 1600 103 57.0 A - 9 7 4.40 LE DRAKKAR (AUS) Bernard Fayd'Herbe 100.66 8-1 9-2 Good:R1M - SA CAPE GUINEAS (G 1)
2009-01-31 KW 2000 103 57.0 A - 8 1 1.00 *BLUEMAMBO Bernard Fayd'Herbe 125.29 7-1 9-1 Good:R600K - CAPE DERBY (Gr 1)
2009-04-19 SV 1400 107 58.5 A - 9 2 0.50 POLISHED STEEL (AUS) Bernard Fayd'Herbe 82.59 3-1 3-1 Good:R200K - (Grade 3) For 3 yolds
2009-05-12 GE 1600 107 57.0 A 10 1 1.50 *PORT OF DUBAI (SSL) Bernard Fayd'Herbe 98.42 15-10 2-1F Good:R500K - (Grade 2) For 3 yolds
2009-06-06 GE 2000 107 57.0 A 10 1 0.50 *DAN DE LAGO (AUS) Bernard Fayd'Herbe 121.83 15-10 1-1F Good:R1M - (Gr 1) For 3yolds
2009-07-04 GE 2200 107 51.0 A 10 1 0.75 *ZIRCONEUM Greg Cheyne 135.55 13-2 11-2 Race 7 - R3M - VODACOM DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)
2009-12-05 KW 1500 111 61.0 A 1 2 0.75 POCKET POWER Sean Cormack 93.27 22/10 28/10 Race 8 - R88K - PINNACLE PLATE all Horses rated 70 +
2010-01-09 KW 1600 111 58.0*0.0 A 10 3 1.25 POCKET POWER Karis Teetan 97.39 28/10 3/1 Race 8 - R1M - QUEEN'S PLATE (WFA) (Grade 1)
2010-01-30 KW 2000 111 57.5*0.0 A 14 9 3.60 RIVER JETEZ Karis Teetan 123.50 7/1 10/1 Race 7 - R2.5M - J&B MET (Grade 1)
2010-05-07 GE 1400 114 60.0 A 14 5 4.20 TROPICAL EMPIRE (AUS) Felix Coetzee 82.92 8/1 8/1 Race 8 - R350K - DRILL HALL STAKES (Grade 2) WFA
2010-06-12 CD 1600 114 60.0 A 5 1 0.25 *BLUE TIGER Piere Strydom 96.45 8/1 15/2 Race 8 - R750K - RISING SUN CHALLENGE (Grade 1) WFA
2011-05-03 GE 1400 116 60.0 A 7 10 5.00 PAST MASTER Andrew Fortune 85.56 7/1 15/2 Race 7 - R300K - DRILL HALL STAKES (Grade 2)
2011-05-22 CD 1500 116 61.0 A 8 3 3.75 BRAVURA Andrew Fortune 89.47 7/2 7/2 Race 8 - R87400 - PINNACLE STAKES A race for all horses
2011-06-13 CD 1600 114 60.0 A 5 12 15.90 DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL Andrew Fortune 99.92 7/1 15/2 R700K-GOLD CHALLENGE (Grade 1)
2011-07-02 GE 2200 112 59.5 A B 2 6 2.25 IGUGU (AUS) Andrew Fortune 133.24 28/1 33/1 R3M-DURBAN JULY (Grade 1)

This thread has brought plenty of hypocritical nonsense to the surface!

1.) You have to view the SPCA comments from the perspective that they are a WELFARE organisation. So obviously they are going to criticise any activity or incident which compromises the welfare and safety of animals. Fair enough.

2.) As stated elsewhere - it is interesting that Mr Garner is able to react quite quickly ( when it suits his master ) to an issue which might gather negative momentum if simply ignored - which is the usual response from that quarter to a multitude of issues equally deserving of attention or a measured response.

However - part of his response is almost laughable. If he brings the issue of 'horses in the wild' not getting 'instant veterinary treatment' then let us also examine by comparison some of the veterinary treatment which IS administered to racehorses. Or rather not - unless we regard the rampant use of steroids et al at both breeding and racing levels as ethical and desireable.

And if Mr Garner is keen to compare the wild with the domestic then let's start off by evaluating, as a reasonable example, COLIC statistics. This condition is almost unknown where a horse enjoys a natural diet in the wild but is common ( and often fatal ) in racing. Look no further than modern feed for answers. All in all there is little about racing to recommend it to any foals! Unless they fancy being cooped up for 23 hours per day in solitary confinement and fed synthetic foodstuffs in between being relentlessly jabbed with everything from flu vacs and AHS vaccines through to coyly named 'vitamins'.

3.) I fail to see why we get a difference in response to fatalities in jump and flat racing. Read the posts and you will see what I mean. There is plenty of justifiable criticism levelled at the former but the selfsame critics are either muted or defensive in the case of the latter. Huh? Just because fewer horses die on the flat does not mean it should be immune from censure.

4.) Lastly - we have a good old apartheid style response from Bonski. Lol. He appears to have altogether missed changes that have occured since 1994 relative to freedom of speech. This site is a real life example of the opinions we can exchange. An opportunity that did not even exist until recently. He/she wants us to ban the Sunday Tribune ! Why ? Because they published something which exposed an ugly reality?

So if I understand him/her correctly the Tribune can publish a report and pictures of a festive July but heaven help them if they report on an incident which ACTUALLY happened. Had they made it up I could have understood the anger. Boycott them perhaps? It's your choice. Ban them? P-l-e-a-s-e. And don't cry next week about reduced racing coverage in the press when you are spouting this type of populist nonsense.

I thought a good response from Phumelela.

Garrick I support your views to a large extent. The jumps vs flat debate will forever rage and to see any animal or person meet their end is never good. There are no degrees to death, it is final. The debate really rages on the lead up to that death and the suffering that takes place in that lead up to the end. Distance, thrown on your head over a jump etc etc will always play a part in the debate. Lets not revisit that though.

Some points to note:

1. Although the claim is that the animals are generally well looked after, there is not very much said or shown when a horse is injured or breaks down in a race - The reality is bad for turnover and not worth emphasising.
2. The cameras are turned away from a horse that is caught under or over the starting stalls

Point 2 is the interesting point for me. Why are the cameras turned away? Is it because we do not want to hurt the sensitive viewer or is it that we do not want to effect income by showing the realities of racing?

Injuries are a part of any sport - fact. The sad part about racing (for those that are not just interested in the next betting opportunity) is the lack of feedback on the athletes. Muzi came off Lord London and even in the prime position that I was in on the day, I heard nothing about whether he was ok or not. In fact I still do not know whether he is fine after falling off. This is true to the equine athlete too. Because of their relatively short careers, a lot of horses disappear off of the racing scene never to be heard of again, with no explanation. Supersport will show a rugby player walking off the field with blood pissing from his head, the cameras stay focused but it is different for horse racing. The reason is turnover and the noise that will be made by the likes of the SPCA.

The SPCA are entitled to their views and we all have to agree that animals do not have a choice on whether they want to be involved in the sport or not. It is their duty as an animal rights group to express this view.

BCL's demise will not turn away the current group of punters, as sad as these things are, for the most part we are either addicted to the game or accept that this is a part of the game. It has an impact on the new entrant. How much conversion to full blown punter is there from the July anyway? Those that are overly sensitive to this would unlikely get involved in racing full time as they are probably of the view that racing is cruel to start with.

The question is, did it need a response?

Phumelela communication and marketing department just crap.

Unless Garner is watching old John Wayne movies where has he seen a wild horse running around. Love to know where he gets his stats.

As for big city life running the race of his life i assume that the writer is being ironic on purpose.

Sylvester Wrote:

---

> Phumelela communication and marketing department
> just crap.
>
> Unless Garner is watching old John Wayne movies
> where has he seen a wild horse running around.
> Love to know where he gets his stats.
>
> As for big city life running the race of his life
> i assume that the writer is being ironic on
> purpose.

At the weights, Big City Life ran just about the race of his life. On WFA terms he would have been the theoretical winner, if you take weights vs distance beaten literally.

ML - Don't repeat your last comment (lol) on the 'other site' - there seems to be a 'Malema like' Igugu fanclub on there who will tolerate no debate on their heroine other than slavering devotion. Barry Irwin has already been lambasted for doing what we have all done at some point : 'On a line through............' and has ended up as a newly crowned 'doos'. As you pointed out - a 'Kentucky Derby Winning Doos' nogal. Proving quite startlingly that if you have owned a MR 64 Vaal winner ( or something similar ) your assessment of the July result is the only 'official and palatable' version.........

So clearly - as I suggested elsewhere - these individuals appear to have a Politburo style understanding of freedon of speech and prefer to pile on the abuse when in disagreement. Is there any reason why they can't just leave it at ' I differ with the last poster' instead of resorting to a personal attack on the individual?

Can't help feeling that they just MIGHT be venting long repressed feelings of jealously and resentment. Maybe a bit of 'Yankee go home' at play there?

Garrick - I think you're veering slightly off topic.

But as you're there, Muzi broke his nose and suffered a concussion and has decided to sit out the rest of the season.

Hope Muzi is not doing that as they phoned for 2 rides on the 14th and I put him on.

Craig,his agent has confirmed,on the other site,that Muzi is out for the season!