Leading owner-breeder takes aim at racing administrators over welfare scandal

Owner-breeder Anthony Mithen on Monday issued a passionate plea for Australia’s racing administrators to take action after last week’s ABC programme uncovered the inhumane treatment of many ex-racehorses.

The hour-long show reported "widespread slaughter of racehorses for pet food" at abattoirs, indicating almost 300 horses had been killed in just over three weeks at one operation in Queensland. Footage was also shown of horses being beaten and shocked with electric prods.

Rosemont Stud principal Mithen lambasted Racing New South Wales chief executive Peter V’landys for his "all bluff and bluster" move to outlaw sending racehorses to the the state abattoir two years ago.

Mithen also criticised Racing Victoria for not spending sufficient money to ensure the welfare of horses at the end of their racing careers.

He said: "We love our animals and racing is important to so many people so we were all horrified by watching the report on ABC last Thursday.

"Saying we love our horses isn’t enough though. Shifting blame to rogue abattoirs is not enough or pointing the finger at other states, although I can see why some finger pointing has been done.

"Peter V’landys needs to go to the room of mirrors and have a good hard look at himself and not others. It was always folly to go from nought to 100 in one millisecond by outlawing the sending of racehorses to the knackery in NSW.

"It was a showboat moment and said, 'We’re doing more than you'. All bluff and bluster and ’look at me’ and 'how bad a job is everyone else doing'."

He added to RSN 927: "Victoria needs to have done more as well. There has been too little action given the talk. We’ve been told for the last decade we need to take horse welfare and re-homing seriously, we being industry participants – breeders and owners.

"Well, I’m here to tell administrators to get their act together and quickly.”

The Everest: meeting clashes with Caulfield Cup dayCredit: Mark Evans

Mithen called for an end to the persistent feud between Racing NSW and Racing Victoria over racing politics and prize-money, including clashes between the Melbourne Spring Carnival and The Everest meeting in Sydney.

He said: "End the petty point-scoring. Quit your other jobs and double your efforts to get a national traceability program in place like you’ve promised. And quickly.

"We can then rehome appropriately and ensure that horse welfare is not just something we speak about, but act upon, together as a nation who loves the thoroughbred.

"Then, and only then, can we be a nation in unison and watch a horserace and be truly proud of our sport."

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