The deaths of three horses within an hour at Cheltenham on Sunday, including Abuffalosoldier, who collapsed just as ITV Racing’s reporter was finishing an interview with his jockey after a victory, cast a dark shadow over the track’s November meeting. This unfortunate event marred what had been a promising start to the winter racing season, filled with positivity and anticipation.
The tragic loss of Bangers And Cash, Abuffalosoldier, and Napper Tandy during live races on ITV highlighted the harsh realities of racing, especially jump racing, to a broader audience. ITN covered the incident as a main news item, titling it “the triple-tragedy at Cheltenham.” This coverage was particularly impactful as it coincided with the high viewership of the opening episode of this year’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.
Rose Patterson, co-director of Animal Rising, an animal rights group, called for a complete ban on racing after seeing the replays of the incidents. She argued that public support for horse racing is waning and that recent welfare improvements, prompted by their disruptions at major events like the Grand National, are only short-term solutions. Patterson believes a complete phase-out and ban on racing are necessary.
Liam Kearns, one of the vets at Cheltenham, noted that high-risk activities, whether for horses or humans, carry inherent dangers. However, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) expressed dissatisfaction with ITN’s coverage, particularly their failure to seek comments from the Jockey Club or the BHA. The BHA is reportedly preparing a formal complaint about the editorial choices made in the report.
While fatal injuries in Flat racing are rare, occurring about once in every 2,000 starts, jump racing’s fatality rate, though higher, has significantly declined. Patterson’s call for a ban is unlikely to be realized soon, but threats like a blanket ban on gambling ads or further restrictions on betting could impact the sport more immediately.
Sunday’s events, coinciding with one of ITN’s most-watched bulletins of the year, likely left a lasting impression on many viewers. The BHA’s criticisms of ITN’s report are expected to be taken seriously, aiming to improve future coverage of such sensitive topics.
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