RACING professionals have hit back at claims made locally that the sport was cruel. There were no signs of protests in the paddock at the Guernsey Race Club meeting at L’Ancresse following a leaflet campaign in the run-up to the event.
Owners and jockeys vehemently defended the sport.
Group One Racing chairman Stephen Foster said that horses loved racing.
‘Thoroughbreds are bred to race. If they didn’t race, then people wouldn’t breed them,’ he said after watching the group-owned Flashing Floozie win the fourth race on Monday.
‘Our horse has enjoyed every minute of that - you can see she is on top of the world, she loved it. She raced from the front and wants to get on with the job. That’s why we won.’
Jockey Tony Procter, 36, rode winner Silver Silence in the last race of the day.
He said people who claimed racing was cruel did not know what they were talking about.
‘Tell them to go into a yard at home to see the work that goes into it - the horses are cared for. The horses we ride get looked after - there are places where animals are abused, but not in racing.’
And whips are now padded and used more to make a noise than anything else, said Mr Procter.
‘All those going on about cruelty are obviously not looking in-depth into the sport, just watching TV and seeing what they want.’
Article posted on 9th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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