The Tasracing annual report confirms what animal advocates and the Greens have long been saying – horse and dog racing are loss-making, brutal industries that continuesto lose their social licence and public interest.
This past year, Tasracing received more than $36M in public funds, yet it still made a loss of $1.2M last financial year. This follows the pattern of decline in recent years.
Wagering numbers keep dropping, particularly in greyhound racing where they have fallen by a massive 16%. People aren’t showing up to the races despite Tasracing pumping money into marketing – and why would they?
Tasracing’s annual report exposes the many senseless deaths caused by this cruel industry. It also highlights the taxpayer-funded agency has learned nothing from years of scandals by again celebrating controversial figure Anthony Bullock with the “leading trainer” award.
This is an industry in decline because it’s killing, and injuring dogs and horses at an obscene scale.
Forty-three (16%) retired greyhounds were killed last financial year, triple the rate of the previous year. 70 fewer dogs were rehomed than in previous years, and the rate of retirement declined by 10%. In addition to these numbers, two greyhounds died or were euthanised due to injuries.
While injuries aren’t recorded, the Annual Report confirms almost 50 horses who, cast aside from harness and thoroughbred racing, were killed before their time.
How can the government justify subsidising this mendicant, cruel industry?
The community can see this publicly-funded brutality, and overwhelmingly want it to stop. Why can’t the Liberals and Labor?
