Statement: Horse Racing Deaths in Hong Kong

On Wednesday, a horse named Seasons Wit gruesomely fractured his left ankle during a race at Happy Valley racetrack and nearly took down two other horses as he fell. He was euthanized and became the fourth horse to die on Hong Kong racetracks in the last two months alone. The jockey riding Seasons Wit, Lyle Hewitson, broke his wrist and may have also fractured his ankle in the fall. Please see the following statement from PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker:

Racing is too often a death sentence for horses. Those who don’t suffer agonizing fatal injuries during races or training may meet a terrifying end at a slaughterhouse and wind up on someone’s plate. PETA is calling on Hong Kong racing officials to investigate the deaths of Seasons Wit and the other horses who’ve died and release all veterinary and medical records to determine if the animals had pre-existing injuries and should have been scratched from the races. Horseracing must not be bloodsport.