Epsom Derby meeting and protests

[reynold]

Animal Rising admits 'a future where perhaps the thoroughbred isn't around' if its plans succeed

A high-profile member of Animal Rising has acknowledged the controversial group's objectives could lead to the disappearance of the thoroughbred... Read More

www.racingpost.com

So the motive becomes clearer. The protesters see the extinction of the TB breed as their objective.

For those that don't know Epsom, the plan in the article gives you a flavour. The course plus its spurs is pushing 2 miles. The crowds are allowed inside the horseshoe shape so the Police/stewards will have to try and patrol a fenceline of around 4 miles - mostly open downland.

I was near the course this morning and there are no security fences in place on the open downland (for racing during covid lockdown fencing was put in but it needed planning permission from the local council and caused a lot of local protests). The course rail fencing has the usual plastic running rail but the adjoining course fencing is chain link with concrete posts - nice and easy to glue/chain protestors to.

As for the 6 hour protest outside the front of the course - the stands are parallel to the road and the paddock is actually alongside the road, squashed between the stand and the road. If the protests are noisy and adjacent/on/across the road from the paddock this could cause immense distress to the horses in all races.

On top of that the lead-up from the stables to the paddock goes past a pub and alongside what is normally a small patch of open downland that is often land used for owners, etc. parking.

There is talk that, apart from the injunction, the Jockey Club has spent £150k on security due to these 'activists' threats (only £70k spent at Aintree).

I really hope that no horse is harmed, nor any jockey injured by a stressed horse.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Have you seen Animal Rising's response to people suggesting they go to Appleby for the week? No response. They don't want to know. Not only because it isn't quite as high profile as racing but also because they know the gypsies will kick their arses to kingdom come and won't stand for any of their nonsense.

 

[MagicMelon]

I dont agree with racing, however I dont think a racehorse would get stressed by any noise from the activists given they are surely used to noisy crowds already? I do its up to the jockey club to ensure the public dont get too close to the horses for their safety. The activists IMO have a right to be there, but it is never right to cause any distress to the animals, to me that goes against the entire point that they're meant to be animal lovers. They should 100% be at places like Appleby.

 

[Gamebird]

I dont agree with racing, however I dont think a racehorse would get stressed by any noise from the activists given they are surely used to noisy crowds already?

Normally I'd say 'it depends'. Some horses are very chilled out at the races, others less so. It also depends where they've been before - Southwell on a wet Tuesday afternoon is a bit different to Cheltenham Festival, and even seasoned horses can lose it a bit at the big occasions. It can be quite intimidating being in the parade ring as a human being on a big day, never mind a horse.
However these are 3yo colts. Most have run 4 or 5 times in total - they are not old hand campaigners. One of the entries has had only two runs - at Nottingham and Doncaster. Epsom on Derby day will be a whole different world, even without protests! And the other issue is that colts at this time of year can be fairly revved to handle anyway. I'm prepared to put money on any protest near enough the horses to affect them causing them stress.

 

[humblepie]

It is an amazing interview - with all the house building going on, quite where are these wild horses, wild dogs and wild horses going to roam? Do they envisage them being managed at all, or will they be truly wild. I hate seeing foxes etc in towns scavaging out of bins - that is not the life they should be leading. Back to the racing, I hope they don't do anything that upsets the horses or causes danger to the handlers.

 

[stangs]

Normally I'd say 'it depends'. Some horses are very chilled out at the races, others less so. It also depends where they've been before - Southwell on a wet Tuesday afternoon is a bit different to Cheltenham Festival, and even seasoned horses can lose it a bit at the big occasions. It can be quite intimidating being in the parade ring as a human being on a big day, never mind a horse.
However these are 3yo colts. Most have run 4 or 5 times in total - they are not old hand campaigners. One of the entries has had only two runs - at Nottingham and Doncaster. Epsom on Derby day will be a whole different world, even without protests! And the other issue is that colts at this time of year can be fairly revved to handle anyway. I'm prepared to put money on any protest near enough the horses to affect them causing them stress.

Presumably, even if it doesn’t directly stress out the horses, it’ll upset/irritate handlers and jockeys whose emotions will then be absorbed by the horses?

They should 100% be at places like Appleby.

So you think the protestors are going to distress the racehorses but it’s fine to let them distress cobs? Appleby has its issues, but equine welfare organisations already attend and there’ll be horses there who live happier lives than your average racehorse. Nothing helpful nor productive would come about from protestors attending.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

The Jockey Club have given Animal Rising a large area out the front of the racecourse to hold their protests, speak their minds etc. 90% of race goers will have to go past them to get in.

Disrupting the horses and the racing inside the track will do nothing to further their cause. It will only alienate people against them more.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

The Jockey Club have given Animal Rising a large area out the front of the racecourse to hold their protests, speak their minds etc. 90% of race goers will have to go past them to get in.

Disrupting the horses and the racing inside the track will do nothing to further their cause. It will only alienate people against them more.

That feels like a very sensible approach.

 

[lar]

Just seen that protesters got onto the course whilst the Derby was being run! How does that square with their claim to be protecting horse welfare?

 

[Velcrobum]

Just seen that protesters got onto the course whilst the Derby was being run! How does that square with their claim to be protecting horse welfare?

Having done so is now in contempt of court which might just land him in jail...........

 

[toppedoff]

they tried to say the racing started after they got in when the video they attached was of the race already in motion before they jumped in

 

[toppedoff]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FxhGMKkXsAAIO9-?format=jpg&name=medium

 

[tristar]

my big concern about non horsey people protesting on course, is, that they have no idea how the horses are likely to react and what a truly foolish and dangerous act it is for them, the horses, the jockeys and anyone involved.

 

[Maddie Moo]

A cracking tackle by the security guard I have to say, I wonder if he plays rugby

 

[Tiddlypom]

A cracking tackle by the security guard I have to say, I wonder if he plays rugby

I thought that, too!

 

[Hackback]

I kind of think they may have achieved what they wanted anyway. The news bulletins on the radio as I was driving home just now only reported on the Derby as in 'despite the protesters ...' No mention of the actual race or who won.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

There was extra security at Hexham today too

 

[toppedoff]

listowel have protestors now, glued themselves to the fence

 

[Maddie Moo]

listowel have protestors now, glued themselves to the fence

Luckily it was a flat meet Maybe they meant to go to Tramore instead?!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

listowel have protestors now, glued themselves to the fence

Here a fluffed up fence is dead comfey! I don't blame the lads for nodding off!

 

[toppedoff]

Here a fluffed up fence is dead comfey! I don't blame the lads for nodding off!

it does look very comfortable! get a sun tan while at it - win win

 

[ycbm]

They are very stupid. Both in what they've actually done at the National and today, and in the fact that they are allowing TV commentators to write off legitimate concerns about how horses are managed by the racing industry by stating that they want cat and dog owning to stop. Idiots.
.

 

[humblepie]

Richard Hoiles is excellent with his sensible explaining and the split times for the race starting and the protestor getting on the track. I’m sure if they put a bit more glue on the protesters on the jump so they couldn’t move the horses could just jump them.

 

[gunnergundog]

Hopefully the protestors are still there.....and will be left there for some time to come. How long does the glue last that they use? 24 hours? A week? Life??

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

BTW the guys on the fence aren't protestors! They are ground staff that were supposed to be treading in divots and fell asleep on the fence

 

[humblepie]

BTW the guys on the fence aren't protestors! They are ground staff that were supposed to be treading in divots and fell asleep on the fence

Had googled and not found anything. Looks cosy

 

[reynold]

The protestors are getting their biased message across well. I watched Sky news at 11pm last night with the newspaper review. They always have 2 reviewers, usually journalists, one left-wing and one right-wing

The left-wing reviewer from the Guardian came out with a statement that 'racing is cruel' and when pushed said that yes, it should be banned.

The right-wing commentator (can't remember where from) came out with the opinion that there was a lot of money involved and that due to the money it was a sport only for the rich and so 'served no useful purpose' and so could be got rid of.

So yet again the politics of envy as per foxhunting - totally ignoring the fact that ordinary people from low and middle income backgrounds are involved and that you can have a share in a racehorse for £60 or less.

If you don't particularly like racing but compete in other horse sports/ride yourself non-competitively the time has come to bite your lip and support racing in it's fight against mis-information. If racing is ever banned then eventing, showjumping and dressage would soon follow.

 

[satinbaze]

These protestors are similar to pETA in that that don’t want any animsl to be domesticated. So no more dogs, cats, horses, cows, sheep, pigs, Guinea pigs, hamsters, goldfish etc etc

 

[Kunoichi73]

The protestors are getting their biased message across well. I watched Sky news at 11pm last night with the newspaper review. They always have 2 reviewers, usually journalists, one left-wing and one right-wing

The left-wing reviewer from the Guardian came out with a statement that 'racing is cruel' and when pushed said that yes, it should be banned.

The right-wing commentator (can't remember where from) came out with the opinion that there was a lot of money involved and that due to the money it was a sport only for the rich and so 'served no useful purpose' and so could be got rid of.

So yet again the politics of envy as per foxhunting - totally ignoring the fact that ordinary people from low and middle income backgrounds are involved and that you can have a share in a racehorse for £60 or less.

If you don't particularly like racing but compete in other horse sports/ride yourself non-competitively the time has come to bite your lip and support racing in it's fight against mis-information. If racing is ever banned then eventing, showjumping and dressage would soon follow.

I'm not commenting on the rights and wrongs of racing but I hate it when people start down the class route. I work with several people who have never say on a horse in their lives, are from working class backgrounds and go to the races regularly.

Also why should rich people not have sports they can do? Imagine the outcry if they tried to ban fishing!

 

[Peglo]

These protestors are similar to pETA in that that don’t want any animsl to be domesticated. So no more dogs, cats, horses, cows, sheep, pigs, Guinea pigs, hamsters, goldfish etc etc

I find it interesting that they are so adamant that being wild is better. How many people have cats that can come and go as they like? A few hours outside and then back inside for a sleep. They don’t choose to live wild lives even though they could. They choose the comfort and definite food they get being domesticated. I have 2 that were feral until I got them and they’ve not chosen that life again. Free range chickens are the same. They don’t wander off for a life of struggle but the options there.