Racehorse safety review called after four deaths

Calgary Stampede officials said they are not proud that four horses died during the 2015 event and are calling for animal safety protocol to go under review.

The latest animal death happened during a race during the final Sunday night when the horse tore a ligament without any contact with other horses.

The Stampede’s resident veterinarian had said there is no successful treatment for the common racehorse injury so the animal had to be put down.

Kurt Kadatz, Director of Corporate Communications with the Calgary Stampede, said the organization has taken a few steps back in animal safety after seeing one horse death in each of the past two years.

He said officials are going to look at what they can do differently going forward.

Tom Barrow, the head of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association, welcomes any and all reviews, which he says are conducted annually.

In Calgary, he says they have the Fit to Compete program where the horses are all inspected to ensure they are sound and fit to race.

According to Barrow, they are also involved in a tracing program to determine how much the horses are on the track.

The Association has a Code of Care that is in place to make sure that their drivers treat their animals appropriately and that they’re educated on how to transport and care for their horses.

He says the tracks are also regularly inspected by chuckwagon racing legend Buddy Bensmiller to ensure they are in top shape, fair for competition and safe for the horses.

Barrow told 660News, any time there is an accident at the Rangeland Derby, it is hard for the chuckwagon community.

“I want people to know that our drivers take their safety and the safety of their horses very seriously and we work very hard to try to ensure that the sport is as safe as possible,” Barrow said.

For those who criticise the chucks, Barrow says, the industry has a code of safety and members are very vigilant about adhering to it.

He said the sport gives race horses a second lease on life with many of the animals living into their teens and sometimes into their twenties.

Barrow says the animals themselves are rescued from the horse-racing industry and likely would not have had a future at all.

“Many last well beyond what would have been useful on the horse-racing track and we’ve given them a great life. They’re treated as well as any professional athlete, they’re given the best food, the best exercise, they’re loved by their chuckwagon family.”

He says the horses have racing in their blood and most can not be used as regular riding horses.

Barrow, a former Calgary police homicide detective, took over as General Manager of the WPCA this year.

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