DEUTSCH - FRANÇAIS - ITALIANO

Ox races take place every year in three villages in Molise (Portocannone, San Martino in Pensilis, Ururi) and one village in Apulia (Chieuti). You can see a video of  the start of the 2018 race in Chieuti here and in the above frame.

In order to launch an ox into a breathless run, you need to beat and goad it, and goads are tipped with a metal spike. Oxen are forcefully beaten with these goads to give them pain and push them to frantic speeds – recently the press talked about electrical goads too.

Footage of the races clearly shows the beatings inflicted on the oxen. Here, for instance, is a newscast passage from local TV Tele Norba about the 2015 race in Chieuti:

“Unhorsed jockeys, exhausted animals and occasional spectators needing medical care, mostly because of fright. This year’s edition of the Chieuti ox race did not miss anything. Luckily, there was no serious consequence for either people or animals. The ‘Collefinocchio Vaccareccia’ contrada (a traditional village quarter and club) dominated the race, which winds along a 3-mile course starting from the countryside. Collefinocchio Vaccareccia won, as it did last year, second place for Giovanissimi – the third contrada of the village – while the Collefinocchio San Vito cart scored last. Much against their will, the latter suffered an accident. An ox got utterly stuck in the asphalt, exhausted with fatigue. Upon that, two more carts arrived. Luckily, there was no collision but a fight started among rowdy jockeys. After a short commotion, the situation was back to normal… “

Here you can find the video; at 30’’, you can see the ox collapsing with the goad stuck in its body.

RELIGIOUS REFERENCE AND THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

All these races are run to honour Christian Saints and the Virgin Mary, as you can read in www.corsabuoi.org We regret to have to acknowledge support to these traditions by the Bishop of Termoli Larino, monsignor Gianfranco de Luca, as you can see in the following articles. The first article followed confiscation of carts for animal doping and abuse in 2015, and the second followed a stop to the races as a safety measure this year.

A PECULIAR KIND OF LOVE

In reply to our protest, Carresi supporters affirm that they “love” their oxen; however, their love appears to be the same sentiment some people have for their cars, simply because they can strut on them. Just read what Carrieri (cart people) form Ururi published on their website.

“We lost. Let’s face it. We lost a competition we thought we would win. The clearest reason is the performance of Diamante who, like a true champion, led us to the village despite the excruciating pain he endured from the first yards of the race to the very end. Our Cart was dignified in defeat. Our crew held on until the finish line adapting our race strategy to changing circumstances. We met defeat as winners meet victory. Diamante’s superhuman effort mirrors the sacrifice of our scanty group of boys and men who worked all year long."

The excruciating pain he endured? The superhuman effort from the first yards of the race to the very end? Do you realize what this means? If you walk with your dog and see it is limping and suffering, do you let it go on walking? This shows what kind of love Carrieri have for their oxen!

THE RACES AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS

 The Regione Molise administration strongly supported the races and repeatedly protected them with regional laws; proof of this is that its president, Mr. Toma, hurried to express solidarity to the San Martino in Pensilis municipality when the 2018 race was banned – to ensure safety not to prevent animals from being abused. Carresi fans did not welcome the measure heartily, as you can see here.

The Regione Puglia administration has not yet endorsed its one and only Carrese (to avoid incurring in the current animal abuse law), but it could do it soon, according to local sources.

THE MINISTRY OF CULTURAL HERITAGE 

Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage acknowledged the Molise races as particularly important cultural-historical and ethno-anthropological assets pursuant to articles 7-bis, 10 and 12 of “Codice dei beni culturali e del paesaggio” (heritage conservation act; under Legislative Decree 42 - 22 January 2004). The races were acknowledged as an “expression of collective cultural identity”.

Well, can you see anything cultural in bludgeoning and goading a living being that is an epitome of meekness just to make it run?

PLEASE WRITE!

Let us inform the Bishops of the dioceses involved, Pope Francis, the presidents of Regione Molise and Regione Puglia, and the Minister of Cultural Heritage that bludgeoning and prodding oxen with spiked goads:

• has nothing cultural to it, and that its only historical pertinence is that it should belong to the past.
• this cannot in any way be related with Christian values and the honouring of Christian Saints and the Virgin Mary;
• it provokes outrage and reprobation in all people who have a little sensibility, and negatively affects their opinion of the Church, the administrations of both Regioni and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.

PLEASE, SPREAD THIS APPEAL AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

On www.corsabuoi.org you can find further information and ways to spread the protest. If you want contact us, write to: notiziario@animalitalia.it