Car dealer “Colm Quinn BMW” is being urged to stop sponsoring horse racing after horses died in its 2021 and 2022 Punchestown races.

At Punchestown on 30 April 2022, 10-year-old French horse Class Conti fell and was “fatally injured” in the “Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase”. During the race, two other horses fell and five others were pulled up, including one who weakened and had a nasal discharge

Last year at the same racecourse, 10-year-old Irish horse Monbeg Notorious suffered a broken leg in the “Colm Quinn BMW Group Handicap Chase” on 1st May 2021 and was destroyed. See race footage at https://twitter.com/banbloodsports/status/1388632457805770761

The races saw horses being whipped and ridden over fences across a 3.8 mile course, and eventually past the finishing line close to which a BMW vehicle was on display.

Horses were also seen being whipped in the €100,000 “Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap” race at Galway Racecourse on 27 July 2021 as they ran past a row of BMW banners and vehicles.

ICABS has appealed to BMW to take action to stop its brand being aligned with an activity in which horses are whipped, injured and killed. However, the company has responded to say that “our retailers undertake their sponsorship initiatives independently and we do not offer advice, control or fund this initiative”. This despite the suffering and deaths of horses in races carrying the BMW brand name.

In an appeal to Colm Quinn BMW, we highlighted the injuries and deaths at Irish and British racecourses and the growing number of race horses being sent to slaughterhouses.

ACTION ALERT

Urge Colm Quinn BMW to stop sponsoring horse racing.

Colm Quinn BMW
Tel: 090 6465888
Email: colm@colmquinnbmw.ie

Send a copy of your correspondence to BMW Ireland
customerservices@bmw.ie