AXA is being urged to stop supporting horse racing after it emerged that a horse suffered a broken pelvis and was killed in a race sponsored by the insurance company.
It has come to light that 10-year-old horse Yanworth sustained the fatal injury in the €75,000 3-mile "AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National Handicap Chase" at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 10 July 2020.
Despite the fatality, AXA chose to again sponsor racing at Kilbeggan last year, i.e. the €75,000 “AXA Smart Farm Insurance Midlands National Handicap Chase” on 9 July 2021. In a separate race there on the same day, Irish horse Penny Candle “weakened” and finished tenth. It was to be her final race - some months later, Horse Racing Ireland confirmed that she was dead.
AXA was subsequently urged to “show compassion for the horses and end your support for racing”.
AXA not only disregarded that appeal but decided to substantially increase its sponsorship this year. On 8 July 2022, Kilbeggan Racecourse hosted the €100,000 “AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National Handicap Chase”. In that race, three horses were pulled up, including one who was “found to be lame on his left fore [leg] post-race”.
Quoted in Agriland ahead of the race, AXA’s “Head of Agriculture” commented: “AXA Farm Insurance is delighted to continue sponsorship of the Midlands National [race] for the fourth year. The Midlands National is a very important event for our business as it provides us with the opportunity to engage with our customers at our local racecourse on their biggest race meeting of their season.” https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/axa-farm-insurance-increases-sponsorship-of-midlands-national/
In a renewed appeal to AXA to end its sponsorship at Kilbeggan Racecourse, the company has this month been told that at least 11 horses have died during or following races at the racecourse in the past two years alone (see list below).
The horses who have died at Kilbeggan Racecourse are among many victims of horse racing. Horse Racing Ireland statistics show that since 2012, over 1,300 horses died in racing here. They were killed by lethal injection or shot in the head.
Many more are killed at slaughterhouses. Shocking figures reveal that from 2016 to-date, a total of 13,484 thoroughbred horses were slaughtered in Ireland. The details came to light further to Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Agriculture.
Thousands more have been exported to the UK for slaughter – as revealed in the disturbing BBC documentary “The Dark Side of Horse Racing” which showed horses being shot in the head https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlpQhJFd5Bo
ACTION ALERT
Urge AXA to stop sponsoring horse racing at Kilbeggan Racecourse
Philip Bradley
CEO, AXA Insurance Ireland
Email: philip.bradley@axa.ie
Phone AXA: 0818 505 505
Horses confirmed dead following races at Kilbeggan Racecourse
Confirmed DEAD: 7 year-old Irish horse Profound who “broke down” during the “Mahon Hospitality Group New York Handicap Hurdle” race at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 6 August 2022.
Confirmed DEAD: 4-year-old Irish horse Paperman who finished second last in a race at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 6 August 2022.
Confirmed DEAD: 5-year-old British horse Inductive who fell and was “fatally injured” at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 13 May 2022.
Confirmed DEAD: 5-year-old Irish horse The Waltzer who finished second in a race at Kilbeggan racecourse on 22 April 2022.
Confirmed DEAD: 6-year-old Fredastare who “looked to go wrong” at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 3 September 2021 during the “Belvedere House, Gardens & Park Handicap Hurdle” race
https://twitter.com/watch_welfare/status/1433867037386940423 Animal Aid reported that the horse “Broke Down After Jumping Hurdle”.
Confirmed DEAD: 4-year-old Irish horse Avondale Smiles who “looked to go wrong” during a Belvedere House-sponsored race at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 3 September 2021. Animal Aid reported that the horse was “fatally injured” in the race.
Confirmed DEAD: 6-year-old British horse Narynkol who was last used in racing at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 7 August 2021 According to the Racing Post, “a vet reported the animal to be lame on its right fore leg post race”.
Confirmed DEAD (in November 2021): 5-year-old Irish horse Penny Candle who “weakened” during a race at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 9 July 2021.
Confirmed DEAD: 5-year-old Trot On fell and was fatally injured during a 2-mile race at Kilbeggan racecourse on 6 June 2021.
Confirmed DEAD: 6-year-old Irish horse Monvour who suffered a tendon injury at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 14 May 2021 and was destroyed.
Confirmed DEAD: 10-year-old British horse Yanworth who suffered a fatal injury in the 3-mile "AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National Handicap Chase" at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 10 July 2020. Jockey - Mark Walsh. Owner: John P McManus. The Racing Post reported that Yanworth "died at the age of ten after suffering a broken pelvis at Kilbeggan".