Tweetstorm virtual protest planned against Durban July

FOR the past two years, animal rights activists have protested the annual running of the Durban July by marching outside the Greyville racecourse.

This year they, like the race itself, the petition will be moving online

“Our organisation and others have joined together since 2018 to protest this barbaric “sport”,” explained Carol Dillon, KwaZulu-Natal Durban representative for Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) SA.

ALSO READ:  Animal rights activists plan to protest outside Durban July

“Of course we usually protest outside the Greyville racecourse but this isn’t to be this year. The Durban July is being run online this year so of course our protest will be as well,” said Dillon.

“The protest will take place on the morning of 24 July 2020, from 10am – 12pm in the form of a tweet-storm,” explained Dillon adding that the main aim would be to raise awareness of what she described as “the horrific realities of the horse racing industry in South Africa.”

“We are hoping that people will stop seeing animals as commodities, and rather make the compassionate choice to stop funding the horse racing industry,” said Dillon.

“The protest is open to anyone with a twitter account, and against animal cruelty. BWC will supply a list of tweets people can use, to make it easier, with specific hashtags,” said Dillon.

“This event is supported and will be joined by the Australian group, Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses.”

Gold Circle responds

Our sister publication, Northglen News approached Gold Circle’s Event Marketing Executive Steve Marshall for comment.

Marshall said Gold Circle recognised the right of the protesters to stage their online picket, and said that the organisation and the Vodacom Durban July as an event were continuously mindful of the standards set for the welfare of thoroughbreds used in the horseracing industry.

“Horseracing owners and trainers are under the microscope for much of the year, and any abuse of any of these animals would not be tolerated or supported by the industry,” he said.

“ In addition to running the sport of horse racing in KwaZulu-Natal, Gold Circle also actively supports the Coastal Horse Care Unit that exists to ensure that thoroughbreds are well looked after when they reach the end of their racing days,” he added.

“Every year there is a public event around the Vodacom Durban July targeting alleged abuse of racehorses. We fully recognise the rights of these groups to stage these pickets,” he said.

ALSO READ: Vodacom Durban July rescheduled to 25 July

“Equally, we would welcome any contact with these groups when they feel they have an issue relating to allegations of unfair treatment of racehorses at any stage in the year,” Marshall concluded.

Rescued

Dillon said the organisation has gone as far as to rescue a race-horse destined for the abattoir, and who now, as of Sunday, lives at a sanctuary. “Montana Jewel wasn’t a winning horse, so as far as the owners were concerned, not worth the upkeep,” she explained.

“Racehorses have roughly 3 years as a racer, although they live into their 20s.”

Dillon said the point at which racehorses are retired and what happens afterwards is the side of the sport the public don’t see.

“The public only see the glitz and the glamour and the impeccably kept horses. Once they are no longer winning favourites, terrible things can happen to these wonderful creatures,” she said.

Online protest

“An online protest can reach far more people than a physical protest and is our only option during the lockdown,” said Dillon. “The protest is to make people aware of the abuse that animals endure whenever money is involved.”

Dillon also took pains to point out that their protest was only against cruelty.

“This is not an anti-gambling protest, but a protest against the use of animals for entertainment,” she explained.

People can visit the BWC Facebook page at https://business.facebook.com/BeautyWithoutCrueltySA/ where an event has been set up, and any queries can be sent to toni@bwcsa.co.za. 

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