Throughbreds from Northern Ireland eaten?

A shocking revelation that will rock the horse race betting world has been made in the BBC’s Season Ticket programme, Bruce Steele an Equine Veterinary Surgeon believes that there is every likelihood that many Northern Irish thoroughbred horses are being shipped abroad to end up on the tables of European diners. Although this revelation is shocking to all horse race betting fans in itself, that any horse bred to participate in the sport of kings could then possible be eaten, it is also a concern that the same horses are also likely to have been treated with medication that would mean they could be unsafe for human consumption.

Any horse that has been administered drugs would need this to be recorded on their horse passport, however the report showed that this is not currently happening in many cases in Northern Ireland and that often the passport is not available for the veterinarian to complete.

It has long been acknowledged that horses are eaten – although in horse race betting circles this would cause alarm - horsemeat is not regarded as suitable for consumption in the UK market, that does not stop them being sent abroad as a food commodity to the rest of the world. There has been a huge drop in value and sales of Irish thoroughbred horses since the problems in the world economy, which is believed to be causing the new worrying trend, in fact the last year saw a drop of 44% in auction sales of thoroughbred horses. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals spokesperson said in the BBC exposé that "If an animal is very valuable, then he'll be looked after. That's where the industry has found itself now,"

It is hoped that in light of the successes enjoyed at the Cheltenham Festival by not only the Irish jockeys, who won a startling 22 out of 26 possible races, but also the undoubted success of the Irish trained horses who won nine of the prestigious races, that the market value of Irish thoroughbreds will increase, and so decrease the likelihood of this worrying situation to continue to occur. For all the many punters out there who enjoy their horse race betting lets hope this worrying and unpalatable practice will soon be eliminated.