FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2019; 9(5); 276; doi: 10.3390/ani9050276

Responding to Risk: Regulation or Prohibition? New Zealand Media Reporting of Thoroughbred Jumps Racing 2016-2018.

Abstract: Jumps racing involves a higher risk of accident and fatality than flat racing. The wide accessibility of media, combined with alternate views regarding the place of animals in society, raises the question of the acceptability of the continuation of jumps racing. Racing data and media articles from Newztext and Google news search were collected for the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 jumps racing seasons, during which the fatality rate was 5.8 per 1000 starters. Jumps racing articles comprised 3.4% of all race reporting, and the volume of discussion about jumps racing was minimal (2.9% of jumps race articles related to the continuation of jumps racing), short-lived and related to horse fatalities. Articles were categorised and analysed using rhetorical analysis to determine the main arguments. The inherent risk posed by jumps racing to the horse formed a basis for two argumentative positions. Proponents of jumps racing argued that risks were reasonable, with risk minimisation measures best determined by expertise and care from within the racing industry, labelling opponents as naïve extremists. Opponents of jumps racing used anthropomorphism of the horse to argue that any risk was unacceptable and jumps racing should be banned. Horses were attributed with rights, and from this perspective, the racing industry exploited horses for entertainment. These two different arguments were used to shape claims for and against the continuation of jumps racing, allowing both to be built upon a shared acceptance of inherent risk.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2019-05-24 PubMed ID: 31137709PubMed Central: PMC6562469DOI: 10.3390/ani9050276Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper explores media reporting around thoroughbred jumps racing in New Zealand between 2016 and 2018. It reviews the debates on whether this type of horse racing poses unreasonable risk to the animals involved.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers collected racing data and media articles during the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 jumps racing seasons.
  • The media sources included Newztext and Google News search.
  • The fatality rate during these seasons was 5.8 per 1000 starters.
  • The study found that jumps racing constituted only 3.4% of all race reporting.
  • The media coverage that discussed the continuation of jumps racing was minimal, with only 2.9% of all articles.
  • The researchers then conducted a rhetorical analysis to identify and categorize the key arguments presented in these articles.

Key Findings

  • Most of the media discussion around jumps racing was triggered by incidents of horse fatalities.
  • There were two primary argumentative stances found in the media: one advocating for jumps racing and the other against.
  • Supporters of jumps racing believed that the risks were acceptable and should be managed through expert care within the racing industry. These supporters called their opponents naïve extremists.
  • On the other hand, opponents used anthropomorphism to look from the horses’ perspective. They argued that any risk was unacceptable and that the sport should be outlawed.
  • A common rhetoric from opponents was that horses have rights and the racing industry was exploiting these animals for entertainment.
  • The researchers noted that both arguments accepted the inherent risk associated with jumps racing. The disagreement lay in how the risk should be approached – whether to regulate or to prohibit.

Cite This Article

APA
Legg KA, Breheny M, Gee EK, Rogers CW. (2019). Responding to Risk: Regulation or Prohibition? New Zealand Media Reporting of Thoroughbred Jumps Racing 2016-2018. Animals (Basel), 9(5), 276. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9050276

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
PII: 276

Researcher Affiliations

Legg, Kylie A
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand. K.Legg@massey.ac.nz.
Breheny, Mary
  • School of Health Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand. M.R.Breheny@massey.ac.nz.
Gee, Erica K
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand. E.K.Gee@massey.ac.nz.
Rogers, Chris W
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand. C.W.Rogers@massey.ac.nz.

Grant Funding

  • 1/2016 & 9/2017 / New Zealand Equine Trust

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

References

This article includes 41 references
  1. McManus P, Albrecht G, Graham R. The Global Horseracing Industry. Social, Economic, Environmental and Ethical Perspectives.. .
  2. McManus P, Graham R, Ruse K. The construction of human-animal relations: National Jumps Day 2013 at Te Rapa, Hamilton, New Zealand.. N. Z. Geog. 2014;70:190–200.
    doi: 10.1111/nzg.12068google scholar: lookup
  3. Bolwell C.F., Rogers C.W., Gee E.K., Rosanowski S.M.. Descriptive statistics and the pattern of horse racing in New Zealand. 1. Thoroughbred racing.. Animal Prod. Sci. 2016;56:77–81.
    doi: 10.1071/AN13442google scholar: lookup
  4. IER Size and Scope of the New Zealand Racing Industry New Zealand Racing Board. [(accessed on 15 February 2019)];2018 Available online: https://www.nzrb.co.nz/nz-racing-size-and-scope-ier-report-2018.
  5. Hitchens PL, Blizzard CL, Jones G, Day LM, Fell J. The incidence of race-day jockey falls in Australia, 2002-2006.. Med J Aust 2009 Jan 19;190(2):83-6.
    pubmed: 19236295doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02284.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  6. Williams RB, Harkins LS, Hammond CJ, Wood JL. Racehorse injuries, clinical problems and fatalities recorded on British racecourses from flat racing and National Hunt racing during 1996, 1997 and 1998.. Equine Vet J 2001 Sep;33(5):478-86.
    doi: 10.2746/042516401776254808pubmed: 11558743google scholar: lookup
  7. Boden LA, Anderson GA, Charles JA, Morgan KL, Morton JM, Parkin TD, Slocombe RF, Clarke AF. Risk of fatality and causes of death of Thoroughbred horses associated with racing in Victoria, Australia: 1989-2004.. Equine Vet J 2006 Jul;38(4):312-8.
    doi: 10.2746/042516406777749182pubmed: 16866197google scholar: lookup
  8. Georgopoulos SP, Parkin TD. Risk factors associated with fatal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses competing in flat racing in the United States and Canada.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2016 Oct 15;249(8):931-939.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.249.8.931pubmed: 27700272google scholar: lookup
  9. Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KLP. Risk factors for race-day fatality in flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000 to 2013).. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194299.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194299pmc: PMC5862470pubmed: 29561898google scholar: lookup
  10. McKee S. An update on racing fatalities in the UK.. Equine Vet. Educ. 1995;7:202–204.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.1995.tb01225.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  11. Ruse K, Davison A, Bridle K. Jump Horse Safety: Reconciling Public Debate and Australian Thoroughbred Jump Racing Data, 2012-2014.. Animals (Basel) 2015 Oct 22;5(4):1072-91.
    doi: 10.3390/ani5040399pmc: PMC4693203pubmed: 26506396google scholar: lookup
  12. BHA . British Horseracing Authority; [(accessed on 15 May 2019)]. Making Horseracing Safer. Available online: https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/making-horseracing-safer/2019.
  13. McManus P, Montoya D. Toward new understandings of human–animal relationships in sport: A study of Australian jumps racing.. Soc. Cult. Geog. 2012;13:399–420.
    doi: 10.1080/14649365.2012.688852google scholar: lookup
  14. Graham R, McManus P. Changing Human-Animal Relationships in Sport: An Analysis of the UK and Australian Horse Racing Whips Debates.. Animals (Basel) 2016 May 3;6(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani6050032pmc: PMC4880849pubmed: 27153097google scholar: lookup
  15. Owens R. Equestrian sport and the concept of a social license. [(accessed on 15 May 2019)];2017 FEI General Assembly: Presentation. Available online: https://inside.fei.org/system/files/GA17_World_Horse_Welfare_PPT.pdf.
  16. The Guardian . The Guardian; [(accessed on 15 May 2019)]. Praise and Criticism for BHA as MPs debate equine welfare regulator. Available online: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/oct/15/praise-criticism-bha-mps-debate-equine-welfare-regulator.
  17. Crawford L, Breheny M, Mansvelt J, Hill S. ‘Broad consensus across the divide’: Rhetorical constructions of climate change in mainstream news media.. Kōtuitui: N. Z. J. Soc. Sci. Online. 2018.
    doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2018.1503605google scholar: lookup
  18. Nielsen National Readership Survey Q3 2013–Q2 2014 Newspaper Comparatives. [(accessed on 20 February 2019)]; Available online: https://www.nielsen.com/nz/en/press-room/2014/newspaper-and-magazine-readership-q2-2014.html.
  19. Fahy B. Idealog; [(accessed on 20 February 2019)]. Readership, Circulation Face off as lAtest Media Stats Released. Available online: http://www.idealog.co.nz/news/2011/08/readership-circulation-face-latest-media-stats-rel.
  20. HorizonPoll Fairfax has Other New Zealand Media Sites Well St￭. [(accessed on 20 February 2019)]; Available online: www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/145/fairfax-has-
  21. Billig M. Ideology and Opinions: Studies in Rhetorical Psychology.. .
  22. Winton S. Rhetorical Analysis in Critical Policy Research.. Int. J. Qual. Stud. Educ. 2013;26:158–177.
    doi: 10.1080/09518398.2012.666288google scholar: lookup
  23. Walters L. Tragic Raceday Ends in Three Horses Being Euthanised.. Stuff News 2016 Jun 8.
  24. Williams A. Revamped Racecourse to Reopen.. The Timaru Herald 2018 Mar 8.
  25. Herald N. Unity Focus, Big Future of Code—Minister.. Hawkes Bay Today 2017 Jul 21.
  26. Ryan T. Renewed Call for Jumps Racing Ban after Three More Horse Deaths.. Stuff News 2016 Aug 29.
  27. SAFE. Three NZ Horses Dead in Single Day of Racing.. Scoop News 2016 Jun 8.
  28. SAFE. Three Horses Dead from Jumps Races in Three Weeks.. Scoop News 2016 Aug 29.
  29. Kermeen M. Weighty Issue in Winter. Manawatu Standard 2017 Aug 5.
  30. Singh A. Horses Live Regal Life, ‘Better than Some Kids’.. Hawkes Bay Today 2017 Jul 3.
  31. AAP. Kiwi Horse Euthanased after Suffering Horrendous Leg Injury in Jumping Race.. Stuff News 2017 Apr 15.
  32. Buckleton O. Death of Jump-Racing Horses ‘Unacceptable’.. NZ Herald 2017 Aug 29.
  33. Kyle S. Rest in Peace, Regal Monarch—We Will Not Forget You.. Scoop News 2017 Nov 9.
  34. Herald N. Will Industry Bow to Public Perception.. NZ Herald 2017 Jan 10.
  35. Hill B. Calls for sTeeplechase Racing to be Banned after Three Horses Die in Four Races.. NZ Herald 2016 Jun 8.
  36. Age T. Racing Leader Hits Back at Minister.. The Timaru Herald 2017 Apr 20.
  37. Boehm J, Kayser M, Spiller A. Two sides of the same coin? Analysis of the web-based social media with regard to the image of the agri-food sector in Germany.. Int. J. Food Syst. Dyn. 2010;3:264–278.
  38. Howe D. Sport, Professionalism and Pain. Ethnographies of Injury and Risk.. .
  39. Regan T. A case for animal rights.. 1986;pp. 179–189.
  40. Schuurman N. Blogging situated emotions in human–horse relationships.. Emot. Space Soc. 2014;13:1–8.
    doi: 10.1016/j.emospa.2014.08.002google scholar: lookup
  41. Convery I, Bailey C, Mort M, Baxter J. Death in the wrong place? Emotional geographies of the UK 2001 foot and mouth disease epidemic.. J. Rural Stud. 2005;21:99–109.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2004.10.003google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Legg KA, Gee EK, Breheny M, Gibson MJ, Rogers CW. A Bioeconomic Model for the Thoroughbred Racing Industry-Optimisation of the Production Cycle with a Horse Centric Welfare Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 30;13(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13030479pubmed: 36766368google scholar: lookup
  2. Fiedler JM, Ayre ML, Rosanowski S, Slater JD. Horse Sector Participants' Attitudes towards Anthropomorphism and Animal Welfare and Wellbeing. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 26;14(17).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14172482pubmed: 39272267google scholar: lookup
  3. Jeppesen A, Eyers R, Evans D, Ward MP, Quain A. Comparison of Reported Fatalities, Falls and Injuries in Thoroughbred Horse Jumps and Flat Races in the 2022 and 2023 Jumps Race Seasons in Victoria, Australia. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 5;14(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14050804pubmed: 38473189google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.