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Letter of the Week

Image problem

 

Craig McIntosh (20/8) compares Morphettville with a high-security prison because of security staff watching for photo-taking protesters. It is not dissimilar in Victoria, where the huge presence of security staff and police at Sandown sometimes seems to outnumber patrons.

Yet the Banna Strand incident at Warrnambool was caught by a casual visitor to the track, and the image was sold to newspapers throughout the world. I imagine that there’ll be even more cameras next year if photographers see the potential for such sensational incidents.

Conversely, the shocking incident regarding Sirrocean Storm at Warrnambool (where a horse with a shattered hind leg was continually pulled to his feet) was captured by a protester.

Media chose not to print photographs of what was probably the worst incident ever seen on an Australian racetrack, but the photos (and footage) found their way into the public domain.

Mr McIntosh talks of jumps racing’s many "positive images", but there simply aren’t many.

Four jumps horses were killed at Tramore (Ireland) last week, and jumps racing in the UK is coming under heavy scrutiny. The famous Aintree track has been modified because of poor publicity resulting from the two fatalities in this year’s Grand National. In New Zealand last week, poor old Lindisfarne was killed in front of the grandstand, joining the lengthy list of horses killed there this season.

These images bring negativity because of the nature of the activity. I want racing to prosper, and there is much to salute, however jumps racing will remain a millstone, both in betting losses and negative images. Eight horses are dead in order to produce just 70 jumps races in Australia so far this season. There’s not a lot positive about that.

John Capel
Black Rock (Vic)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
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