Do you know how many horses have died at the Cheltenham Festival since 2000? As many as 76 animals. That's more than three per year.
Horses are raced to the death so that jockeys can collect prize money and spectators can experience a few seconds of fleeting excitement. Horses are not servants, athletes, or willing participants in this race. Help PETA end this cruel waste of life – urge these companies to stop sponsoring the Cheltenham Festival.
At the Cheltenham Festival, skittish horses are forced to run over three miles at breakneck speeds while tackling 22 huge fences. The course is designed to be difficult to draw in the crowds.
Horses pushed to race may suffer from heart attacks, bleed from their lungs, or develop painful ulcers. At the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, 8-year-old Malinello died from injuries sustained after hitting the 16th fence and falling. Four horses were euthanised at the 2022 event after incurring serious injuries.
According to Race Horse Death Watch, over 2,500 horses have died in UK horse racing events since 2007 – and that's just on the course itself. Horses who can't run fast enough are often discarded like used betting slips – handed over to rescue charities, left to languish in fields, shot at stables, or sold for slaughter.
Nobody should want to be associated with such cruelty. A number of companies have already dropped their Cheltenham Festival sponsorship after hearing from PETA. Please help us encourage other sponsors to take the same step for animals.
Dear Mr. Steve West, Mr. Justin Bowman, Mr. Michael D Hankin, Mr. Scott Dodds, and Mr. Nigel Rigby,
I was shocked to learn of your company's involvement with the Cheltenham Festival, and I implore you to end your sponsorship.
Since 2000, 76 horses have died at the Cheltenham Festival – that's more than three per year.
The course is designed to be difficult to draw in the crowds. Skittish horses are forced to run over three miles at breakneck speeds while tackling 22 huge fences.
Horses may suffer from heart attacks, bleed from their lungs, or develop painful ulcers. At the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, 8-year-old Malinello died from injuries sustained after hitting the 16th fence and falling. Four horses were euthanised at the 2022 event after incurring serious injuries. Many of those who survive the race are killed off the track. BBC Panorama's The Dark Side of Horse Racing revealed that thousands of ex-racing horses from the UK and Ireland were sent to abattoirs every year.
Horses are raced to their deaths so that trainers can collect prize money and spectators can place bets for a few seconds of fleeting excitement.
Please use your power and influence to help end your company's sponsorship of the Cheltenham Festival.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
[Name]
