SOURCE: news1130.com
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Vancouver Humane Society is calling for a stop to the chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede after a horse died in a training exercise today. Peter Fricker with the animal rights group is urging organizers to have a fundamental review done by equine experts, suspend the race or at least consider some changes.
“They could look at the type of horses that are used in this race. At the moment they are using ex-thoroughbred race horses and it’s possible that that kind of horse is not suited for this kind of race. Or there’s something wrong with the horses that they choose to run in that race because this just keeps happening…they need to suspend this race.”
Other suggestions include reducing the number of teams in each heat or decrease the number of horses. Fricker admits the Calgary Stampede has made some improvements but more needs to be done. As he argues, more than 60 horses have died in the chuckwagon races since 1986.
“The changes that Stampede has made to safety at the chuckwagon races, hasn’t gone far enough. Animals keep dying every year at the Stampede.”
A post mortem review indicates “Denny” the 12-year-old thoroughbred died of an aneurysm. Also, a chuckwagon driver was sent to the hospital after a separate training accident.
Categories: Horse News
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
from the Vancouver animal Defense
http://earthfirstjournal.org/newswire/2014/07/05/stampede-lockdown-at-calgary-chuckwagon-races
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and this is an accident just waiting to happen
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How many more horses are going to die, this abuse needs to stop and NOW!!
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These people are simpletons….they just keep killing horses.
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I think our horses have noe suffered at the hands of animal abusers, how longer before we take a stand?????????????????????????
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sorry have suffered enough
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I would not put my horses in this race, lets face it, horses have died.
I think to much of my animals to do this to them.
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Without weighing in on the virtues and vices of racing, or the pedigrees of those involved (human and equine) I have often thought all racing would be far far safer if it could be conducted in a straight line only, as the QH short races are. No need to jockey for positions on the turns would be needed, and if the goal is to find the fastest runners, a straight line race is the only way to answer that question. Think of Olympic swimmers for example, who are separated into lanes and there is no advantage in any position, only a fair challenge of those entered. Why can’t we modify horse racing events to do this? I understand about pleasing the crowd but honestly, if the starts are fair and there is no strategic positioning involved, the only place people will want to be is at the finish line anyway.
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