Saving racehorses: reform or revolution?

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) is urging the public to ask whether the glamour of horseracing is worth the cruel deaths of horses every year.

According to the group's website, 125 racehorses have died on the track between August 2013 and July 2014 from catastrophic limb injury.

"Unfortunately there has been no meaningful change [in] the industry," said Communications Manager, Ward Young via email. "That is why we are calling on racegoers and punters to support our call to reform the racing industry and create a better world for horses."

The group, whose billboard of a dead horse erected by a city expressway in Melbourne was pulled down recently, said public support has been overwhelming.

CPR's billboard erected on the City Link Freeway in Melbourne October 4 2014. It was pulled down October 8 2014. Image source: CPR's Facebook page.

A spokeswoman for the Victorian RSPCA said while they acknowledged the confronting nature of the billboard, it showed " the outcome that will face many horses when they finish racing.

"We believe the industry that profits from these racehorses needs to do more for their welfare when they retire," the spokeswoman said in an email.

The industry defends its reforms and points to a retirement plan announced in July that makes it mandatory for owners to report the reason for their horse's retirement, as well as plans beyond racing.

"The data …will provide the industry with greater insight into the reasons horses retire and their activities post racing," said Caitlin Lei Sam from Racing NSW.

Ms Lei Sam said the industry can use the information to create more rehabilitation programs which would help alleviate public concern over animal welfare.

CPR accepts this as a good start, but they point out one of the retirement options is 'livestock sale.'