With the attention of Australia firmly fixed on the race track last week after Regal Monarch had to be euthanised after falling at Flemington (taking the horse death toll to almost 150 since July 2016), the actions of one jockey shocked the nation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dylan Caboche dismounted his horse She's Reneldasgirl and punched her in the ribs.
Unluckily for him, he was caught on camera.
Mr Caboche was handed a paltry two-week suspension from racing. He should be banned from racing for life.
In Mr Caboche's public statement, he apologised to the owners, his fellow jockeys, the racing body and the wider community in general.
But what about the poor horse whom he punched, then whipped mercilessly down the track?
This is an industry in which the welfare of animals always comes second to their profitability.
Whipping, and in this case punching, are just the most visible forms of abuse to which horses are subjected. Many also suffer from stomach ulcers, blood in their lungs and bone fractures which are masked by medication but never allowed time enough to heal.
Horse racing abuse should be ended now, and so should Mr Caboche’s career.
It is a fact that horses in the racing industry are already exposed to a great many dangers. Jockeys who can’t control their anger shouldn’t be one of them.
Laura Weyman-Jones, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Where did the ‘war’ go?
Recently I learned that Murray Goulburn sold Key-wuh milk, a pronunciation created a few years ago by a newcomer to Goulburn Murray Water, who didn’t know how to pronounce Kiewa.
I happened to attend a meeting at which he spoke, saying Key-wuh all the time.
At the conclusion of the meeting, I approached him and asked where he got his pronunciation from.
He told me what I said above.
So where does that sale of Murray Goulburn leave Key-war milk, the milk we oldies have drunk and enjoyed all our lives?
When our ancestors – the first white settlers in North East Victoria – arrived, over 160 years ago, they adopted the pronunciation they heard from the Aboriginal residents of the area.
That was Key-war, with the emphasis on the Key, and that was the name we grew up with and expect to continue to use.
Our family surname was Barber and there are plenty of our descendants still around.
P.L. Strachan, Thurgoona
Great event, great region
On the weekend of November 4 and 5, Albury-Wodonga Panthers Cycling Club ran a brand new three-race tour.
About 60 competitors in the inaugural event over four grades each raced a road race at Ettamogah, a time trial in Wodonga, and a circuit race at Wodonga TAFE's Barnawartha campus.
It was an excellent cycling event, and enabled a number of people to enjoy the roads of this great region.
We want to thank Wodonga and Albury councils, the local police, Wodonga TAFE, and all who contributed to this event.
We hope to see you next year with something even better.