Common sense should prevail and horse races held in the scorching sun in Victoria to mark the feast of Santa Marija should take place in the morning, according to the Animal Welfare Commissioner.
“Each race takes only about a minute. The animals are kept in the shade before the races, they are provided with water and cared for by their owners at all times,” Emanuel Buhagiar told this newspaper when contacted.
“However, I am still against races being held at 2.30pm in the blazing sun. Although there is no animal welfare concern, common sense should prevail and such races should be shifted to the morning hours, from 7am to 8.45am, which is a more appropriate time,” he added.
Mr Buhagiar monitors the traditional horse races held along Republic Street and also makes sure the Directorate for Animal Welfare “does its job properly”.
Last year, then-director Lawrence Buhagiar had also told this newspaper the Santa Marija animal races should be held in the early morning or late evening. He had noted that talks would be held to shift the time of the event accordingly.
As Mr Buhagiar no longer occupies the post, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Animal Rights was asked whether there would be changes in the time of the races this year. A spokesman replied saying the “competent authorities” provided guidelines to the organising committee in line with the Animal Welfare Act.
Common sense should prevail
“As in past editions, a team of professionals, including a veterinarian and animal welfare officers, will be on site to ensure that the animals’ welfare is not compromised,” the spokesman said.
The races date back to 1587 and were held to encourage people to rear horses and similar animals that could be used to defend the island during an attack. Nowadays, they are organised by the Leone Philharmonic Society and are partly-funded by the government.
When concern about the animals’ welfare was raised last year by the Animal Rights Group, Leone band club president Michael Caruana insisted that owners loved their horses as if they were their own children and the organisers monitored the riders to make sure there was no animal cruelty.
But concerns persist. The races were held on slippery tarmac at the hottest time of the day with little, if any, protective barriers to ensure public safety, Animal Rights Group spokeswoman Myriam Kirmond told this newspaper.
Ms Kirmond, who sits on the Animal Welfare Council as representative of animal NGOs, said when contacted: “The Animal Rights Group was expecting more cooperation on this issue. We asked for the relocation of the race to the Gozo race track where, at least, the equines would be running on a proper race track. This was pushed aside on grounds that it would not be the traditional racing area.
“We asked for the time to be moved to early morning or late evening and this was also rejected as it would clash with other events in the organisers’ timetable.”
NGOs were assured the Animal Welfare Department would be on site with a vet; no whips would be used; the horses would be kept in a shaded area until the races started and that they would have access to water, she added.
“We ask those attending these races to watch out for any maltreatment, even before and after the races. Photos and videos can help protect these vulnerable animals until concerns are hopefully taken seriously.”