As the summer of sport creeps onwards, protestors have been a constant presence across all major events, from Animal Rising at the Grand National and the Derby to Just Stop Oil at the Ashes and Wimbledon.
The high-profile nature of the sporting events chosen has led to some of the protestors’ views being platformed on media channels – often without another side invited to join the debate.
More dangerous than espousing unchallenged views on the news, however, is the misinformation put out on social media. In recent months, incorrect information has been tweeted and retweeted into an echo chamber of followers who accept that the people leading the movement are presenting factually accurate criticisms.
At one end of the scale, it’s been almost comical; for example, confusing two horses to claim an elderly pony in a sanctuary was a ‘rescued racehorse’. At the other, it’s concerningly cynical: Animal Rising accused the Jockey Club and Epsom Racecourse of knowing a protestor was on the course and still dangerously allowing the Derby to begin – completely rewriting the narrative of what actually occurred. In fact, the protestor running on to the course after the race had started was captured in Animal Rising’s own gleefully tweeted video, the Epsom big screen clearly showing the race in-running behind the protestor as he made a move onto the track.
Although it can be comical to point out the movement’s ‘mistakes’, it should also be disturbing to all involved in horse racing: the example of the social media in the wake of the Derby disruption points to a willingness to twist a story to nearly thirty thousand followers (on Twitter alone) to suit the movement’s narrative about the racing industry.
The industry itself has a history of being disjointed in its responses to these things – but the increasing voice given to protestors in the media has galvanised action. Sally Ann Grassick, Kevin Blake, Caoimhe Doherty and Cathy Grassick, frustrated by the lack of an official independent spokesperson or body in place as a ‘go-to’ media contact to dispel myths and present the facts, have created Stand Up For Racing. The organisation does what it says on the tin – stands up for and protects the sport in the media and online.
“We believe everyone has a right to peaceful protest and have no issue with Animal Rising doing so outside racecourses”, Sally Ann Grassick tells First past the post. “We will never persuade everyone to think the way we think and it is their right to protest. But the problems arise when they start to disrupt a race day by going onto the track, putting the lives of the animals, trainers, stable staff, security staff and more at risk. Anything that puts horses and the people surrounding them in danger or increases the tension on them is to be avoided.”
Stand Up For Racing is aiming to create a cross-industry united front, working with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and creating a Europe-wide website to answer a lot of questions the general public has about the sport. It will also work to correct some of the misinformation being spread, making available downloadable graphics that the public can use on social media to rectify misconceptions and falsehoods.
“We want to make our sport as open and transparent as possible”, explains Grassick. “There will be plenty of content on the website from people across the sport to explain the things that the public might have questions about. Meanwhile, the BHA has been creating days for the non-racing media to come to racing yards, stud farms and race meetings. The behind-the-scenes elements of racing need to be open to people. There is no excuse for the media not to have a balanced debate when we keep those lines of communication open.”
She emphasises that racing is constantly changing and improving to make the sport safer for the horses and the people involved – and that there is commitment to self-evaluation and evolution, especially as the industry tries to attract a younger audience.
At the same time, however, she notes that Animal Rising has no clear view for the future in their ‘ideal’ world, unable to answer what should be done with thoroughbred horses if racing is stopped and how the logistics of their end goal of releasing domesticated animals into the wild could possibly work sustainably. “The concept of creating a vegan world through rewilding 70% of agricultural land has no practicality behind it”, Grassick explains. “The movement cannot actually answer how they would rewild the land and also have enough tillage to feed a nation on a plant-based diet. Right now, they are simply piggybacking on the national media coverage that racing receives.”
A united voice is vital to penetrate this smokescreen and be meaningfully involved in the dialogue. Thankfully, the racing industry has united swiftly and positively behind Stand Up For Racing.
“Everyone in the industry is putting forward their ambassadors and working very closely with us”, says Grassick. “It’s been unbelievable – we’ve had reaction from trainers, jockeys, breeders, vets, racing journalists and content creators – people across the industry want to be involved. The BHA has the resources help us do this and drive the united but independent voice of Stand Up For Racing. The reaction from the industry has blown us away.”
Stand Up For Racing now hopes to have the website fully functional and usable by the start of 2024. For now, the voices of four people are bringing increasing numbers of people together and getting ever stronger in a clear, factual and independent defence of the sport.
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