Racehorses are being slaughtered to become sausages, Turkish jockey says

Onur Yetkin, who is among the founders of the Turkish Jockey Club, said he gave his horses, which were deemed not suitable to run in races, for free to the care of other people, who then slaughtered them.

“When I tried to find out what had happened to my six English horses, I couldn’t find them with the people I gave them to. I later learned that they were sold in order to be slaughtered to become illegal meat,” Yetkin said in a meeting with animal rights associations. 

“People who take horses from their owners to take care of them often sell the animals and they get slaughtered. Butchers also come to look at the horses but I never give the animals to them,” he added. 

Calling on both the ministry and racehorse owners, Yetkin said having a love for horses does not only mean earning money from races.

“The ones entering this sector with the hope of earning money sell the horses cheaply when they don’t win a race for a long time and when they can’t afford the food price of the horses,” he added. 

The jockey also said a farm should be built by the Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ministry for the animals that can no longer compete in races. 

“The ministry should build a farm for the racehorses that can’t run due to disabilities or old age. They could put a few kilos of grass in front of them, rather allowing the animals to become sausages or minced meat,” Yetkin said. 

He also said he is willing to give his three-year-old English racehorse, named “Babacığım,” to any person who can provide the animal with love and a warm nest.