Hakol Chai Files a Complaint against a Racetrack in the Gilboa Region

Ynet (Online Edition of Yedioth Ahronoth)

27 September 2006, Tel Aviv

Translated from Hebrew

Hakol Chai filed a complaint with the Afula Police against the operators of a racetrack to be launched during the Succot holiday. Simultaneously, Member of Knesset (MK) Yoel Hasson demanded that the Legal Advisor to the Government open a criminal investigation. "The racetrack is illegal as regards planning and construction, and immoral as regards cruelty to animals," say Hakol Chai activists. The Regional Council of Gilboa, which initiated the racetrack project, refused to comment.

The planned racecourse.    Photo: Hakol Chai

Hakol Chai today filed a complaint with the Afula Police against a temporary racetrack built on land belonging to the Regional Council of Gilboa, which initiated the project. Simultaneously, MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima party) sent a letter to the Legal Advisor of the Government, demanding that a criminal investigation be launched.

"The work carried out to build the racetrack, as well as its planned multi-participant launch during Succot, are illegal as regards planning and construction, and immoral as regards cruelty to animals" said Hakol Chai Director, Yadin Elam. "Hakol Chai discovered that work is being carried out at the site, including leveling of land, paving of roads, erecting fences, etc. without construction permits. This work is actively carried out in preparation for the launch function, which also has no legal authorization."

"Israel Races — a unique happening for the entire family, which includes horse racing and a variety of activities and attractions, will hit the road at the new Gilboa racetrack!" This announcement was released to the press by the project's public relations officials. "Succot 2006 will be interesting, in particular, with the launching of the racetrack that allows Israelis to see proper and formal horse races." They also entice the public by saying "The site features a decorated VIP area with a perfect observation point for the races, offering gourmet catering and quality drinks." They promise that "the event is fully secured by the police and the security forces, and that it will also include a spectacular performance by children with flags," referring to a site that, as of this morning, is still inactive.

"Children's banner performance?" asks Elam. "We received a letter in which the Council invites children to attend rehearsals for the launch ceremony during regular school hours, which violates Ministry of Education regulations. As a result of this letter, we appealed to Education Minister, Yuli Tamir. We also appealed to Minister of Internal Security, Avi Dichter, with a request that the police not issue a permit for this function. We appealed to Environment Minister, Gideon Ezra, warning that racetrack organizers do not have the proper construction permits. We discovered that they plan to build a temporary pedestrian bridge across Hakishon. For me, this is a sad reminder of the tragedy that followed the construction of a temporary bridge for the Maccabi games." [During this international Jewish athletic event, a temporary bridge collapsed, killing at least 4 and injuring almost 70, some critically.]

The Spokeswoman of the Gilboa Regional Council was asked by Ynet to respond to the allegations. She declined to offer an official response, insisting that a reporter should come to the racetrack to hear what Danny Atar, Head of the Council, has to say, and then eventually, hung up. Afula Police said not all the requests for the required permits had been submitted yet, and the function would be safeguarded by the region's police force only if they are all submitted on time, adding that otherwise, the planned event would not take place.

"Torture that should not be allowed to take place." Hakol Chai activists demonstrate.      Photo: Avi Hirschfeld

Principal struggle against the import of the racing industry to Israel

The struggle of Hakol Chai against the establishment of horse races in Israel began in August 2004, when the resolution of the socio-economic cabinet to set up gambling at a racetrack on land belonging to the Gilboa Regional Council, and later in the Negev, went into effect. The resolution stated that "Part of the State's annual income from gambling on horse racing in the first five years will be used to develop the physical and employment infrastructure of rural areas in the Galilee."

Hakol Chai appealed to the Supreme Court in September of last year, requesting that the plan be halted. "The resolution is invalid morally and legally, due to the cruelty and abuse of animals inherent in the gambling-oriented racing industry," wrote its attorneys, Doron Radai and Nitzan Gadot.

"The ministers who supported the resolution weighed the economic gain that the State expects, and counted the jobs to be created. Not one of them considered the suffering of the horses and the torture, cruelty, and abuse they will be doomed to endure in the gambling-oriented horse-racing industry."

"The appeal that will be discussed by the Supreme Court this December is part of our campaign against the plan to hold horse races in Israel, which entails inevitable abuse prohibited by the Animal Protection Law," adds Elam. "For the last few months, we have been gathering signatures of animal lovers on a virtual petition against the horse racing industry. This petition has been signed, to date, by about 6,000 people, among whom are the Chairperson of the Knesset Education Committee, Rabbi Michael Melchior, and Yossi Sarid.

Video: Don't Back the Cruelty — Animal Aid

[Note: Although this particular video shows racing over jumps, racing on the flat also claims a great many lives.]

"Stop it before it starts"

"The public, in general, and the government, in particular, suffer from a critical lack of information about horse abuse, which is an integral part of this gambling industry," says Tali Lavie, Spokesperson of Hakol Chai. "Racing causes serious damage to horses' bodies. Starting training at too early an age seriously injures the lower part of their legs, breaks them, causes fractures, torn ligaments and tendons."

— Don't you exaggerate? After all, this is a traditional sport that involves billions.

"The data we have is based on studies performed in countries where races have been held for decades. Studies show that 100% of raced horses suffer from acute ulcers, and more than 80% suffer from serious lung hemorrhaging by the end of the race. To hide their grave condition and the criminal neglect of their health, they are given various drugs whose difficult-to-detect nature does not allow them to be easily identified or discovered."

"Race horses are often forced to compete in races even while injured. In many cases, they undergo a cruel training regimen starting at an early age, before their bones have had time to mature, which causes them to break. The average life expectancy of a race horse is only six years, while the average life expectancy of an ordinary horse is 25 years. In addition, from among the many horses bred by the racing industry, only a few are selected to race. Those whose speed is insufficient, the majority, are killed."

One moment after filing the complaint, Lavie insists: "Races have a romantic and glamorous image, while behind the scenes, horses suffer torture that should not be allowed. It is important to understand that abuse is an integral part of this industry, and the State of Israel should not contribute to these known outcomes. It must be stopped before it starts."

Ynet is the online edition of Yedioth Ahronoth, the most widely read newspaper in Israel.