Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary
The 2023 Grand National steeplechase race was delayed when protesters from the animal rights group, ‘Animal Rising’, gained access to the course just prior to the race. The international media spotlight was focused on what is already a high-profile event and the social licence of both this race and...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/19/3137 |
| _version_ | 1797576253902946304 |
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| author | Gemma Pearson Janet Douglas Inga Wolframm Tamzin Furtado |
| author_facet | Gemma Pearson Janet Douglas Inga Wolframm Tamzin Furtado |
| author_sort | Gemma Pearson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The 2023 Grand National steeplechase race was delayed when protesters from the animal rights group, ‘Animal Rising’, gained access to the course just prior to the race. The international media spotlight was focused on what is already a high-profile event and the social licence of both this race and racing in general was scrutinised. Both at the time and for several days afterwards, the general public was exposed to two different narratives from pro- and anti-racing communities. This paper discusses these perspectives and the potential impact on the general public’s relationship with racing. Whilst well-meaning and aiming to promote racing, much of the racing industry’s commentary inadvertently risked damaging its reputation due to a poor understanding of social licence principles. We explore the reasons for these two groups’ alternative perspectives on welfare and suggest considerations for change. Ultimately, if ‘the people’s race’ is to maintain its social licence, the racing community needs to both understand and embrace the concept. Welcoming independent opinions, engaging with different viewpoints, accepting that change is inevitable and, most importantly, being proactive in making changes to prioritise equine welfare will all help racing to move towards greater public acceptance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:50:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85325085ae5140ea9d8560441c4869d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:50:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-85325085ae5140ea9d8560441c4869d02023-11-19T14:00:44ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-10-011319313710.3390/ani13193137Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed CommentaryGemma Pearson0Janet Douglas1Inga Wolframm2Tamzin Furtado3The Horse Trust, Slad Lane, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire HP27 0PP, UKWorld Horse Welfare, Anne Colvin House, Snetterton, Norwich NR16 2LR, UKApplied Research Centre, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Larensteinselaan 26-A, 6882 CT Velp, The NetherlandsLeahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Neston, Liverpool CH64 7TE, UKThe 2023 Grand National steeplechase race was delayed when protesters from the animal rights group, ‘Animal Rising’, gained access to the course just prior to the race. The international media spotlight was focused on what is already a high-profile event and the social licence of both this race and racing in general was scrutinised. Both at the time and for several days afterwards, the general public was exposed to two different narratives from pro- and anti-racing communities. This paper discusses these perspectives and the potential impact on the general public’s relationship with racing. Whilst well-meaning and aiming to promote racing, much of the racing industry’s commentary inadvertently risked damaging its reputation due to a poor understanding of social licence principles. We explore the reasons for these two groups’ alternative perspectives on welfare and suggest considerations for change. Ultimately, if ‘the people’s race’ is to maintain its social licence, the racing community needs to both understand and embrace the concept. Welcoming independent opinions, engaging with different viewpoints, accepting that change is inevitable and, most importantly, being proactive in making changes to prioritise equine welfare will all help racing to move towards greater public acceptance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/19/3137Grand Nationalracingequinewelfaresocial licencehorse sport |
| spellingShingle | Gemma Pearson Janet Douglas Inga Wolframm Tamzin Furtado Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary Animals Grand National racing equine welfare social licence horse sport |
| title | Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary |
| title_full | Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary |
| title_fullStr | Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary |
| title_short | Used like Pawns or Treated like Kings? How Narratives around Racehorse Welfare in the 2023 Grand National May Affect Public Acceptance: An Informed Commentary |
| title_sort | used like pawns or treated like kings how narratives around racehorse welfare in the 2023 grand national may affect public acceptance an informed commentary |
| topic | Grand National racing equine welfare social licence horse sport |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/19/3137 |
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