The Leone Philharmonic Society, in a statement on Sunday, said that for this year, the “national and traditional’ horse races for the Santa Marija Feast will take place between 4.00pm and 6.30pm.

The Society, organisers of the external festivities and in collaboration with the government also organisers the races, said in a statement on Sunday that it “deplored the fact that the alloted time for these historic races has been halved.”

This comes after restrictions issued by the Department of Veterinary Regulation within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, saying that “between 2pm and 4pm, horses are subject to cruelty and bad treatment because of heat.”

This the Society said this“casts an ugly shadow in the most unfair way on the horse owners who, out of love and affection towards these animals, have always strived to take part in the national races of Santa Marija.”

It argued“for the last five hundred years, it is a tradition that on the Feast of Santa Marija the “national horse races are held in Gozo. This is being threatened by the possibility that five hundred years of our country’s history will disappear once and for all.”The Society insisted that, “if there is anyone who is absolutely against any kind of animal cruelty, it is this same Leone Society that has always worked and followed all the guidelines so that the animals are not mistreated.“

“The fact that the horses are subjected to the sun and the heat for five minutes, can never be considered as cruelty or bad treatment. The time of each track (race) does not exceed 1.2 minutes,” the Society said. “Meanwhile, all the animals will be kept in the shade with a continuous supply of water, in the presence of a veterinarian who certifies that the animals are capable and in good condition for the race.”

The Leone Society said that it therefore “appeals to the Government, Animal Welfare and any other entity to ensure common sense so that the heritage of our country does not continue to be threatened and eroded, and the traditions that give identity to our country will not be destroyed.”

The Leone Philharmonic Society called for “these traditional and national races to continue to be held on time as they have always been for the past five hundred years. It is really regrettable that so far we have had to disappoint dozens of horse owners who had already registered their horses for this year’s Santa Marija race and those thousands of Maltese enthusiasts and Gozitans who for this year will have to follow races that have been reduced by half.

The voices of the thousands of horse race owners and race enthusiasts also count and should be heard, and with their participation and respect, this historical heritage should be protected as an integral part of our country’s heritage,” the Society said.

The races have always been controversial, back in 2015, the Animal Welfare Directorate stated the Santa Marija Horse Race should be held in the early morning or late evening and the Animal Rights Group also called for the races to be held at Xewkija’s horse racing track which has a substrate better suited to the horses.

Both had the backing of the MSPCA, saying at the time that “the discomfort imposed on the animals is unnecessary.”

Also in 2015, Deputy Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, Tony Tyler commented that, “equine welfare must be the first consideration of any horse race organiser. Factors such as temperature, surface and the facilities available to ensure that horse can compete without undue stress or risk of injury should be uppermost in organisers mind.”

 

Top photo Alain Salvary and below supplied by the Leone Philharmonic Society

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