As the Galway races continues this week, animal rights group PETA is calling for a ban on a sport it claims races horses"to their deaths for prize money".
"Around 240 horses were killed as a result of racing in Ireland in the past two years alone – their lives ended with broken necks, backs, ankles," she said. Ms Munro said she understands the sport's historical links but does not believe"tradition is an excuse for cruelty"."It's time that we focus our attention on sports with consensual human participants like the Women's World Cup that's taking place right now."If footballers were killed after sustaining an injury during a game, I can't imagine they would risk playing and I'm pretty sure football fans would turn their backs on the sport very quickly.
Dark Note, with Cian Quirke up during day one of the Galway Races Summer Festival at Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway. 31 July 2023; Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile