It has been reported that some owners of Standardbreds that race at Summerside Raceway on P.E.I. have been in contact with local police after acts of vandalism and mischief directed at horses took place last week.
According to an article by the The Guardian, horseman Barry Folland had the tires to his jog cart deliberately slashed. In another case, a racehorse that had been locked in its stall was found roaming free the next morning, even though the stall had been secured via lock and chain.
Since the incident occurred, the Standardbred in question has been showing signs of distress and has not been the same, according to track announcer Vance Cameron. “He is running a fever and has no appetite and barely drinks water,” said Cameron, “so I don’t know if that night sparked this outcome or if this was going to come on, but it all started since then. The horse also has a minor scratch on his leg.”
The Guardian report also states that there have been ‘more severe cases of injured horses.’ Cameron has said that some horsepeople have plans to install cameras in their shed row. Another horse owner has taken to social media to show before-and-after photos of one of their horses that was the target of one of the incidents. The owner has been using the photos to show that the horse suffered injuries to its face and leg, and has stated that the injuries were the result of blunt-force trauma.
Red Shores’ senior communications counsel, Greg Watson, has told The Guardian that the track operator is taking the allegations very seriously. The Guardian touched base with Summerside Police for comment, but were unable to receive one by press time.
(With files from The Guardian)