A shocking investigation has revealed hundreds of healthy Aussie racehorses are being sent to slaughter houses across the country.
ABC's 7:30 Report has uncovered information from animal welfare activists that goes against the official word from Racing Australia.
The peak body looking after thoroughbred racehorses in the Land Down Under says about one per cent of retiring fillies get sent to abattoirs every year, which is around 34.
However Elio Celotto, from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses has told the national broadcaster that one slaughterhouse has been responsible for killing around 34 in just one week.
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A southeast Queensland abattoir was responsible for killing more than 300 racehorses in 22 days.
Professor Paul McGreevy, an animal welfare and behaviour scientist, told the ABC the footage they obtained at slaughterhouses was nothing short of horrifying.
"This is the sort of stuff that will shake the industry to its core," Professor McGreevy.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that we could let our equine athletes down in this way. These represent atrocious practice. It's the racing industry that's responsible for exposing these animals to this miserable end.
"When we bet on horses we are interacting with this industry and we deserve better, the horses deserve better, people who love the industry deserve better. So the industry's let a lot of people down and a lot of horses down."
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The ABC's report revealed many horses are sent to these abattoirs and before they're put down they endure terrifying conditions.
Some are placed in kill boxes, which make them unable to move, while workers use prods to provide electric shocks to the animals.
In footage obtained by the ABC, one worker can be heard saying: "Come on you dumb fucking horse! Fuck! You're dead! You are dead!"
Other fillies are kicked, whipped and abused in other ways. It was particularly shocking to see one horse having to be bolted in its head five times before it died.
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"We're talking about destroying horses on an industrial scale. We're seeing animals suffering," Prof McGreevey said.
"Clearly there's no excuse for that sort of treatment. That's not acceptable, of course it isn't and it's disgusting."
The ABC investigation found that some horses were being sent interstate to be slaughtered and even after being killed are listed as 'retired' or 'rehomed' on an official database.
NSW Racing chief executive officer Peter V'landys told the ABC they have started an investigation into the claims and anyone caught breaking the rules when it comes to slaughtering horses will be brought to justice.
Topics: News, Animals, Australia