Animal welfare groups across Australia are calling for an immediate investigation following the tragic death of Melbourne Cup favourite Anthony van Dyck.
The horse became injured in the last 500m of the famous race and vets had to sadly euthanise the animal.
That action led to a major backlash from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has demanded to see the horse's veterinary records and end the 'disgrace against the nation'.
A post on PETA's Facebook page read: "The industry may gloss over the bleeding lungs, broken bones, and deaths, but, race after race, the truth comes out on track.
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"How many more wounded and dead horses will it take before we call time on this disgraceful demonstration of national senselessness?"
PETA spokesperson Emily Rice added in another statement: "While the industry focuses on the money made from animal suffering, the reality of the abusive racing industry is that horses are made to run to the detriment of their health.
"Before they've even finished maturing, these 500-kilogram animals - supported on ankles as small as those of humans - are pushed past their limits, forced to race at breakneck speeds to the finishing line while being whipped."
PETA Australia explained that it's not just the Melbourne Cup which often sees horses unnecessarily euthanised in the name of entertainment.
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They said a whopping 116 horses were pronounced dead on Australian tracks between August 2019 and July 2020 - that's more than one animal every three days.
On the eve of the Melbourne Cup, PETA and the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses hit up Flemington wearing horse masks and cracking 'whips' that shot blood-red smoke. Some also carried signs reading, 'Nup to the Cup' and 'You Bet, They Die' in protest of the Melbourne Cup.
PETA is calling for an immediate investigation into the death of Anthony Van Dyck and for his veterinary records to be...
RSPCA has also called for an investigation after the five-year-old stallion became the seventh Melbourne Cup death in as many years.
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"The RSPCA believes there are inherent animal welfare issues involved with horseracing," the animal welfare group said.
"Whenever there is an adverse outcome for an animal, our expectation is that the industry will do a comprehensive review to identify ways to improve in an effort to avoid unnecessary injury or trauma in the future."
Racing Victoria's Executive General Manager of Integrity Services, Jamie Stier, first confirmed the tragic death of Anthony Van Dyck on Tuesday in a statement.
He said: "It is with sadness that we confirm that Anthony Van Dyck had to be humanely euthanised after sustaining a fractured fetlock during the running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
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"The horse received immediate veterinary care, however he was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained.
"Our sympathies are extended to the owners of Anthony Van Dyck, trainer Aidan O'Brien and all his staff who cared for the horse and are greatly saddened by their loss."
The news immediately saw social media users expressing their distress over the horse's death, with many calling for an end to the controversial sport.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: News, Animals, Australia