Upon the recent media attention regarding the Daily Mirror's weak and irrational attempt to sell newspapers through the unfortunate death of racing hero Wigmore Hall, I have decided to publish my thoughts here.
I am truly outraged and frustrated that I cannot dedicate the time to giving this story the attention it deserves, for the correct reasons, and not those of the Mirror. Not only is it a senseless and sensationalist projection of a sport in which currently so desperately requires lifting, the attention it has gained has baffled me.
Firstly, although the death of Wigmore Hall was tragic, as so many are every day in the equine world (and beyond), in reality it just reflects the cynical, deluded nature of the Mirror. An animals worth to true racing fans cannot be calculated through monetary value. We support animals day in day out whether that be on the flat or jumps, at Sedgefield or Ascot. Horses die in fields every day and do not receive such attention. If they had a shred of respect for the connections that so dearly cared for the horse until his upsetting demise, they would publish each and every case similar to this. Such action would prove their so-called dedication to a subject they apparently hold such 'thoughtful' opinions on.
I understand that people deserve to know the truth. And if they truly cared enough research would tell them that horses that cannot recover from injuries are humanely killed as quickly as possible on course. By doing this, the public are not considered. Do the Mirror want horses to endure prolonged pain and endless suffering with no chance of recovery?
The gun imagery creates such a vulgar, grotesque image, yet lethal injection (the other common method of euthanasia in such circumstances), ends in exactly the same way. Admittedly it is a sickening photograph, and represents total disregard and disarray in the media, but it merely acts as fodder for the ill-informed. What do people think happens when an animal is injured beyond help? The food on your plate was and is most likely treated worse than Wigmore Hall was. Sugar-coating these acts to eliminate guilt or fuel complaints is useless. After all, the attention should be directed towards Wigmore Hall and his connections. Wigmore Hall was treated with kindness, and people need to come to terms with the fact it was the correct decision and one that would have provided great sadness. Surprisingly, such selflessness is absent in the Mirror's report.
The Mirror wish to sell newspapers, and sell newspapers they have. If this means wishing pain upon animals to serve readers with deluded truths and devastate those who care for horses with such a sadistic effort, then so be it. I regret that by writing this I'm giving the newspaper exactly what they were striving to achieve, but when such ignorance is utilised to such appalling effect, I felt it neccasry to share my thoughts on a matter so unconditionally important to me.
