Krombeke And Sint-Eloois-winkel Harness Races

EDM number 1346 in 1993-94, proposed by Tony Banks on 17/06/1994.

That this House views with alarm and disgust the Belgium harness races held annually in the cities of Krombeke and Sint-Eloois-Winkel; notes that the retired race horses involved are made to run through winding streets on wetted pavements and that of the 54 runners in the 1992 Sint-Eloois-Winkel race over half sustained injuries including torn ligaments and tendons, internal bleeding, as well as broken legs and shattered knees; further notes that 20 per cent. of these horses had to be put down either during the race or in the days immediately following, and that those that survived faced only the bleak prospect of the knacker's yard; thanks the Horse and Pony Protection Association, and GAIA, the Belgium animal welfare group, for bringing these atrocious activities to wider attention; believes that such an horrific sport has no place in civilised society; and calls on the Belgium Agriculture Minister to put an end to this barbaric cruelty before the next race on 20th June.

This motion has been signed by a total of 41 MPs.