BHA blasts anti-whip ads on London buses as a 'gimmick'

Racing condemned an extreme animal rights group on Tuesday after it emerged it had stepped up its increasingly hostile approach to the sport by plastering anti-whip messages across the sides of 25 London buses.

The advertising campaign, which was labelled a "gimmick" by the BHA, is the latest shock tactic employed by Animal Aid, which has repeatedly called for a ban on the whip in horseracing and ultimately has the stated aim of ending the sport in Britain.

The BHA gave a robust defence of its welfare policies, emphasising the positive mainstream support for racing and the high levels of care racehorses receive.

Since July 29, buses in London have showcased an advert with the slogan: "You wouldn't hit a dog, so why are jockeys allowed to whip race horses?", alongside two silhouetted images of a cowering dog being hit and a racehorse with a jockey on board holding a whip.

The adverts are not the first time Animal Aid has sought to influence public opinion on racing having last year successfully forced a debate in parliament about the formation of a new, independent equine welfare body after an online petition garnered 100,000 e-signatures, the minimum number required to trigger such a discussion.

However the BHA remains confident of its approach to equine welfare and with its engagement with MPs and the wider public on issues such as the whip.

A BHA spokesman said: "Campaign groups use advertising gimmicks such as this regularly to try and get their viewpoint across, but it's important to remember the considerable amount of positive mainstream coverage that racing receives, both via media and broadcasters and from Westminster.

"Everyone in the sport is aware of the exceptionally high standards of care that racehorses receive, and we need to work together to show that to the public and to challenge those with opposing viewpoints when they speak out."

The anti-whip adverts were approved by Transport for London (TfL) – the local government body responsible for advertising on London's public transport – in June and are due to run until Sunday, August 11.

No notice of the adverts was given to the BHA as TfL has no obligation to consult before publication.

Adverts must adhere to a number of rules including TfL's own Advertising Policy, which includes a sub-clause that states a campaign can be refused if "it contains images or messages which relate to matters of public controversy or sensitivity".

However, in a statement a TfL spokesperson said on Tuesday: "This advert is compliant with our advertising policy."

The future of the whip in racing continues to be debated and David Muir, racing consultant for the RSPCA, one of the BHA's recognised welfare partners, believes the Equine Welfare Board established by the sport's governing body will come to a conclusion about its place in the sport before too long.

Muir said: "There is a place for the whip in racing, but there has to be a common sense approach to it. I'm confident racing's professionals and the Equine Welfare Board will come to a satisfactory conclusion to it for everyone."

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