Blood on the race track: an analysis of ethical concerns regarding animal-based gambling

ABSTRACT

Horse and greyhound racing are leisure activities that have significance that transcends their economic impacts as they feature strongly in Australian national identity. Considerable public distress was unleashed when two horses died following the running of the 2014 Melbourne Cup, and several months later, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Four Corners programme exposed, in February 2015, systemic cruelty in the greyhound industry involving the ‘blooding’ of dogs with live animals. Such events have brought anxieties about the use of animals for entertainment into the public arena and have stimulated considerable debate. This paper presents the findings of a study which involved conducting thematic analysis across the online news media (including the public comments in the online news forums) to examine critically the arguments mobilized in support of and in opposition to horse and greyhound racing/gambling and the identification of the key ethical positions that were present in such discourses.

KEYWORDS:

• Animal-based gambling
• greyhound racing
• horse racing
• Melbourne Cup
• animal ethics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Kevin Markwell is an associate professor in the School of Business and Tourism, Southern Cross University. His research interests include human–animal relations, social construction of nature and sexuality and identities. His most recent book, an edited collection titled Animals and Tourism: Understanding Diverse Relationships was published in 2015 by Channel View Publications.

Tracey Firth is a lecturer in the School of Business and Tourism at Southern Cross University. Her research interests and publications are in the area of sustainable tourism and destination marketing.

Nerilee Hing is a Research Professor (Gambling Studies) with the School of Human, Health and Social Sciences at CQUniversity. Her research interests include problem gambling, responsible gambling, gambling among vulnerable populations, impacts of gambling, and help-seeking and recovery from gambling problems.

Notes

1 There is no evidence of any animal-based gambling among Australia's indigenous peoples before British settlement.

2 These figures represent turnover before payouts on winning bets.

3 The Premier subsequently changed his mind and revoked this legislation, in October 2016.