According to an article in the Sunday Times of South Africa, the country’s largest animal welfare group has now “officially opposed all forms of horse racing.” An article in the SunTimes.co.za said there was fierce reaction from the racing community, which was reported to be a 6-8 billion Rand ($847 million to $1.1 billion) a year industry in South Africa that employs up to 35,000 individuals.

There was no article or news release on this topic on the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals  (NSPCA) web site (https://www.nspca.co.za/home.htm).

Bobby Jordan in is SunTimes.com.za article noted that the NSPCA passed a resolution last month opposing horse racing in any form. He noted, “the organization’s previous policy was less strict and opposed only unnecessary suffering to horses.”

Jordan quoted NSPCA executive director Marcelle Meredith as saying the amended policy was in line with changes in equine sports (including the introduction of harness racing, which the group says it will lobby against), and was in line with the group’s “opposition to animals in sport and entertainment