An animal rights group says it has sent a letter to Kevin Costner urging him to move away from the Calgary Stampede.
The Hollywood actor was named parade marshal for this year’s event.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, says in a press release that the Stampede rodeo chariot races have killed more than 70 horses, including half a dozen in 2019, when the Stampede last held the races. once.
The Stampede executive said at the time that it would conduct a thorough review of the safety of car racing.
New rules were introduced in 2011, forcing veterinarians to inspect animals arriving at the Stampede before each race. A mandatory rest day has been introduced after every four days and changes have also been made to the track.
The Stampede has always said that the safety of animals and people is its number one priority.
No one from the organization could be contacted immediately to comment on Thursday.
Mandrels, as they are informally called, have been canceled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but are set to move forward this year.
“During these reckless and dangerous races, horse teams are forced to pull the wagons down a track at breakneck speed,” PETA writes in the letter to Costner.
“Throughout the ordeal, they can be seen foaming at the mouth with their eyes turned back on their heads. Many have suffered broken legs or backs or suffered heart attacks.”
PETA is asking Costner, who has starred in films in the Calgary area, to disassociate himself from the event.
“Year after year, this reckless rodeo runs soft horses to death,” Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said in a statement on Thursday. “PETA is asking Kevin Costner to cut ties with the Calgary stamp before it costs the lives of more animals.”
Animal welfare groups, including human societies in Vancouver and Calgary and Animal Justice, have long called for a halt to racing and other rodeo events because they amount to animal cruelty.
Animal Justice is a national organization working to improve the legal protection of animals.
The Chuckwagon races are a nightly show during the 10-day Stampede. Crowds watch horse-drawn carriages thunder on a dirt track accompanied by horsemen.
This year’s Stampede runs from 8 to 17 July.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 2, 2022.