Wigmore Hall Dies; Sparks Controversy

WIGMORE HALL DIES; SPARKS CONTROVERSY 
Two-time GI Northern Dancer Turf S. winner Wigmore Hall (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}–Love and Laughter {Ire}, by Theatrical) was euthanized Sept. 13 after injuring himself in a Doncaster handicap. The incident has caused an uproar in the British racing industry after the mainstream paper Daily Mirror yesterday published photos of the 7-year-old gelding being euthanized. 
“It’s a very insensitive thing to publish,” said Wigmore Hall’s trainer Michael Bell. “The first thing I picked up on was that the journalist referred to Wigmore Hall as ‘it,’ and that sums up his lack of understanding of the situation. The love we have for horses, people who work with them day in and day out–no one ever calls a horse ‘it.’” 
“Those of us who work in the industry love them the most–you only need to go into any yard to see that they are loved and adored,” Bell added. “The vets did an astounding job, they were on the scene in 30 seconds and they have to make an instant decision. Sometimes it is better for them to deal with it quickly than let the horse suffer. The most important thing is the welfare of the horse.” 
He continued, “Everyone has a mobile phone with a camera on it these days and that appears to be where the photos have come from. I just don’t see the plus side of printing them–it is very distressing for us. After losing one of our favorites we then have to go through this. From my point of view the journalist just shows his lack of understanding of horses throughout the piece.” 
The British Horseracing Authority has revealed that it will be seeking a meeting with the Daily Mirror to address the issue. 
“We are appalled by the Daily Mirror’s decision to publish these photos, and also to contextualize the images in the manner that they have,” said the BHA’s Media Manager Robin Mounsey. “All that the images show is a veterinary surgeon doing his job and carrying out an act of humanity to prevent an animal from suffering. They show the same actions as would be taken by a vet whether the incident was occurring on a racecourse or at home in a field, and we do not understand where the public interest lays in publishing these images or why they should be used to open a debate about horse racing. We will be seeking a meeting with the editor of the Daily Mirror in regards to this issue and the use of these photos in such a manner.” 
In addition to his Woodbine victories, Wigmore Hall won the 2011 G2 Jebel Hatta at Meydan prior to finishing third in the G1 Dubai Duty Free. He banked earnings of £1,334,814 from seven wins from 47 starts.