COURTING MAGIC

There were hundreds of people following the story of Courting Magic on social media. People believed she was deliberately snuck into the Echuca Auction late in the day so that she wouldn’t be photographed and promoted. After she was bought by Shepp Meats, people became aware that this beautiful mare that had won 10 races and been placed in many more, had been thrown to the doggers. Courting Magic had been retired from racing in Darwin and sent to a stud in Victoria.

When people approached Shepp Meats, they were informed that she was needed for the quota and was already on the truck. As more and more people became aware of her fate, Peter Loffel said he would try to have her removed from the truck. Waiting in great anticipation over a period of days, many people hoped and prayed for her safe release from the jaws of death.

Courting Magic when she was loved

However, other people rang Meramist in a futile attempt to buy her and found that she had already been killed. Mike Eathorne, the Manager at Meramist, thought it was highly amusing to tell people that she would be leaving there in a cardboard box.

The tragic end for Courting Magic galvanised many, many people to fight for change. Ultimately, the actions that started with her have culminated in Shepp Meats losing their Meramist contract.

Her story made brought home the reality of horse slaughter to a large number of people. That this beautiful mare that had done her best by her humans, that had relationships of trust with people, could end up on a French plate is an abomination.

YOU CAN HELP BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER

ELECTRIC SHOCK? COCAINE? FRAUD?

THE SHINE, THE SPIN & THE TRUTHThe Australian horse racing industry is desperately committed to polishing its image — and nobody illustrates that better than trainer Ben Currie, whose name has appeared recently again in upbeat feature stories promoting his...

FEMALE JOCKEY JAMIE MELHAM SUSPENDED

BLOOD DOESN'T MATTER?We are still left wondering: if a horse in any other equestrian sport had presented with a bleeding mouth, as Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours did, would they have been declared the winner?In show jumping, eventing, dressage — even recreational...

ROTHFURY A TRAGIC TALE

THE FORGOTTEN 4-YEAR-OLDWhile the party vibes rolled across Australia on #MelbourneCup2025, a young horse named Rothfury was dying on a racetrack in Queensland after suffering a catastrophic injury to his near fore carpus. We first learned about Rothfury’s death...

WHY WAS HALF YOURS NOT DISQUALIFIED?

WHEN BLOOD DOESN'T MATTER THE DOUBLE STANDARD IN HORSE SPORTSAs the crowd roared and the cameras flashed, Half Yours surged across the finish line to win the 2025 Melbourne Cup wearing a barbaric tongue tie and cross-over noseband. A triumph, they said. A moment of...

WINNER OF MELBOURNE CUP BLOOD IN MOUTH

YET ANOTHER HORSE RACING DIRTY LITTLE SECRET Melbourne Cup 2025: The winner, Half Yours came back to the stand with blood dripping from his mouth... Not a great look for Racing Victoria. Half Yours wore a tongue tie and a cross-over noseband... Tongue Ties Are...

HIDDEN COST OF THE MELBOURNE CUP

GAMBLING & THE DREAM THAT DESTROYSEvery year, as the first Tuesday in November approaches, Australia prepares to “stop for the race.” The Melbourne Cup — celebrated as a national tradition — is sold as a day of glamour, excitement, and easy wins. But behind the...