A LIMERICK councillor has called for an end to the “illegal and cruel practice” of sulky racing on public roads, following the death of a horse who was found still attached to its cart.
Aontú councillor Sarah Beasley said she was “horrified” by a string of “inhumane cases where horses died as result of abject cruelty and serious neglect”, claiming organisers are using social media to encourage the practice as well as betting on the illegal races.
“Just this week, a pregnant mare named Anne died after being whipped and pushed for miles during an illegal sulky drive across Dublin before being abandoned on a road in Ballyfermot, still attached to her sulky,” said Cllr Beasley.
Sulky racing has traditionally, but not solely, been an activity by members of the Traveller community, however Cllr Beasley said she was “not calling out any community. I’m calling out an activity that kills horses, endangers the public, and enriches criminals.”
“Somebody has to call this out for exactly what it is. This is not culture. This is cruelty,” added Cllr Beasley.
She said sulky racing was also “endangering human lives, because we know that sulky racing is talking place on busy national roads as well as more rural ones”.
The Aontú councillor called on the Government and An Garda Síochána to intensify its response to sulky racing, as it has done to scrambler bikes on roadways following the death of Dublin teenager Grace Lynch who was struck by a scrambler in January.
“Sulky driving is equally as deadly, both to the unfortunate animals and the public,” Cllr Beasley hit out.
“I respect a community’s connection to horses and recognise the mental health benefits and cultural importance of horse ownership. Many care deeply for their animals and ride with respect. However, many clearly don’t and it is beyond unacceptable that people are not speaking out on this issue,” she said.
Cllr Beasley claimed that foals as young as three months old have been used in sulky races causing “permanent damage to their developing limbs” or worse.
She said that horses have been found “dead on the side of roads, having impacted parked cars and moving vehicles”.
“This is happening for entertainment. For TikTok videos. For illegal betting,” Cllr Beasley claimed.
The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2026-2030 is currently being developed. However, Cllr Beasley called on the cabinet to urgently prioritise a “statutory prohibition of sulky racing and training now”.
Calling for “proper tracks for regulated harness racing, she said “the time for dancing around this issue is over. It is cruelty of the highest order, and I will continue to fight against it.”