Road signs being altered to allow for sulky racing in Waterford
A sulky pony trap and driver pictured in Waterford city. Photo: Joe Evans
Animal cruelty became the subject of discussion at the most recent meeting of the Metropolitan District Council.
Cllr Joe Kelly said that legislation needs to be changed so that “sulky racing and that kind of animal cruelty can be banned. That’s what we’re looking for.”
He suggested that Waterford City and County Council write to the government in relation to this issue, with a specific request to pass legislation banning sulky racing.
He continued, “Some of the stuff that goes on in this country to animals is outrageous and barbaric.”
Cllr Jim Griffin said that, as well as being cruel to animals, sulky racing is also a road safety concern. He said that a Waterford council engineer told Cllr Griffin that when sulky racing is due to happen, those organising it frequently "alter" the arrows on roundabouts to create diversions. He used the Ballindud roundabout near Kilcohan as an example.
Cllr John Hearne, “The most important thing is that the cruelty stops.”
He suggested that young people currently engaging in sulky racing should be encouraged to pursue horse racing. He said, “It's big business in America and it could be big business here.”
He continued, “They’ve changed the laws on the scooters and scramblers now because there's people, if you put a two or three-year-old on the back of a horse and cart going down the road, there’s nothing about it.”
