#thread After reading the tributes and statements about Black Caviar I’d like to speak some plain truths. I was invited to go to the secret location of the stud in the Hunter Valley where she was sent after she retired.This was in 2016 and I knew little about horse breeding..
I was a reporter at the time for @theheraldsun and I was to accompany some of the owners to visit the mere and her second foal. So far, so jolly. The stud was beautiful. They were all over the moon. I got to pat BC and look into her eyes and even then tho she looked weary….
@theheraldsun When I drilled down into the detail with the main breeder I was shocked. He talked me through how when BC (and all mere broods) was “covered” they had to put a ring in her nostril so if she protested they could yank it and it would be painful and she’d stop…
@theheraldsun To me it felt like BC, the most adored racing horse in recent history, was basically subjected to being “raped” in order to conceive. Yes this is how horse breeding works everywhere among valuable horses because it’s too dangerous to let mating occur naturally incase of injury.
@theheraldsun Due to her record any foals of BC, esp those showing early promise, were worth a fortune at the yearling sales. After each foal was born she’d be with it for a few months before it was taken away and soon she’d be pregnant again. It’s reported she had a total of 9 foals in 11yrs
@theheraldsun I was keen to write about this angle of the rotten new life of BC and the harsh reality of the breeding practices but the paper didn’t want to alienate readers or their industry contacts/advertisers and I was told to make it a positive piece. I did my best to hint my concern.
@theheraldsun I often thought about her since then trapped in the paddocks and bred constantly for the profit of those who had already made so much. Again this is all “normal” racing industry practice and I could see the stud managers were professionals and she was otherwise well cared for.
@theheraldsun But today’s statements about her “peaceful death” and apparent issues with her hooves etc left out a key fact -she died just after giving birth yet again. This time to a colt. This was revealed in some quotes by her trainer not by the main statement about her death.
@theheraldsun So as a journalist who visited her and gained some insight into her reality I felt I needed to share these truths. That’s my role. Because amid the cheers and the bets and the money there this greedy, dark side to the racing industry which we all need to face and see.Vale BC. ❤️
@theheraldsun Meeting Black Caviar during my 2016 visit to her stud.💔 
@theheraldsun As an additional note this link shows what happened to the foals of BC. Sad irony is many are now already at various breeding studs experiencing the same fate at their mother. And so it goes on.. breednet.com.au/news/29347/bla…
@theheraldsun Last November the 5th foal
of BC died suddenly of a heart attack during training in a swimming pool. .racing.com/news/2023-11-2…
of BC died suddenly of a heart attack during training in a swimming pool. .racing.com/news/2023-11-2…
@theheraldsun A week after I visited BC I broke the story of child abuse allegations against Cardinal Pell. Senior people on the paper didn’t like that either and a few months later my contract wasn’t renewed. Glad to say I’ve been happy and free to report important truths ever since.
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