“Stop Horse Racing”: Animal Lovers Rally in Pune After Superluminal’s Death
Camp, 3rd November 2025: Animal liberation activists staged a protest outside the Pune Racecourse on Sunday, November 2, demanding a complete ban on horse racing in India after the recent death of a four-year-old racehorse named Superluminal.
The demonstration, organised jointly by Erase Horseracing India and Animal Liberation Activists Pune, was held to highlight what protesters called the “systemic cruelty and exploitation” behind the racing industry.
According to activists, Superluminal suffered a broken foreleg during a race at the Pune Racecourse on October 12 and was later euthanised. The incident has reignited criticism of the treatment of horses used in racing.
The protest began with a short recitation about Superluminal’s life and suffering, delivered by activist Sahil, who described the horse’s death as “a symbol of the hidden violence behind the glamour and gambling of racing.”
Holding placards and banners, protestors chanted slogans in English, Hindi, and Marathi — including “Shattered limbs and heart attacks, close down these racetracks” and “Awaaz uthaaye kab tak? Chabuk chalega jab tak?” — urging the public to stop supporting the industry.
Leaflets were also distributed to passers-by, detailing what the groups said were exploitative practices, including prolonged confinement, whipping, and the killing of horses once they are no longer profitable.
“Superluminal’s death is not an unfortunate accident — it’s the inevitable outcome of an industry built on oppression,” said Aakash, one of the protestors. “Research shows that nearly all racehorses suffer from exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage, which causes bleeding in their lungs.”
Nitharshni from Erase Horseracing India added, “If a sport harms its athletes to this extent, it cannot be justified as entertainment. The only fair solution is abolition.”
Protesters also cited previous fatalities — including Victory Chant (2023), Deo Volente (2024), and Golden Neil (2024) — as evidence of what they described as “routine cruelty” in racing. They referred to an RTI reply from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), which revealed that the Turf Authorities of India had failed to submit mandatory monthly health and mortality reports of racehorses, raising concerns about lack of oversight.
“In the wake of Superluminal’s death, we urge authorities to abolish horse racing entirely and hold those involved accountable,” said lead protestor Sahil. “We also call upon citizens to boycott all industries built on animal exploitation.”
The protest concluded peacefully around 1 p.m., with activists vowing to continue their campaign against animal cruelty and raise awareness about the ethical issues surrounding horse racing in India.
