There is ‘harm in entertainment,’ says Winnipeg Humane Society after racehorse euthanized
Posted August 12, 2026 5:52 pm.
The Winnipeg Humane Society wants Manitobans to know that animals used in sport or entertainment comes at a price.
Early last week, a horse was euthanized after suffering a leg injury during a race at Assiniboia Downs.
In a social media post, the WHS says it “serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the animal exploitation that occurs at the hands of humans for entertainment purposes.”
“The humane society has long since advocated for welfare of all animals, including and especially those animals that are used in entertainment purposes,” WHS CEO Christina von Schindler told CityNews.
The decision was made by the onsite veterinarian to euthanize the horse – a three-year-old colt named Forty Twenty – after it sustained an injury to its front leg.
“Our call for people is really an individual choice, call for consideration,” von Schindler said. “I tend to think that we all have a vote into the kind of society or world we want to live in, and we place that vote every time we spend our money.
“As you spend your hard-earned dollars, consider what you’re purchasing.”
WHS first took to social media, making its stance clear that this is not an isolated incident in the sport, and that animal exploitation has become all too familiar. The post’s caption reads: “The harm in entertainment.”
“When you see a young animal like that that really reasonably should have many years of life, euthanized, for an injury directly related to their role in an entertainment sport, can’t help but think that animal really should have those many years of life left,” von Schindler said.
In a statement from Assiniboia Downs Gaming and Event Centre, CEO Darren Dunn said: “We are aware and disagree with their position. Our equine athletes are treated with a very high level of care and compete under strict regulatory and veterinary standards.”
