Cancelled: Hoo Farm sheep races scrapped after animal rights campaign

It's a tradition that stretches back nearly 30 years and has thrilled hundreds of 'race goers' who fancied a flutter.

But now the Sheep Gold Cup and the Sheep Grand National, which was due to take place at Hoo Farm on Bank Holiday Monday have been cancelled following complaints from animal rights groups and local vegans.

It follows a 35,000-strong petition organised by a group called Lambentations, which targets sheep races across the country claiming they go against the timid nature of the animals.

After being called 'scum', 'evil', 'inhumane' and threatened on social media, Will Dorrell, a partner in the family-run business, took the tough decision to pull the whole event.

The sheep racing has become a part of life at Hoo Farm, at Preston on the Weald Moors, near Telford. Sheep are let loose at the top of the course and run towards food that is left at the bottom. They are not coerced in any way.

Visitors are able to 'bet' on the races, with badges and rosettes given to those who support the winners.

Mr Dorrell said: “We have been receiving a lot of criticism from certain animal rights groups and vegans over the last three weeks.

“I explained to them how it works and then I invited them to come down and see that there is no abuse.

“They had no interest in that but a petition was launched which attracted quite a lot of signatures in a short space of time. We started to get comments and people threatening to come down with bolt cutters.

Hassle

“I just got to the point of thinking it was not worth the hassle. We are a family-run business and we have got better things to do than pick fights with certain groups of people.”

Mr Dorrell said the sheep racing had been running for 27 years and now the family will call in the experts to ensure they are not breaking any of their regulations and licences in holding such an event.

“We are reviewing the situation,” said Mr Dorrell. “We will speak to vets and animal health officers and seek their guidance. If they come back and say it is not causing any discomfort to the sheep then we will probably reschedule it either for later this year or next.

“The majority of the people who were complaining about it have never even been here. There were a few people who were fighting our corner.

"But that is the sad thing about social media. These things snowball. That's why we have ended up coming to this decision. I have got bigger battles to fight.”