Hackery racing : Another example of animal cruelty? 

The bullock cart is a centuries old mode of commuting as well as a symbol of social status with differing varieties used by the commoners and the elite. As suggested by the name, a bullock cart is always a two wheeled vehicle led by a bullock, sometimes hooded but open and airy in most instances. The thirikkale, as it is called in Sinhala, is a single-seater bullock cart which was used mainly for racing purposes by their affluent owners during the past. Back in the day, hackery racing was a scared sport among the elite and much care was given to the animals before and after using them in the races. But over the years, hackering racing too has turned out to be an example of animal cruelty. 

Use of hackeries : past and present 

The hackeries were pulled by oxen. Although hackeries are hardly seen on Lankan roads today, they were highly used during the periods of ancient kings and also by Portuguese, Dutch and British rulers. As there were no vehicles during that period, even the kings used buggy carts and bullock carts to transport goods. When hackeries travelled in the hill capital, the owner used two oxen. When one ox was pulling the cart, the other one was walking behind. When the ox was tired, the owner used the other one to pull the hackery. The cart owner used to sing folk songs to encourage the oxen. Unlike those days, using hackeries by people in urban areas are very rare today, but people in rural and remote villages in the country where there are no proper roads and transport facilities, still use hackeries for travelling purposes. 

Thirikkal racing or hackery races have become a common sight during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year season because it is at this time that people in remote areas can show their talents. However, animal rights activists believe that having to carry such a burden on a bullock’s back and the animal whipped and thrashed to run fast should not be entertained. 

Speaking to the Daily Mirror Life, Sagarika Rajakarunanayake, Director of the Sathva Mithra group said that it is high time that all animal rights groups got together to protest against using animals for races and other purposes of entertainment. “We have campaigned to stop these useless modes of entertainment which are a threat to the animals. When these bullocks are taken for practices a few days before the races, they are being tortured till they run at their best speed to make their owner win. Since the sport has turned in to a gamble today, matters have become even worse. We urge the public to video as and when they see these kinds of cruel acts and share them in social media or wherever possible, in order to stand up against the injustice and the ill-treatments done to animals. Back in the day, hackery racing was not a barbaric sport like today. Affluent owners did not want their animals to either win or lose but they were simply preserving the traditions. When these animals passed away, the owners even offered alms in respect of their service done to the owners. Today we only see cruelty and it is high time that the police and other groups got together to put an end to this menace.” 

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe