Clandestine horse racing in Camporotondo etneo: complaints and kidnappings

CATANIA – The Catania State Police has identified the perpetrators of a clandestine race between two horse-drawn buggies that took place at 6.30 am last May 30 in nearby Camporotondo Etneo and denounced the two jockeys, a 69-year-old – historian and a “winning” jockey who still plays a central role in illegal horse competitions – and a 58-year-old, for animal abuse. One of them, holder of citizenship income, said he had earned 1,300 euros in black for 2 and 1/2 minutes of the race.

From what the investigators were able to ascertain also thanks to the videos of the race found on social media, hundreds of people attended the clandestine race both along the route and aboard motorcycles at high speed and close to the horses. The investigations were carried out by agents of the Librino Commissioner.

During the police operations, a well-known multi-prejudiced person was also identified who, during the race, without a helmet and in total violation of the rules laid down by the highway code, remained “in the front row” at high speed and with dangerous maneuvers. specifically in front of racing horses and many mopeds, as if to lead the “procession”: the 37-year-old man, following a check at his illegal stable, was investigated in a state of freedom for the crime of aggravated theft of electricity and various offenses were also charged to him.

In addition, as part of the investigations carried out on the clandestine races, the policemen of the Librino Commissioner and the team of the Horse Department, in viale Grimaldi 16, seized a building illegally built on the land of the Municipality of Catania and illegally connected to the water network a stable without a company code had been set up where there were two horses (a pony and a foal) kept in poor condition.

The animals were seized and transported to a suitable place and the person responsible, a 32-year-old, was investigated in a state of freedom for crimes of animal abuse, theft of water and invasion of public land. Both horses had no microchip and no coggins test; therefore, sanctions of approximately 20 thousand euros will be applied.