If you ever want to expose the nonsense TripAdvisor opened itself up to this week with its seemingly bizarre attack on racing, then look no further than Phuket.
The global travel website this week caused a furore, listing on racetracks around the world that ‘’this business does not currently meet TripAdvisor’s Animal Welfare Policy.’’
It’s a move labelled ”surprising and troubling” and racing administrators around the world have called for an immediate review.
We assume that racing falls under horses being used for sport, which is obviously the choice Tripadvisor can make.
”TripAdvisor does not enable booking for experiences that involve animal racing, such as most dog, horse, and camel racing, or for rodeo-style events, where the format of the activity typically creates these risks.’’
They have stopped selling tickets to the tracks – including for big days – making it clear they won’t take a cut of any sales to race tracks, including in Australia.
The move has caused outrage overseas too, with the British Horseracing Authority labelling the move “surprising and troubling” and calling for a review.
But as always when you go woke, the contradictions are everywhere to see.
Our favourite, however, was the now defunct Phuket Zoo.
So bad were the conditions, the Zoo received just 1.9 stars out of five.
Tourists recall seeing monkeys smoke [one tourist thought it was dying], another called on authorities to ‘close this animal hell’.
To give you a quick summary, another said they saw signs of extreme animal abuse, another called it the ‘’worst zoo on the planet’’.
Thankfully, it was eventually shut
But what about our friends at TripAdvisor?
”This business meets TripAdvisor’s Animal Welfare Policy’’.
So racing – where millions are invested in animal welfare and will remain a top priority for the sport – is bad, but smoking monkeys are ok.
The contradictions don’t end there.
Want to go to Russia, ruled by Vladmir Putin, who is currently bombing the hell out of Ukraine as part of an ruthless invasion?
Not a problem for TripAdvisor, who will give you the best places to eat, recommend areas to visit, driving important economic activity.
What about visiting the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum in North Korea, the country that has some of the worst human rights violations in history?
Well TripAdvisor gives it 4.3 stars. Not a word, however, warning travellers of the human rights abuses. It does, however, let you plan a nightlife tour which we assume is a blast.
There are countless more examples in our checks, from countries with shocking records against those in need, to actual institutions with actual animal rights problems.
On social media this week there was debate whether racing should fight back against the ridiculous policies that directly impact a legal and economic sport like racing.
What nonsense. This isn’t going on the defensive. It’s calling out bullshit for what it is. I spent more years in the media covering racing’s perception issues than most. Living in a fantasy land of not responding ‘negatively’ and trying ever so nicely to engage is what got us in…
— Shane Anderson (@Globalgallop) September 14, 2026
Of course we should. Racing has every reason to be upset about policies and publicity that attack or impact the reputations of our great game.
And it doesn’t take much to also realise that punters – and the general public – should do everything they can to ignore the hypocritical policies of businesses like Tripadvisor.
Even better, perhaps racing folk can take their business elsewhere too.
