Racehorse killed and served in soup as customer finds microchip

A tragic report has confirmed that a retired English racehorse has been slaughtered and served to unwitting customers in a soup.

Smart Latch, a four-year-old racehorse, was recently forced to retire due after she suffered a leg injury during a race in Adana, southern Turkey, following a career that saw her claim three race victories.

Following the horse's retirement, her owner claimed that she was donated to a racing club to live the remainder of her life.

However, a government investigation has since revealed that the racehorse was secretly sold and slaughtered, with the truth only discovered when her microchip was found in a soup.

The horse's microchip was found inside the traditional Turkish sauteed meat dish, kavurma, served at a soup kitchen in the Mersin province.

Shortly after, the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry received a complaint that led to an investigation which confirmed the presence of "single-hooved animal meat" after analysis.

Smart Latch's microchip was discovered in the dish. (Image: Newsflash)

The microchip was quickly identified as belonging to Smart Latch, confirming that the meat being served at the soup kitchen was horse meat, which is illegal in Turkey, especially for registered racehorses, which are typically protected or rehomed.

Following further examinations, the soup kitchen was ordered to destroy 213 kilograms of kavurma in early February.

After the incident, the horse's owner, Suat Topcu, spoke Istanbul-based newspaper Milliyet. He said: "We brought this horse to the farm after racing her to make her a mother.

"When we took her for veterinary checks to make her a breeding horse, the veterinarian said, 'This horse cannot be used for breeding because she has a uterine collapse, even if she gets pregnant, a healthy birth cannot occur.'

"We then wanted to find a home for our horse."

He then added: "I sent the horse to a farm in Osmaniye, the kind where people and children ride horses as a hobby...

"I had entrusted it to a transporter friend I've worked with for years. He gave me the name of the person at the farm where he delivered it."

Smart Latch's owner claims he had no idea what had happened to the horse. (Image: Newsflash)

Topcu has reportedly been fined 132,000 Turkish lira (£2,260) for not formally reporting the donation, although he claims he did not know what had happened to his horse until he was contacted by the agriculture ministry.

In a statement shared to local media, he said: "We want an investigation to be opened. Hopefully, justice will prevail and those responsible will be punished.

He continued: "We made such a mistake. But a permanent solution needs to be found for horses that are withdrawn from racing.

"While trying to do good, we became the cause of harm.

"The fine is not important, what's important is finding those who committed this cruelty."

Smart Latch last race took place on 14 October 2025.