As with all elite sports and all activities involving horses, there is an element of risk.
It is the responsibility of the 性视界传媒and everyone involved in the sport to ensure that we do everything possible to minimise avoidable risk and to ensure that no injury or fatality occurs which could reasonably have been prevented.
British racing is open and transparent about the levels of risk involved, and on this page we publish the sport鈥檚 fatal injury data.
British racing is constantly investing in welfare research and education. This section also outlines some of the steps the sport has taken in recent years to make horseracing even safer.
How safe is horseracing?
The following data sets out the fatal injury rates for British horseracing.
In line with our commitment to openness and transparency, the method of reporting fatal injuries has been enhanced in recent years.
Since 2021 we classed a raceday fatality as 鈥渁ny horse fatally injured or euthanised on welfare grounds as a direct result of their injuries on raceday or within 48 hours of raceday鈥, thereby including not only horses who had lost their life on raceday but also in the two days following an incident.
For 2024 onwards we have extended this to include any horse who is fatally injured within 48 hours of a raceday incident. This includes, therefore, horses who are euthanised but not as a direct result of their injuries (which is sometimes referred to as 鈥渆lective euthanasia鈥).
This is covered in , which state that:
鈥淓lective euthanasia of a horse should only be carried out when those who have responsibility for its welfare (usually the owner or designated keeper, often in consultation with a veterinary surgeon) have considered all available options and decided that it is in the best interests of the horse, considering both current and future circumstances.鈥
All racing (including flat and jump racing)
*From 2021 an enhanced method of data capture was used which ensured that any horse fatally injured or euthanised on welfare grounds as a direct result of their injuries on raceday or within 48 hours of raceday were captured in this data. These rows are highlighted in blue.
**From 2024 onwards we have extended data reporting of a raceday fatality to include all horses euthanised within 48hours of the raceday incident, whether that鈥檚 as a direct result of an injury or any other reason (sometimes referred to as 鈥渆lective euthanasia鈥).
Jump racing
*From 2021 an enhanced method of data capture was used which ensured that any horse fatally injured or euthanised on welfare grounds as a direct result of their injuries on raceday or within 48 hours of raceday were captured in this data. These rows are highlighted in blue.
**From 2024 onwards we have extended data reporting of a raceday fatality to include all horses euthanised within 48hours of the raceday incident, whether that鈥檚 as a direct result of an injury or any other reason (sometimes referred to as 鈥渆lective euthanasia鈥).
Case study: How horses see colour
In 2017 the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Racing Foundation commissioned research into equine vision.
The research was undertaken by the University of Exeter with the aim of improving obstacle visibility for the equine athlete, therefore enhancing the welfare and safety of horses and jockeys through reducing the risk of falls and injuries.
The research showed that horses have reduced colour vision compared to humans, and only differentiate objects in a palette of blues and yellows.
It showed that the orange currently used on fences and hurdles was confirmed as having decreased visibility and contrast for horses against a range of natural and obstacle backgrounds, while yellow, blue, and white are more conspicuous against fences and their surroundings (foreground/background) than orange, especially yellow fluorescent colours.
As a result of the research, a recommendation was approved by the sport鈥檚 Racecourse Committee that a phased trial should be carried out using fluorescent white markings at obstacles.
This has been determined to maximise visibility under a wide range of conditions for both humans and horses.
Racing at Stratford Upon Avon on 14th March 2022 marked the start of a new era over jumps in Britain as obstacles began turning white as part of a welfare-driven project to develop new ways to help make hurdle and fence design safer.
The transformation has now seen all obstacles across Jump courses change markings from the traditional orange to white.
鈥淎 life well-lived鈥 鈥 British racing鈥檚 Horse Welfare Strategy
In February 2020, the Welfare Board published its five-year strategic plan for the welfare of horses bred for racing.
The strategy focuses on the ambition that every horse bred to race should lead 鈥 and be seen to lead 鈥 鈥渁 life well-lived鈥. The strategy includes traceability for horses bred for the sport, a strong focus on safety and wellbeing, a more confident and proactive approach to communications and the industry鈥檚 biggest ever data project.
The announcement can be seen here.
20 recommendations and 26 specific projects were put before the Members Committee, which comprises horsemen, racecourses and the BHA.
The strategy focuses on four key outcomes:
The strategy focuses on four key outcomes:
1. Best possible QUALITY OF LIFE, relating to the encouragement and furthering of best practice in all aspects of health, care, husbandry and disease control.
2. Collective LIFETIME RESPONSIBILITY, incorporating, for example, traceability across the lifetimes of horses bred for racing, and initiatives fostering greater understanding, encouragement and effective enforcement of responsibility
3. Best possible SAFETY, the understanding and analysis of multiple risk factors and the continuing reduction of reasonably avoidable injuries and fatalities.
4. Growth and maintenance of public TRUST
The strategy also identifies the value of data in informing veterinary care and the prevention of injury and illness. It articulates the ethical case for horses鈥 participation in sport and leisure and the need for better use of high-impact communications to tell racing鈥檚 story. It also commits to develop a Code of Ethics to provide a transparent framework for decision-making around all aspects of a racehorse鈥檚 care and wellbeing.
How do we make racecourses safer?
The 性视界传媒continues to work with racecourses and their turf consultants to ensure the racing surface is as safe as possible, through a combination of research and guidelines as to how the ground should be prepared. Our Inspectors of Courses monitor faller rates at every racecourse in the country, and have the ability to make further modifications if evidence supports it.
We are constantly working to make the racing environment safer and have made improvements in recent years to hurdles, fences and other elements of racecourses, to ensure they present as low a risk as possible based on monitoring and analysis of statistical evidence.
CASE STUDY: 鈥淥ne Fit鈥 Padded Hurdles
Having introduced increased padding on hurdles in 2001, newly custom-designed 鈥淥ne Fit鈥 padded hurdles are now in place at many racecourses, with all racecourses to follow by October 2026. These hurdles are statistically proven to reduce faller and injury rates.
How do we use science and research to make racing safer?
The 性视界传媒partners with a number of organisations as part of our continued commitment to fund veterinary research which will benefit the health and well-being of all horses, but particularly those who race. Primarily this has been through the Horserace , which has supported nearly 500 individual research projects since its foundation in 1963.
Since the year 2000 around 拢56m has been invested by the sport in veterinary science, with veterinary funding distributed to a wide variety of research areas.
Previous research projects have ranged from investigating jetlag in horses to identifying and reducing the risk factors for injury in racing, to a project which has investigated the colours that horses see best and resulted in a change to the way we colour our fences and hurdles
Other partners include the Thoroughbred Health Network, an information source for trainers and vets, which translates veterinary research into easily understandable tips to maximise the health of horses in training, and the EquiBioSafe app, which helps to improve standards of equine welfare through raising awareness of disease prevention. The 性视界传媒Equine Health and Welfare Department also conducts research in-house.
Racing has also partnered with the Royal Veterinary College in the development of the 鈥淩acing Risk Models鈥, which have gathered a baseline of data from 14 years鈥 and which provides powerful data and advanced statistical techniques to better understand the risk factors in racing that lead to long-term injuries, falls and fatalities in racehorses.
This data is added to on an ongoing basis to continue to build an overall picture as to what contributes to risk, and set in place projects to address risk factors.
This has led to projects being launched to look at issues such as fallers, 鈥榯ight鈥 tracks, the impact of field sizes, ground and going, race value, horse age, country of origin, and maiden and novice races, which 鈥 through a process of engagement and consultation with the industry 鈥 are likely to lead to further enhancements in the welfare and safety in the future.
Further information on all听, with more information on the听
How do vets make racing safer?
The raceday veterinary team is made up of both 性视界传媒Veterinary Officers and Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons. The 性视界传媒vets are regulatory vets 鈥 their main priority is to oversee the welfare of the horses on course and ensure that the standards and Rules laid down by the 性视界传媒are maintained. This includes ensuring that all racehorses are appropriately vaccinated and free from infectious disease, and the carrying out of pre-race examinations.
The Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons are accredited by the 性视界传媒and employed by the racecourse. These vets provide immediate first aid and veterinary treatment for racehorses, working closely with the equine ambulance teams to ensure that any horse which suffers an injury is treated promptly.
A number of new protocols have been put in place recently for the raceday veterinary teams. These include improvements in the recognition and treatment of horses which overheat after racing, and in the diagnosis (both on and off course) of horses suspected to have experienced irregular heartbeats following a race.
The 性视界传媒is also increasing the number of pre-race examinations that take place, and have introduced 鈥淪uitability to Race鈥 examinations for horses known to have suffered an injury or which have previously been noted as lame. These take place on the trainer鈥檚 yard, and include a detailed examination and review of the horse鈥檚 veterinary history by both a 性视界传媒regulatory vet and the trainer鈥檚 vet.
The BHA鈥檚 Equine Health and Welfare team has produced an听 to help explain why and how horses are examined by 性视界传媒Veterinary Officers on the racecourse.
As part of our ongoing commitment to make racing safer for horses, we regularly review our Rules in relation to veterinary research, adapting them and implementing new Rules where necessary.
How have the rules changed to make horseracing safer?
The 性视界传媒is constantly reviewing its rules and procedures to ensure that they as effective as they can be in the safeguarding of equine welfare.
Examples of recent changes to the rules to safeguard welfare include:
– Enhancing the rules and penalties around 鈥榠nterference鈥 鈥 i.e. riding in a careless or improper manner which risks interfering with another horse 鈥 in order to act as a deterrent against riding which could put the welfare of other horses or riders at risk
– As part of the independent Horse Welfare Board听(HWB)鈥檚 strategic plan,听,听a recommendation was made that a听public consultation should be conducted听by the 性视界传媒regarding the use of the whip in British racing.
A full consultation was held with the public and racing industry in 2021.听In June 2022, the 性视界传媒published 20 recommendations听as part of a听听relating to the use of the whip in British racing.
Read more about the whip in British horseracing
– Implementing a 鈥渮ero tolerance鈥 policy on the use of anabolic steroids, and an internationally-agreed threshold on the amount of cobalt which may be present in a horse鈥檚 system on raceday (cobalt is an essential and naturally occurring substance in horses, but at elevated levels may have a performance-enhancing effect as well as potentially impacting on a horse鈥檚 welfare).
Racing in hot weather
Whilst racehorses as a breed are capable of running over sustained distances in warm temperatures and regularly do so in countries such as Australia and Dubai, it is important that proper precautions are in place during periods of hot weather in Britain.听
In the video below, 性视界传媒Veterinary Officer Sally Taylor explains how horses are kept cool and comfortable while racing in hot weather, using Leicester as an example:
Conditions are always monitored closely by those present at each fixture, whether they are 性视界传媒staff, racecourse staff or participants. 鈥疭hould there be any concern regarding the effect of the weather on the horses, 性视界传媒Stewards have the ability to take action to ensure their welfare is protected.听
Guidance for hot weather provisions are below, however moves can be made by those on a raceday outside of these guidelines, to ensure that the safety of our equine participants is not compromised.
Preventative measures for those present on a raceday which should be implemented if ambient temperatures move towards 30oc, which are as follows:
For racecourses:听
飩封 Where possible (fixture list allowing) courses should work together with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) regarding Race Planning issues, particularly the avoidance of long distance races during hottest time of day, limiting races to shorter distances
飩封 Measure ambient temperatures regularly in the stables, pre-parade ring, parade ring and winners enclosure.
飩封 Include extreme temperatures in going reports to promote trainer awareness, to help them consider dehydration and rehydration issues
飩封 Make access to the stables available earlier in the day or the night before to allow trainers to travel horses at cooler times of the day and advertise this.
飩封 Provide facilities for horses to be washed down on arrival and before the start during very hot weather
飩封 If possible, provide shaded areas for cooling off before and after racing.鈥 If no natural shade is available consider erecting a 鈥榯ented鈥 roof with no sides.
飩封 Identify key locations where water may need to be available for cooling horses 鈥 these may include, but are not limited to:
飦垛 Stables
飦垛 The pull up area
飦垛 Where the horses leave the track
飦垛 The unsaddling enclosure/area
飦垛 The Winners Enclosure
飦垛 Parade Ring
飩封 Provide easy access to copious amounts of water in large troughs, with buckets, sponges and scrapers adjacent, and ability to rapidly refill, in all horse areas. Consider use of ice (place in troughs) and fans to assist cooling.鈥 Consider mobile bowsers and bulk supply.鈥 For biosecurity reasons, horses should not drink directly from the water troughs and buckets which can be washed out after use should be used to take water from the troughs for drinking.
飩封 A mobile bulk supply of water should be available for use or top up where needed.
For BHA/Racecourse Staff on the day:
飩封 性视界传媒Veterinary Officers should review their raceday data for horses that have suffered previous problems with heat and share this information with their Racecourse Veterinary colleagues;
飩封 The 性视界传媒Veterinary Officer should work with the Clerk of the Course to closely observe horses in the winners鈥 enclosure and the flexibility with the official 鈥渉orses away鈥 announcement should be utilised.
For Trainers and their staff:鈥
飩封 Have drinking water available at all times on transport and at the course before racing.
飩封 Consider earlier travel, and thus earlier arrival at the course, or travel the evening before the race.
飩封 Take the temperature of the horse on arrival.
飩封 Hold horses in the shade outside the boxes.
飩封 Cool horses on arrival, before and after racing to help reduce the impact of heat
飩封 Ensure enough staff are available to provide extra help.
飩封 Do not withdraw water before racing. Dehydrated horses are more prone to heat stress.
飩封 Horses lose large quantities of electrolytes when sweating.鈥 A reservoir of electrolytes is not stored in the body but these are available from a balanced diet.鈥 Post race, replacement electrolyte therapy may be applicable to heavily sweating horses.鈥 This should not be administered in water.鈥 Inform Veterinary Staff if the horse has had previous problems with heat.
飩封 Apply plentiful amounts of water in unsaddling/winners enclosures.
飩封 Remove the excess water by scraping after each application after allowing the water to absorb heat for around 30 seconds.
飩封 After applying water walk the horse in a breezy, shaded area.
飩封 Keep the horse standing to facilitate cooling.
飩封 Ensure the horse has access to water to satisfy its thirst after the race
飩封 Do not apply any sheets or rugs
飩封 Do not use chemical cooling rugs.
飩封 Ensure Veterinary Staff are informed as soon as possible of concerns that the horse is not normal. A quick response is important in the treatment of heat related problems in horses.
飩封 Signs to watch out for include increased temperature, a shallow, panting respiration, an anxious expression, a rhythmic beating of the diaphragm
For jockeys:
飩封 Jockeys are very aware of the condition of their horses. If they have any concerns that all is not normal before, during or after a race they must take immediate action.
飩封 They may be advised before racing, or instructed after the race to dismount and may also be asked to remove their saddle asap after finishing.
飩封 Ensure Veterinary Staff are informed as soon as possible of concerns that the horse may need attention.鈥 A quick response is important in the treatment of heat related problems in horses.
Then there is treatment guidance for the Clerk of the Course and Racecourse Vets on duty if horses are suffering heat related problems:
飩封 A plentiful supply of iced or cold water must be available at key locations along with mobile water supplies to be deployed around the course as required (as identified above).鈥 These supplies should be used immediately when heat related problems are suspected.鈥 Racecourses should provide mobile water supplies to be deployed around the course as required during racing.
飩封 Alternate pouring water onto the horse, especially over shoulders and quarters, and scraping this off after 30 seconds, with periods of walking in the shade.鈥 Cool for 30 seconds and then walk for 30 seconds before repeating the process.
飩封 Keep the horse standing to facilitate cooling.
飩封 Offer cool water to drink.
飩封 If screens are deployed, these should not block or restrict the movement of air around the horse.鈥 Screens may be used to funnel air towards the horse.
飩封 Cold water or iced water soaked cooling rugs may be useful.
飩封 DO NOT use chemical cooling rugs.
飩封 DO NOT place wet towels on head, neck/quarters.
飩封 DO NOT hold ice packs on head/neck etc. but ice packs applied to the jugular vein may be beneficial.
飩封 DO NOT apply any sheets, including sponsors sheets, until it is clear the horse is not at risk.
飩封 In the more severe cases, effective medication is available from the Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons and should be administered without resistance from the horse鈥檚 connections.
飩封 If the Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons administer any drugs to horses to help combat heat related problems, they must inform the 性视界传媒Veterinary Officer as soon as possible, in case it is being tested, as well as complete a Veterinary Treatment Form (VO19).
Finally, if the temperature on track continues to rise a review should be held as to whether racing can continue, taking into account the following factors: 听
飩封 Time of Day
飩封 Race Programme
飩封 Temperature on the racecourse
飩封 Temperature in the parade ring
飩封 Temperature in the racecourse stables
飩封 Level of wind/breeze and its effect on the temperature
飩封 Humidity
飩封 Water Availability
