Horse racing is under growing welfare scrutiny following high-profile deaths and injury incidents. The industry is responding with reforms to tracks, training, medication, and race scheduling.
Horse racing welfare is a field in transition. Historically resistant to external welfare scrutiny, the industry is increasingly engaged with reform due to public pressure, media attention, and commercial risk. Track surface management to reduce slipping and high-impact landings, medication monitoring to prevent racing of injured horses, and restrictions on whip use are all areas of active regulatory development. Jump racing presents the highest welfare risk and continues to attract debate about whether its fatality rate can be brought to acceptable levels. Pre-race veterinary screening programmes have reduced racing of unfit horses in many jurisdictions. The welfare case for reform is strong, and industry bodies that have engaged constructively with it have generally found that improved welfare correlates with better racing quality and lower injury rates.