Horse racing is one of the most scrutinised equine sports for welfare, with fatality rates, medication use, and training practices generating ongoing debate and incremental regulatory reform.
Horse racing welfare is a contested area where genuine progress has been made alongside significant remaining concerns. Industry-led reforms including improved track surfaces, stricter pre-race veterinary screening, whip use restrictions, and enhanced post-race monitoring have measurably reduced fatality rates in some jurisdictions. Persistent concerns include the pressures on horses selected for extreme speed that may have reduced structural resilience, the economics of racing that incentivise early training and competition, and the fate of horses that exit racing — whether through injury, retirement, or failure to perform competitively. The welfare of horses after racing careers — including rehoming, retraining, and the prevention of slaughter — is increasingly incorporated into racing industry welfare frameworks, though with variable enforcement and funding.