Horse Racing Reform: Reducing Fatalities and Improving Welfare

Horse racing causes thousands of fatalities and injuries annually. Industry reform efforts including surface standards, medication rules, and veterinary oversight are reducing but not eliminating these harms.

Key Facts

Approximately 10 racehorses die on US tracks every week from racing injuries; thoroughbred racing fatality rates average 2 per 1,000 starts
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) took effect in 2022, establishing national uniform safety standards in the US
Polyurethane synthetic racing surfaces reduce fatality rates by 50-60% compared to dirt tracks at most facilities
Medication use including pain-masking drugs allows horses to race through injuries that would otherwise sideline them
The use of whips causes pain and stress; several countries have banned the whip or restricted its use significantly
Pre-race veterinary examination protocols that suspend unsound horses reduce in-race fatalities significantly
Most US racing injuries involve cannon bones and fetlocks; imaging technology can identify pre-fracture stress injuries
California banned horse racing effective January 2025 following continued fatality concerns at tracks

Welfare Considerations

Horse racing presents a welfare dilemma because horses appear to enjoy galloping and competition, yet the industry structure exposes them to injury risks that exceed what their natural athletic capacity warrants. The use of medication to mask pain so horses can continue training and racing represents a fundamental welfare violation: an animal communicating injury through pain is being silenced by drugs and forced to continue activities that worsen the underlying damage. Racing fatalities represent the most visible welfare failure, but the chronic pain from untreated injuries, the stressful stable environment for social animals, and the uncertainty of post-racing life for retired horses are persistent welfare costs affecting many more animals than the fatality statistics capture.

What You Can Do

Support HISA implementation and its extension to include international trainers and jurisdictions
Advocate for mandatory pre-race imaging programs that identify at-risk horses before catastrophic injury
Support whip restriction or elimination in racing jurisdictions where it remains unrestricted
Donate to thoroughbred aftercare organizations that provide retirement support for ex-racehorses
Engage racing organizations about synthetic surface adoption at tracks where dirt racing continues
Learn about medication rules reform and support organizations advocating for medication-free racing