Horse racing welfare has improved significantly through reform initiatives but serious welfare challenges persist across the industry.
Horse racing welfare reform has made genuine progress under pressure from welfare advocates, media scrutiny, and regulatory action. The cluster of deaths at Santa Anita in 2019 accelerated track surface improvements, medication restrictions, and pre-race veterinary examinations that have reduced fatality rates. However, structural welfare problems remain: whip use continues despite evidence that it frightens rather than motivates horses; economic pressure to race injured horses remains; and aftercare for the tens of thousands of horses that exit racing each year is inadequate. The welfare-aligned trajectory is clear — racing that cannot demonstrate acceptable safety and welfare outcomes will continue to face growing public opposition and regulatory constraint.