Thoroughbred racing welfare encompasses catastrophic injury, exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage, training practices and the fate of horses after racing careers end. Comprehensive reform addresses the full welfare picture.
Thoroughbred racing welfare is contested between industry stakeholders who see racing as a legitimate sport with managed risks and welfare advocates who see a sport that structurally sacrifices equine welfare for human entertainment. The welfare case focuses on several issues: catastrophic injury rates that are significantly higher than in other equestrian sports; the use of drugs to enable horses to compete at welfare cost; training regimes that cause chronic stress and injury; and the welfare of horses at the end of racing careers when they have high economic cost and lower value. Meaningful reform requires engagement with industry bodies, incentivised welfare improvement and honest public reporting of welfare outcomes.