WELCOME TO
HORSE PWR
SAFETY AND WELFARE IN HORSERACING
Welcome to HorsePWR, British racing’s hub dedicated to the Thoroughbred racehorse, the ultimate equine athlete.
This site is designed to open the doors to the sport and talk about the Thoroughbred – their purpose, the lives they lead, and the high welfare and safety standards that underpin British racing.
We want to provide facts, educate, and confront the tough questions head on. The facts matter. Why? Because we understand our responsibility for our horses.
Purpose. Welfare. Responsibility. That’s HorsePWR.
Horse PWR is brought to you by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Great British Racing (GBR) and racing’s Horse Welfare Board (HWB). The platform is supported by the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB).
RACEHORSE BREEDING
Nothing matters more to British racing than the health and wellbeing of our horses. 300 years of careful breeding has developed the Thoroughbred to the elite sporting specimen we see today.
Large hearts, a highly efficient circulatory system, supercharged lung power, spring-like muscle tendons which propel them to high speeds…the Thoroughbred has been selected for its attributes which enable it to run and jump at speeds and over long distances.
Racing gives these athletes a purpose. It’s in their DNA and what they were born to do. From tailored nutrition to state-of-the-art training, every aspect of their development and care is curated to safeguard their health and realise their athletic potential.
There are around 14,000 horses in training at any one time, receiving dedicated care from a team of more than 8,000 racing staff, and the quality of life they lead can be seen in their physical condition on the racecourse.
THOROUGHBREDS DESERVE THOROUGH CARE
From the moment a Thoroughbred is born, expert teams oversee every aspect of their development and care. With more than 16,000 dedicated professionals in British racing and breeding working 365 days a year, the health, safety, and welfare of horses is in the safest of hands.
RISK IN RACING
If a horse falls or is injured during racing, teams of expert vets respond in less than 60 seconds.
Through continuous investment in safety and facility improvements, we've reduced the number of horses that fall by a third, and fatalities to 0.22% of nearly 90,000 yearly runners.
And because every horse matters, we're relentless in our efforts to reduce this even further. Since 2000, £63 million has been invested in cutting-edge research, veterinary science, and education to find new ways to reduce risk and discover safety and welfare breakthroughs.
British racing also works with welfare organisations such as World Horse Welfare. They describe themselves as “critical friends” to the sport, which means they provide honest, frank views on how we can improve our safety and welfare record.
However, like any sport, risk can never be removed entirely for both humans and horses, and there is always more work to be done. British racing is open and transparent about this.
2025
ALL RACING
JUMP RACING
FLAT RACING
RACES
10,123
3,585
6,538
RUNNERS
86,281
28,116
58,176
INDIVIDUAL HORSES
18,049
8,020
10,742
FATAL INJURIES
192
133
59
FATAL INJURY RATE
0.22%
0.47%
0.10%
FIVE-YEAR ROLLING FATAL INJURY
0.22%
0.46%
0.08%
RACES
ALL RACING:
10,123
JUMP RACING:
3,585
FLAT RACING:
6,538
RUNNERS
ALL RACING:
86,281
JUMP RACING:
28,116
FLAT RACING:
58,176
INDIVIDUAL HORSES
ALL RACING:
18,049
JUMP RACING:
8,020
FLAT RACING:
10,742
FATAL INJURIES
ALL RACING:
192
JUMP RACING:
133
FLAT RACING:
59
FATAL INJURY RATE
ALL RACING:
0.22%
JUMP RACING:
0.47%
FLAT RACING:
0.10%
FIVE-YEAR ROLLING FATAL INJURY
ALL RACING:
0.22%
JUMP RACING:
0.46%
FLAT RACING:
0.08%
Note: This data includes all horses fatally injured on raceday or within 48 hours of raceday. British racing is currently working with the industry and in particular trainers to capture full visibility on horses who are fatally injured in training, i.e. away from the racecourse. For more information about safety in horseracing, visit: Making horseracing safer | British Horseracing Authority
LIFE AFTER RACING
RETRAINING AND KEEPING TRACK OF OUR HORSES
Racing’s commitment to horses extends far beyond the track.
An estimated 7,000 horses are marked as leaving training each year. This is made up of:
An estimated 2,000 who take time away from training for rest or rehabilitation but may return to racing
An estimated 2,500 who are permanently retired from racing
An estimated 2,500 who go into breeding or are sold overseas
For those who do leave the sport permanently, British racing has a dedicated aftercare charity, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), which has created a huge demand for former racehorses to thrive across the spectrum of equestrian disciplines. Due to their versatility, Thoroughbreds are excelling across a range of new careers from show jumping, eventing, and polo, through to enjoying life as a leisure or companion horse.
In 2025, 15,446 former racehorses were registered with RoR, which is 46% of the estimated 33,600 population in Britain. The ambition is to grow this membership significantly.
British racing’s goal is to achieve 100% traceability of racehorses when they retire from the sport. In 2025, racing made strides by facilitating a new data-sharing agreement between the sport and RoR to better support racehorses and help them thrive in their new careers.
Following on from the sport’s 2023 Thoroughbred Census project, racing can say with confidence that around 80% of Thoroughbreds are identifiable and active in their lives beyond the racing industry.
In rare cases where a horse is found to be at risk after leaving the sport, RoR’s welfare safety net provides funding to help that horse find the right outcome. In 2025, this support was required for 121 horses (0.4% of the estimated retired population).
RoR has also developed an aftercare strategy for the sport and is engaging in discussions with the broader industry to secure funding for its implementation.
APPROACHING THE FINISH WITH DIGNITY
For horses for whom euthanasia is required, which can occasionally be the most humane outcome, we are here to help those responsible make difficult but timely decisions. We emphasise that horses must be allowed to retain their dignity to the end, ideally at home.
British racing has in place a euthanasia code of practice to aid trainers and owners with end-of-life decisions. The guidance is clear, if euthanasia is the only option, it should be performed at home or in suitable surroundings.
In addition, British racing introduced a rule from January 2022 that all racehorses that run in Britain must be signed out of the human food chain, meaning they cannot legally be sold to abattoirs, domestically or internationally, for human consumption.
In 2025 this support was required for 121 horses (0.4% of the estimated retired population) out of an estimated Thoroughbred population of 72,300.
For more information on how abattoir figures are compiled and reported, read The Facts here.
RACING’S HORSE WELFARE BOARD
British racing has an independently chaired Horse Welfare Board. In 2020 it published a five-year strategic plan for the welfare of horses bred for racing. This plan has a clear vision, that every horse bred for racing will enjoy a “life well lived”. View a summary of recommendations and projects.
Baroness Minette Batters took over as Chair in 2025 and is overseeing the next evolution of the strategy which will be launched in the Autumn of 2026.
To date, 22 projects have either been completed or are in progress to drive continuous improvement across the sport in the areas of safety, aftercare, traceability, and data. These projects are helping racing identify and minimise risk, improve safety on and off the track, guide the support needed for horses leaving racing and to ensure better traceability throughout their lives. View the latest update on progress from the strategy here.
Examples of progress include an industry-led aftercare review, the creation of a new Welfare Data Unit and Racing Risk Model to use cutting-edge data and analytics to identify and drive down risk, and an equine vision research project that led to all markers on jumps and hurdles on every British racecourse changing from orange to white to drive improved safety.
LIFE OF A RACEHORSE:
FROM FOAL TO FIELD
Learn about the remarkable stages of a newborn foal's development, stretching from their earliest moments to their pursuit of glory on the track, and beyond.
BREEDING
BIRTH AND REGISTRATION
The impressive life of a Thoroughbred horse starts here.
Foals and mares are supported by more than 8,000 people who work in the Thoroughbred breeding industry, ensuring all foals born for the sport immediately come under the care of dedicated staff with first class expertise.
Around 4,000 horses are bred for racing in Britain each year.
Within 30 days of being born, the young foal is officially registered, ensuring the horse is easily traceable and the people responsible for its care are fully accountable.
The foal is fully registered soon after, including recording its distinctive markings, blood DNA typing and microchipping, usually by 31 July of the year in which it was born.
These processes give the sport’s regulator, the BHA, the ability to track their whereabouts, along with being able to access the horse to assess their welfare and test for medications, if needed.
TRACKING HORSES
The British racing industry’s welfare strategy prioritizes traceability to monitor racehorses throughout their lives. The microchipping of horses, alongside the use of equine passports, has been an integral part of identification and tracking for decades.
69% of foals bred for the sport who were born in 2018 entered training, with further studies currently underway.
British racing's ambition is to ensure that the industry has greater traceability on those who do not make it to the racecourse and tracking of the alternative pathways they have taken.
The BHA is developing an all-encompassing database which will combine all the horse’s information and ownership since that initial registration and will continue post-retirement.
ATHLETE IN TRAINING
All Thoroughbreds' care is overseen by licensed trainers who are skilled in providing for the needs and welfare of every horse.
Racing provides horses with an excellent quality of life. From the very best feed and bedding, to regular veterinary care and up to date vaccinations, horses have constant year round care from a dedicated team of professionals.
In addition, regular exercise is an essential part of the life of a Thoroughbred.
The 14,000 horses in training at any one time are cared for by around 8,000 stable staff. All trainers are licensed to care for them under strict guidelines.
The BHA also regularly visits stables to ensure that the sport's high standards are being met and maintained and the horses are in good condition.
MEDICATION AND DOPING CONTROLS
Our zero-tolerance stance on performance-enhancing drugs means no horses are allowed to be administered such substances under any circumstances.
Moreover, horses will not be allowed to race with any substances or medications in their system at levels which might affect their physiology and overall wellbeing, even if they are substances which are legal and permitted to be given to horses when they are at home.
Regular inspections and detailed vet records ensure compliance.
Testing is comprehensive, conducted both in training yards and on racecourses.
FUELLED TO WIN
Like all elite athletes, a racehorse’s nutrition is key to their health and performance. Their diet is meticulously managed and tailored to each individual’s needs to ensure peak competition readiness. The high-energy demands of racing necessitate proper fuelling and hydration.
A balanced diet high in fats, proteins, fibres, and carbohydrates is essential for their performance.
These nutrients are sourced from a mix of forage, like grass and hay, and grains, including oats, corn, and barley, to maintain their high-performance levels.
5-STAR FACILITIES
Whether at home or on the racecourse, Thoroughbreds are provided with 5-star facilities.
Many trainers’ yards provide facilities such as solariums, swimming pools, walkers and salt spas.
At every racecourse there are veterinary facilities and equipment designed to assist any horse who picks up an injury.
RACING
All racing takes place under the careful supervision of teams of vets. Physical examinations are routine before any race takes place, allowing vets to detect any issues and provide immediate attention.
Vet supervision doesn’t stop before the race. They follow the horses while they are taking part so they can act within 60 seconds for any horse in need, and after every race, each horse is under the oversight of vets and welfare officers who can ensure that there are no concerns before the horse returns home.
From rubberised walkways to comprehensive veterinary facilities, racecourses are designed with equine welfare in mind. All racecourses must meet stringent welfare criteria and are assessed frequently by BHA Inspectors of Courses.
To participate in British racing, all horses must be registered with a licensed trainer.
REST AND RECOVERY
The period of recovery will vary from horse to horse. Some horses thrive on racing frequently, while others are more likely to give their best if each run is followed by a longer period of rest. Every horse’s routine will be bespoke to them, and managed by the trainer.
Horses returning to racing after a long break, or who have raced recently, receive extra checks from the BHA vets.
RETIREMENT & LIFE AFTER RACING
British racing is committed to the care of Thoroughbreds beyond their racing careers. Post-retirement some horses move into the breeding sector, while others excel in different equestrian disciplines such as showing, eventing, dressage, polo and show jumping, or enjoy a quieter life as a leisure or companion horse.
BREEDING
BIRTH AND REGISTRATION
The impressive life of a Thoroughbred horse starts here.
Foals and mares are supported by more than 8,000 people who work in the Thoroughbred breeding industry, ensuring all foals born for the sport immediately come under the care of dedicated staff with first class expertise.
Around 4,000 horses are bred for racing in Britain each year.
Within 30 days of being born, the young foal is officially registered, ensuring the horse is easily traceable and the people responsible for its care are fully accountable.
The foal is fully registered soon after, including recording its distinctive markings, blood DNA typing and microchipping, usually by 31 July of the year in which it was born.
These processes give the sport’s regulator, the BHA, the ability to track their whereabouts, along with being able to access the horse to assess their welfare and test for medications, if needed.
TRACKING HORSES
The British racing industry’s welfare strategy prioritizes traceability to monitor racehorses throughout their lives. The microchipping of horses, alongside the use of equine passports, has been an integral part of identification and tracking for decades.
69% of foals bred for the sport who were born in 2018 entered training, with further studies currently underway.
British racing's ambition is to ensure that the industry has greater traceability on those who do not make it to the racecourse and tracking of the alternative pathways they have taken.
The BHA is developing an all-encompassing database which will combine all the horse’s information and ownership since that initial registration and will continue post-retirement.
ATHLETE IN TRAINING
All Thoroughbreds' care is overseen by licensed trainers who are skilled in providing for the needs and welfare of every horse.
Racing provides horses with an excellent quality of life. From the very best feed and bedding, to regular veterinary care and up to date vaccinations, horses have constant year round care from a dedicated team of professionals.
In addition, regular exercise is an essential part of the life of a Thoroughbred.
The 14,000 horses in training at any one time are cared for by around 8,000 stable staff. All trainers are licensed to care for them under strict guidelines.
The BHA also regularly visits stables to ensure that the sport's high standards are being met and maintained and the horses are in good condition.
MEDICATION AND DOPING CONTROLS
Our zero-tolerance stance on performance-enhancing drugs means no horses are allowed to be administered such substances under any circumstances.
Moreover, horses will not be allowed to race with any substances or medications in their system at levels which might affect their physiology and overall wellbeing, even if they are substances which are legal and permitted to be given to horses when they are at home.
Regular inspections and detailed vet records ensure compliance.
Testing is comprehensive, conducted both in training yards and on racecourses.
FUELLED TO WIN
Like all elite athletes, a racehorse’s nutrition is key to their health and performance. Their diet is meticulously managed and tailored to each individual’s needs to ensure peak competition readiness. The high-energy demands of racing necessitate proper fuelling and hydration.
A balanced diet high in fats, proteins, fibres, and carbohydrates is essential for their performance.
These nutrients are sourced from a mix of forage, like grass and hay, and grains, including oats, corn, and barley, to maintain their high-performance levels.
5-STAR FACILITIES
Whether at home or on the racecourse, Thoroughbreds are provided with 5-star facilities.
Many trainers’ yards provide facilities such as solariums, swimming pools, walkers and salt spas.
At every racecourse there are veterinary facilities and equipment designed to assist any horse who picks up an injury.
RACING
All racing takes place under the careful supervision of teams of vets. Physical examinations are routine before any race takes place, allowing vets to detect any issues and provide immediate attention.
Vet supervision doesn’t stop before the race. They follow the horses while they are taking part so they can act within 60 seconds for any horse in need, and after every race, each horse is under the oversight of vets and welfare officers who can ensure that there are no concerns before the horse returns home.
From rubberised walkways to comprehensive veterinary facilities, racecourses are designed with equine welfare in mind. All racecourses must meet stringent welfare criteria and are assessed frequently by BHA Inspectors of Courses.
To participate in British racing, all horses must be registered with a licensed trainer.
REST AND RECOVERY
The period of recovery will vary from horse to horse. Some horses thrive on racing frequently, while others are more likely to give their best if each run is followed by a longer period of rest. Every horse’s routine will be bespoke to them, and managed by the trainer.
Horses returning to racing after a long break, or who have raced recently, receive extra checks from the BHA vets.
RETIREMENT & LIFE AFTER RACING
British racing is committed to the care of Thoroughbreds beyond their racing careers. Post-retirement some horses move into the breeding sector, while others excel in different equestrian disciplines such as showing, eventing, dressage, polo and show jumping, or enjoy a quieter life as a leisure or companion horse.
THE RULES
Our rules are there to protect the welfare of the sport’s participants and ensure a level playing field and are regulated by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
The rules include strict requirements on how horses should be ridden during a race to ensure their welfare.
Also written into the rules of the sport are the responsibilities of everyone involved in the sport to ensure that they act in the best interests of horses at all times.
A whistleblowing hotline RaceWISE allows anyone working or involved with racing to anonymously report breaches of the rules or concerns about the wellbeing of the sport’s participants, human or equine, ensuring the highest integrity across the sport.
PRE AND POST-RACE CHECKS BY VETS
All racing takes place under the careful supervision of a team of vets to ensure each horses’ welfare and wellbeing and it’s suitable to race.
Physical examinations are routine before races, allowing vets and experienced horse people to detect any potential issues and provide immediate action and attention.
Horses are also assessed after their races, to ensure any issues can be identified and acted on.
A TEAM OF VETS ALWAYS 60 SECONDS AWAY
Vets follow races as they happen and must be able to attend to any horse within 60 seconds.
A minimum of three vets are required to be on hand at a racecourse for every flat race meeting that takes place in Britain each year. This rises to four for a jumps race meeting, and many more will attend the larger fixtures.
REGULAR INSPECTIONS TO UPHOLD STANDARDS
Stables and tracks must adhere to high standards, with regular inspections to ensure compliance.
THE WHIP
New, strict regulation around the whip was introduced in 2023, ensuring that the use of the padded ProCush whip for safety and encouragement is tightly controlled, with thresholds for use set at very low levels.
Since these rules were introduced they have been breached on only 0.59% of rides, or just over one in every 200 rides.
COLLECTIVE WELFARE RESPONSIBILITY OF OFFICIALS
BHA and racecourses officials work closely together and are tasked with safeguarding the welfare of the horses and to ensure the highest horse welfare and safety standards across the whole racecourse