Horse Racing: Animal Welfare

(asked on 15th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing an independent body to protect racehorse welfare.


Answered by
Victoria Prentis Portrait
Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
This question was answered on 18th June 2020

More must be done to improve racehorse safety and welfare. Officials have been in regular dialogue with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), British racing's governing and regulatory body, about the safety and welfare of racehorses, and to understand what the industry is doing to reduce the number of fatalities. The Government welcomed the creation of the racing industry's Horse Welfare Board, which was formed in March 2019 and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare experts.

The Board is committed to doing all it can to make the sport safer and we have welcomed the publication of the Board's five-year horse welfare strategy "A life well lived". The strategy contains 20 recommendations for the industry aimed at ensuring the best possible safety and quality of life for racehorses.

Whilst the Government does not consider it would be appropriate at this stage to appoint an independent body for racehorse welfare, my officials remain in regular contact with the industry and the Horse Welfare Board. We will be monitoring closely how the industry responds to the Board's recommendations so that the welfare needs of racehorses are met both during and after their racing lives.

Reticulating Splines