174 race horses died in 2024 from racing/training injuries in Australia: the highest number ever recorded but the real figures are probably higher

 

At least 174 racehorses died from racing or training injuries in past 12 months in Australia, report finds

That’s the highest number recorded by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses since they began tracking deaths 10 years ago

Eighty-five of the deaths listed in the report were the result of a fatal front limb injury.

The report from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) was released on Tuesday, one week ahead of Australia’s most important horse race, the Melbourne Cup

The data is based on deaths recorded in official stewards’ reports, media reporting and whistleblower information. CPR’s general manager, Helle Erhardsen, said all deaths listed in the report had been verified via public records, with racing authorities, or directly with the trainer or owner of the affected horse. The report includes both flat and jumps racing and injuries that occurred during training.

Erhardsen said the real figure was likely higher, as fatal injuries that occur in training or at the stables were not publicly reported. A GIPA request made by the group to Racing NSW in February found 138 horses had died or been euthanised as a direct result of injuries sustained in racing or training in 2023-24 – more than twice the number that was counted by CPR for that year.

Twenty horses died as a result of race day accidents in flat races in Victoria in the 2024-25 season. The CPR report, which includes horses in jumps racing and those which were euthanised as the result of an injury sustained in training or trackwork, lists 40.

Eighty-five of the deaths listed in the report were the result of a fatal front limb injury.

Erhardsen said the real figure was likely higher, as fatal injuries that occur in training or at the stables were not publicly reported. A GIPA request made by the group to Racing NSW in February found 138 horses had died or been euthanised as a direct result of injuries sustained in racing or training in 2023-24 – more than twice the number that was counted by CPR for that year.

Twenty horses died as a result of race day accidents in flat races in Victoria in the 2024-25 season. The CPR report, which includes horses in jumps racing and those which were euthanised as the result of an injury sustained in training or trackwork, lists 40.

It comes as Racing Victoria is reeling from allegations made by its general manager of veterinary services, Dr Grace Forbes, in the midst of a Fair Work case. According to a report by the Herald Sun, Forbes alleged she was told by Racing Victoria to be more “flexible”, which she interpreted as a request to be more flexible in her application of the veterinary safety protocols when deciding whether to clear a horse to race.

A spokesperson for Racing Victoria said it was “disappointed to read the unsubstantiated allegations and strongly refute their accuracy and the disparaging comments about Racing Victoria and its staff”.

They said equine welfare was “of the highest priority to Racing Victoria”.

The veterinary safety protocols were introduced in 2021 after seven horses died in the running of the Melbourne Cup between 2013 and 2020, five from a fatal leg injury. Those five were all international entrants.

The veterinary safety protocols require international horses to have a CT scan of all distal limbs before flying to Australia – or an MRI if a CT scan is not available – and a further CT scan ahead of every race in Australia. They also require a number of pre-race examinations by vets appointed by Racing Victoria, including three before the horse boards its international flight, weekly once on the ground in Australia, one before every race, and twice before the Melbourne Cup.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/28/racehorse-deaths-australia-racing-training-injuries