British Racing Taps into Equine Welfare Data

The British racing industry has partnered with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) to enhance equine welfare through the Racing Risk Models (RRM) project, according to sportinglife.com. Led by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the Horse Welfare Board, in collaboration with RVC researchers, the initiative draws on data spanning 14 years. Since 2018, the project has examined every race across Britain, cataloging details such as horse profiles, racing history, trainer, jockey, and racecourse data, alongside any adverse outcomes. Predictive models have identified key risk factors like the horse, race, course, trainer, and jockey, offering insights into reducing injuries and fatalities. To date, the analysis includes 400,000 National Hunt records, with Flat racing data added in 2023. Findings will be reviewed by the Equine Safety Group, comprising experts from across the industry – a combination of trainers, owners, jockeys, veterinary advisors and analysts – who will propose further research and reforms. Ongoing research examines factors like repeated falls, track configurations, field sizes, race values, horse age, and maiden and novice race formats. Insights aim to minimise preventable risks. James Given, the BHA's equine regulation and welfare director, commented, “The RVC’s independent expertise ensures scientifically rigorous evidence informs our decisions, reinforcing welfare as a cornerstone of our strategy.” Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare, added, “British racing’s use of its data to reduce avoidable risks is crucial for improving safety for horses and jockeys.”