Written question asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord De Mauley (Conservative) on Monday, 28 February 2011.

Horse Racing: Equine Mortality

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the case for publishing comprehensive data on equine mortality, sickness and injury in the horse racing industry.

Answer: The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), which is responsible for the governance and regulation of horseracing in this country, already publishes annual injury and fatality data on its website. The BHA records and monitors falls and injuries sustained on racecourses and analyses information relating to fatal injuries to determine if those accidents can be prevented. This allows the BHA to take action if necessary, including implementing long-term strategies and veterinary research programmes to help reduce the risk of injury and death. Horses are protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 throughout their lives, which means that their owners, and those responsible for their care, have a duty to protect their welfare at all times.

Secondary information