"Around the world, the age-old sport of horse racing is facing existential threats from multiple sides. In the United States, some of those threats come in the form of legalized gambling, which has altered the landscape for racetracks and cut into their revenue. In Australia, the challenge takes a different form - specifically, a moral one, where advocacy groups raise issues over the risks the sport poses to the horses taking part in it."
"Based on the report, at least 98 of the horses that died this year did so as a result of a leg injury. For another 12, heart attacks were listed as the cause of death, while another nine had "collapsed and died" listed. It's possible that all of these numbers could be greater - 28 of the horse deaths were for an "unspecified injury," while another 10 were as a result of an "undisclosed reason.""
"In comments made to The Guardian, Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses general manager Helle Erhardsen asked why a practice of CT scans for horses taking part in the high-profile Melbourne Cup is not more widespread throughout the sport in Australia. "[W]hy don't they and all other state racing authorities require CT scans of all horses used in racing on every single race day year round?" Erhardsen asked."
Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses tallied 175 racehorse deaths in Australia between August 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025, the highest annual figure since 2014. At least 98 deaths resulted from leg injuries; 12 from heart attacks; nine recorded as "collapsed and died"; 28 categorized as "unspecified injury" and 10 as "undisclosed reason." Jumps racing, legal only in Victoria, drew particular criticism. Coalition general manager Helle Erhardsen questioned why CT scans are not required for all horses on every race day year-round. The sport also faces financial pressure from legalized gambling reducing racetrack revenue in the United States.
Read at InsideHook
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]