ANIMAL Aid is at the forefront in campaigning for race horses.

We expose disturbing issues that affect their welfare.

Figures just released by Animal Aid for 2020 show shocking deaths and whip abuse across racecourses in Great Britain.

Readers may be surprised to know that 130 race horses were killed as a result of racing in 2020 – all of the horses suffered horrific deaths.

Animal Aid’s Horse Deathwatch website names racing’s victims and the circumstances surrounding their fatal races, visit http://www.horsedeathwatch.com/

We have also led the campaign to ban the use of the whip in racing.

Racing allows jockeys to hit their horses for ‘encouragement’ with seven strikes deemed ‘acceptable’ in a Flat race and eight strikes in a Jump race.

Alarmingly, these rules are repeatedly broken year-on-year.

In 2020 there were 299 breaches of the rules for hitting horses above the strike limits or on the ‘wrong’ part of their body or for using excessive force.

For readers who wish to find out more about our horse racing campaign, and to help bring an end to the use of the whip, please visit: http://www.animalaid.org.uk/banwhip

Fiona Pereira Campaigns manager Animal Aid