Horse Care on Raceday

The wellbeing of horses is integral to the thoroughbred racehorse industry. Racecourses play their part through adherence to a clear set of industry standards. Prior to each race meeting an independent track inspection is carried out by an IHRB accredited “Clerk of the Course”. This individual will check all equine facilities, including ground conditions, railing, stables and veterinary care facilities. All racecourses must meet the required standards to be granted a licence to race.

At every race meeting a team of equine veterinary surgeons supervise the wellbeing of horses. All racecourse vets must be members of the Association of Irish Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons (AIRVS) and will have received specialist training in the field of racecourse work.

The IHRB Veterinary Officer at each meeting has responsibilities including:

• Horse Identification - achieved through checking their microchip numbers against those recorded in their passports.

• Drug Testing - a process is vital to ensure the integrity of the sport.

• General oversight of horse care and wellbeing.

• Provision of advice to the Stewards, on veterinary matters. A racecourse vet will check horses at the start for each race. If they deem any horse unfit to race at this point, they have the authority to withdraw the horse. During the race the vets follow on, within the convoy of vehicles seen on the service road. Other vehicles in this convoy include doctors, paramedics and ground-staff. This whole team will swing into action if any incident occurs. It is normal procedure to erect screens around any horse or jockey receiving treatment. This allows the veterinary or medical teams some privacy to fully assess the casualty. Racegoers should not assume the worst if screens are erected around an injured participant.

The Blue Cross Horse Ambulance are also present every meeting, the service is operated by skilled personnel using specially equipped horse ambulances. They work to support the Veterinary Team. They respond swiftly to any incidents involving injured horses and transport them off the racetrack for specialist veterinary care if required.

The presentation of the horses on race day reflects the preparation at home. The results of good feeding, good housing, good health, and good wellbeing are clear to see when a horse appears at the races bright-eyed with a gleaming coat and a spring in their step. Raceday is great opportunity for the public to observe the high standards of care given to these horses.

All horses are accompanied on raceday by their own dedicated stable staff. These skilled people will have spent many months and sometimes years preparing their horses for the raceday. They lavish care and attention, day in, day out, in all weathers, and the industry is extremely proud of these excellent individuals. They help maintain Ireland’s position as an international leader in the thoroughbred breeding, training, and racing industry, ensuring best-in-class integrity and equine welfare standards.

2.7 MILLION IN 2023

Irish Racing’s Largest Sponsor

Irish Stallion Farms will contribute €2.7 million towards Irish prize-money in 2023, bringing our total investment to over €57m since the foundation of the Irish EBF in 1983.

Irish European Breeders’ Fund

Greenhills, Kill, Naas, Co. Kildare W91 FY62

For further details, contact Nessa Joyce:

T: 00 353 45 910 999

00 353 85 7590970