Another 113 horses lost their lives at racecourses around Ireland in 2021, with 47 more dead so far this year, shocking new statistics reveal.

The figures, obtained from Horse Racing Ireland by Paul Murphy TD, bring to over 1,300 the number of horses killed at Irish racecourses and point to point races in the past decade.

Among the latest victims were “six fatalities at this year’s Punchestown Festival” and six horses dead following the Fairyhouse festival.

There were also over 20 deaths at foxhunt-organised point-to-point races in the 2020/2021 season (over 300 since 2012).

Horse Racing Ireland – which has received more than a billion euros in government grants to-date – revealed the method of killing to be either lethal injection or a bullet in the head.

Thousands of race horses have also been sent to slaughter, including 1,105 last year and over 300 so far this year.

The slaughter statistics were uncovered by Deputy Murphy (People Before Profit-Solidarity) following Dail Questions to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue.

The Minister confirmed that between 2016 and 2022, 13,484 thoroughbred horses were slaughtered at Department-approved slaughter facilities in Ireland.

2022 (to-date): 305
2021: 1,105
2020: 1,549
2019: 2,218
2018: 2,526
2017: 2,829
2016: 2,952

Horse deaths at Irish racecourses

2022: 47 deaths (up to May 2022)
2021: 113 deaths
2020: 65 deaths
2019: 102 deaths
2018: 111 deaths
2017: 88 deaths
2016: 83 deaths
2015: 89 deaths
2014: 99 deaths
2013: 121 deaths
2012: 82 deaths

Horse deaths at foxhunt-organised point-to-point races

2021/2022: 19 deaths (up to May 2022)
2020/2021: 23 deaths (HRI previously stated that up to 11 May 2021, there had been 28 fatalities)
2019/2020: 13 deaths
2018/2019: 38 deaths
2017/2018: 28 deaths
2016/2017: 32 deaths
2015/2016: 36 deaths
2014/2015: 30 deaths
2013/2014: 42 deaths
2012/2013: 49 deaths

ACTION ALERT

Don’t bet on horse racing or attend racing events.

There are renewed calls on the government to stop supporting racing. Since 2001, the Irish Government has granted more than €1.5 Billion of scarce public funds to horse and greyhound racing, i.e. €1,240 million for horse racing and €309 million for greyhound racing.

Contact Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and demand an end to state funding to these two gambling activities which cause much suffering and death to animals. Tell them to redirect the funds to the many deserving charities, health/homeless/environmental groups, sports clubs, animal rescue centres, etc crying out for funding.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
Telephone: +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie; minister@finance.gov.ie
Tel: 01 604 5626
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Tweet to @Paschald

SEE ALSO:

More than 1,100 race horses slaughtered in Ireland in 2021
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/05/13/more-than-1100-race-horses-slaughtered-in-ireland-in-2021/

Six horses killed at Punchestown racing festival
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/05/31/six-horses-killed-at-punchestown-racing-festival/

Six horses dead following Fairyhouse racing festival
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/05/12/six-horses-dead-following-fairyhouse-racing-festival/


Irish Government grants to horse racing

2001 €47,110,330
2002 €54,452,651
2003 €51,348,800
2004 €53,531,200
2005 €54,680,000
2006 €56,047,000
2007 €58,539,000
2008 €61,028,800
2009 €54,502,000
2010 €47,411,200
2011 €45,830,000
2012 €45,032,000
2013 €44,016,000
2014 €43,376,000
2015 €54,400,000
2016 €59,200,000
2017 €64,000,000
2018 €64,000,000
2019 €67,200,000
2020 €67,200,000
2021 €76,800,000
2022 €70,400,000

Total: €1,240,104,981 / €1,240 million / €1.24 billion

Irish Government grants to greyhound racing

2001 €11,777,583
2002 €13,613,163b
2003 €12,837,200
2004 €13,382,800
2005 €13,670,000
2006 €14,012,000
2007 €14,572,000
2008 €15,257,000
2009 €13,625,600
2010 €11,852,800
2011 €11,460,000
2012 €11,258,000
2013 €11,004,000
2014 €10,844,000
2015 €13,600,000
2016 €14,800,000
2017 €16,000,000
2018 €16,000,000
2019 €16,800,000
2020 €16,800,000
2021 €19,200,000
2022 €17,600,000

Total: €309,966,146 / €309 million / €0.309 billion

Source: Department of Agriculture