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1,428 thoroughbred horses were slaughtered in Ireland in 2023, shocking new statistics reveal.
The kill figure came to light following a Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD who asked for "the total number of thoroughbreds sent to slaughter" last year.
In response, the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue stated: "The number of thoroughbreds slaughtered at facilities approved by my Department in 2023 was 1,428."
The number of horses slaughtered in 2023 was 377 (36%) more than in 2022. The latest figure brings to 15,658 the number of thoroughbreds slaughtered in Ireland since 2016. These deaths represents only a portion of the total number of race horses killed. Horses also suffer and die at racecourses and in training.
It previously emerged that a total of 1,874 thoroughbred horses died in Ireland in 2022. That figure was provided to Deputy Murphy in response to a question about “the total number of horse deaths associated with racing in 2022, to include not only horses killed at racecourses but also horses used in racing and later killed elsewhere”.
Responding, Horse Racing Ireland's Equine Welfare and Bloodstock Director stated: “The total number of thoroughbreds recorded by Weatherby’s as having died in 2022 was 1,874.”
“As the passport issuing organisation for thoroughbreds in Ireland, Weatherby’s compiles the record of horses which have died in Ireland each year,” he added. “These numbers will include all thoroughbreds, and since they are specifically bred to race, they are 'associated with racing', although their actual death may have no connection to anything which happened on the racecourse, and since it captures all horses at all stages, the circumstances will include the infirmities of old age. Some will be broodmares [mares used for breeding] or retirees, etc.”
Deputy Murphy requested a breakdown of the reasons for the killings but this was not provided.
Over 1,000 horses have lost their lives at racecourses in the past decade. Horse Racing Ireland – which has received more than €1.38 billion in government grants to-date – revealed the method of killing to be either lethal injection or a bullet in the head.
Thousands more thoroughbred horses have been exported to the UK for slaughter – as revealed in the BBC documentary “The Dark Side of Horse Racing”.
ACTION ALERT
Don’t attend races or bet on racing.
Why you should say NO to horse racing – download and distribute the leaflet https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/08/05/new-leaflet-why-you-should-say-no-to-horse-racing
Demand an end to the government’s massive grants to horse racing – more than €1.38 Billion handed over since 2001, including €76 million for 2024. Contact the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Finance Minister now.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Tanaiste Micheál Martin TD
Email: 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/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Michael McGrath TD
Minister for Finance
Email: michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; minister@per.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michael.mcgrath.1614
X: http://twitter.com/mmcgrathtd
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
2023 €72,800,000
2024 €76,000,000
TOTAL: €1,388,904,981 (€1.38 Billion)
Source: Department of Agriculture
Watch the BBC Panorama documentary “The Dark Side of Horse Racing”
https://youtu.be/VlpQhJFd5Bo
Horse deaths at Irish racecourses
2022: 107 deaths
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
Thoroughbred horses slaughtered in Ireland
2023: 1,428
2022: 1,051
2021: 1,105
2020: 1,549
2019: 2,218
2018: 2,526
2017: 2,829
2016: 2,952