108 horses were killed at racecourses around Ireland in 2024, it has emerged.
The sickening statistics have come to light following a Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD.
In his 29 April 2025 question, Deputy Murphy (Solidarity-People Before Profit) asked the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon for “the number of injured horses killed at Irish racecourses in 2024, with a breakdown into type of injury and location”.
Minister Heydon did not provide the figures, instead referring the question to Horse Racing Ireland.
HRI subsequently told Deputy Murphy that “the number of horses killed at Irish racecourses in 2024 was 108”.
Horse Racing Ireland did not provide details about the types of injuries, claiming: “we do not have the detail of specific injuries.”
This despite the fact that, in response to a previous question, it provided details showing that in the first six months of 2024, 33 horses were killed after suffering fractures, four others died due to “exercise associated sudden death” and four were killed after sustaining “soft tissue injury”.
The 2024 death figure brings to 1,279 the number of horses killed at racecourses in Ireland since 2012.
The horse-killing gambling industry has been granted more than €1.46 Billion of taxpayers' money since 2001, including €76 million for 2024 and €79.28 million for 2025.
Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon was asked by Deputy Murphy “if, given the ongoing suffering and death at races, he will defund horse racing”, to which the Minister replied: “I have no plans to discontinue exchequer support for this industry.”
The killing of horses at racecourses has continued into 2025, with numerous more horses confirmed dead.
Horse Racing Ireland has in the past revealed the method of killing to be either lethal injection or a bullet in the head.
The death figures do not include the horses injured at racecourses, taken away and later killed elsewhere or the horses killed behind the scenes because they are not fast enough to win races.
Many more race horses are also killed in slaughterhouses. Between 2016 and 2023, 15,658 thoroughbreds were slaughtered at “Department-approved slaughter facilities” in Ireland.
ACTION ALERT
Don’t bet on horse racing or attend horse racing events.
Since 2001, the Irish Government has granted €1.46 Billion of scarce public funds to horse racing.
Contact the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Finance Minister and demand an end to state funding to this gambling activity which causes so much suffering and death. 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 TD
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Tanaiste Simon Harris TD
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: minister@finance.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paschal.donohoe
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Paschald
Please sign and share the petition
Irish Government: Stop giving millions of euros to horse racing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euros-to-horse-racing
Join us in urging companies to stop sponsoring horse racing.
Guinness Ireland
Email: customer.service@diageo.com; Consumerinfo.ireland@diageo.com
The Connacht Hotel
Email: marketing@theconnacht.ie
Tel: +353 91 381200
SuperValu Ireland
Email: group@musgrave.ie
Tel +353 (0) 21 4522100
https://twitter.com/Musgraveplc
The SuperValu Ireland Ladies Day meeting took place at Roscommon Racecourse on 8th July 2024. Organisers thanked Supervalu for “making this event possible”. On the day, 5-year-old horse Morning Soldier was pulled up in the “SuperValu Co. Roscommon Ladies Day Novice Hurdle” race and was later confirmed dead.
EMS Copiers
Email: info@emscopiers.ie; sales@emscopiers.ie
Tel: 01 6205501.
Colm Quinn BMW
Email: sales@colmquinnbmw.ie
Tel: 090 646 5888
https://twitter.com/ColmQuinn_bmw
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colm-Quinn-BMW/117749908310381
Bulmers Irish Cider (also known as Magners Original Irish Cider)
Email: info@bulmers.ie; company.secretary@candcgroup.ie
https://www.facebook.com/bulmersoriginalirishcider
https://twitter.com/bulmersireland
In 2022, Bulmers was announced as “the Official Entertainment Partner of Horse Racing Ireland’s Racecourses”, with a Bulmers spokesperson stating: “We are delighted to be expanding and re-energising our long-standing relationship with Horse Racing Ireland and are looking forward to the next three years working to grow the spectator experience at horse racing”
Westmeath County Council/Belvedere House and Gardens
Sponsors racing at Kilbeggan Racecourse
Email: chiefexecutive@Westmeathcoco.ie; info@belvedere-house.ie
https://x.com/westmeathcoco
https://x.com/BelvedereHouse
Kilmurray's Homevalue Hardware
Mullingar Business Park
Tel: 044 934 2955
Email: info@kilmurrayprecast.ie
Kilmurray's Homevalue Hardware sponsored the €100,000 “Kilmurray's Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Midlands National Handicap Chase” race at Kilbeggan Racecourse on 12 July 2024.
Brennan's Pharmacy
Sponsored a race at Tramore racecourse (17 August 2024) after which horse Mt Leinster had "blood at both nostrils"
Email: info@brennanspharmacy.com
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
2025 €79,280,000
TOTAL: €1,468,184,981 (€1.46 Billion)
Source: Department of Agriculture
Thoroughbred horses slaughtered in Ireland
2023: 1,428
2022: 1,050
2021: 1,105
2020: 1,549
2019: 2,218
2018: 2,526
2017: 2,829
2016: 2,952
SEE ALSO
More horses confirmed dead following races at Irish racecourses
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/horses-confirmed-dead-following-races-at-irish-racecourses/
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
Watch "RTE Investigates: Horses - Making a Killing"
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ymm0xh3gp7o
Watch the BBC Panorama documentary “The Dark Side of Horse Racing”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1TZnZgV8L4
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports