Two horses used in a race at Limerick Racecourse on 12 July 2025 have been confirmed dead.
The horses, both 3-years-old, were identified as:
Woodshaw Whisper who suffered an injury and fell.
Heishybrid who was brought down.
The falls were described on Racing TV as "a very nasty incident indeed", with a race commentator noting that "Woodshaw Whisper looks like he might be badly injured".
In the same race, another horse (named Desmond Castle) was found to have "a slight wound" on his leg.
Heishybrid and Woodshaw Whisper are among a growing list of racing victims. 1,279 horses have been killed at racecourses in Ireland since 2012, including 108 in 2024. At least 40 horses have been killed at Irish racecourses since the start of 2025.
Horse Racing Ireland – which has received more than €1.46 Billion in government grants to-date – previously 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.
Horrific cruelty to race horses before slaughter was exposed in the “RTE Investigates: Horses – Making a Killing” documentary which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/ymm0xh3gp7o
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
Join us in urging companies to stop sponsoring horse racing.
Albert Bartlett
Email: info@albertbartlett.com
`Tel: +44 (0)1236 762831
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
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://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
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://youtu.be/ymm0xh3gp7o
Watch the BBC Panorama documentary “The Dark Side of Horse Racing”
https://youtu.be/F1TZnZgV8L4
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports