1,386 horses killed at Irish racecourses since 2012

1,386 horses were killed at Irish racecourses (or within 48 hours of a race) between 2012 and 2025. 

This includes 107 deaths last year.

Further to a Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD, Horse Racing Ireland revealed that 103 of last year’s deaths were caused by “Catastrophic Musculoskeletal Injury” and four were caused by “exercise associated sudden death”.

The national 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.

Numerous horses are killed in slaughterhouses. Between 2016 and 2023, 15,658 thoroughbred horses were slaughtered at “Department-approved slaughter facilities” in Ireland.

In 2024, 919 horses were slaughtered in Ireland (including 647 thoroughbred racehorses), 782 Irish horses were slaughtered in the UK (including 538 thoroughbred racehorses) and 256 Irish horses were exported to France and slaughtered.

Find out more about the victims of horse racing at
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/horses-confirmed-dead-following-races-at-irish-racecourses/ 

TAKE ACTION

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

Since 2001, the Irish Government has granted €1.54 Billion of public funds to horse racing, with €81.6 million more allocated for 2027. Contact the Taoiseach and Tanaiste 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 support.

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

Sign and share the petitions

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

Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-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

#YouBetTheyDie #RejectRacing