At least 174 racehorses died from racing or training injuries in Australia in the past 12 months, report finds

At least 174 thoroughbred racehorses died on the track or as a result of injuries sustained while racing or training in the past 12 months – the highest number recorded by animal rights activists since they started tracking 10 years ago.

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) report was released on Tuesday, a week ahead of Australia’s premier horse race, the Melbourne Cup.

The data is based on deaths recorded in official stewards’ reports, media reports and information from whistleblowers. CPR general manager Helle Erhardsen said all deaths mentioned in the report have been verified through public records, with racing authorities or directly with the trainer or owner of the affected horse. The report includes both flat and jump races and injuries that occurred during training.

Eighty-five of the deaths cited in the report resulted from fatal forelimb injuries.

Erhardsen said the actual figure was likely higher because fatal injuries that occurred during training or in the stable were not publicly reported. A GIPA request made by the group to Racing NSW in February revealed that 138 horses had died or been euthanized as a direct result of injuries sustained while racing or training in 2023-2024 – more than double the number counted by CPR for that year.

Twenty horses died as a result of race day accidents during flat races in Victoria in the 2024-2025 season. The CPR report, which includes horses competing in jump races and horses euthanized as a result of an injury sustained during training or track work, lists 40.

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It comes as Racing Victoria is reeling from allegations made by chief executive of veterinary services Dr Grace Forbes in the middle of a Fair Work case. According to a report from the Herald SunForbes claimed Racing Victoria told her she needed to be ‘more flexible’, which she interpreted as a request to be more flexible in her application of veterinary safety protocols when deciding whether to release a horse to race.

A Racing Victoria spokesperson said it was “disappointed to read the unsubstantiated allegations and strongly refute their accuracy and the disparaging comments about Racing Victoria and its staff”.

They said the welfare of horses was “of the highest priority for Racing Victoria”.

The veterinary safety protocols were introduced in 2021 after seven horses died during the running of the Melbourne Cup between 2013 and 2020, five of which were from fatal leg injuries. These five were all international participants.

Veterinary safety protocols require international horses to undergo a CT scan of all distal limbs before flying to Australia – or an MRI if a CT scan is not available – and another CT scan prior to any race in Australia. They also require a number of pre-race examinations by veterinarians appointed by Racing Victoria, including three before the horse boards its international flight, once on the ground every week in Australia, one before each race and twice before the Melbourne Cup.

All Melbourne Cup runners, including locally trained horses, must undergo a mandatory CT scan and two pre-race veterinary inspections. From 2025, CT scan results can also be followed up with a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, following government funding to install the diagnostic technology at Werribee.

CT scans can identify otherwise unnoticed bone damage and provide detailed images of both bone and soft tissue, allowing early detection of injuries that could lead to a catastrophic fracture.

Racing Victoria said there has been no fatal injury at the Spring Racing Carnival since the protocols were introduced.

“The protocols are regularly reviewed to consider their application, continued suitability and any improvements based on stakeholder feedback, our learnings, data and new technology,” a Racing Victoria spokesperson said, adding that any changes to those protocols would require “extensive consultation and multiple layers of approval”.

“Our goal remains to deliver world-class racing while prioritizing the safety of horses and riders,” they said.

Erhardsen said the protocols should be extended to all racehorses at all Australian tracks to reduce fatal injuries in smaller races.

“If Racing Victoria can prevent catastrophic injuries on track in front of racegoers and on TV screens by scanning all horses before they can compete in the Melbourne Cup, why don’t they and all other national racing authorities require CT scans of all horses used in racing all year round?” she said.

“If they cared as much about the horses as they do about their public image, they would.”