The safety and welfare of the horse is of paramount importance to all in racing. It is at times too easy to forget that with all the associated parts of this industry, racing depends on healthy horses to race. Quite simply, without horses we have no sport and there is no extended industry.

Like most sports, racing carries risks. The main focus of the veterinary department is to make sure that no death or injury takes place which could have been prevented. In the last five years, despite a substantial increase in the number of runners, the average number of fatalities in a year has decreased. We hope to see that number reduced still further. Our objective is that there should be none.

We agree with animal welfare organisations that horses have the right to a decent and fulfilling life, both during their racing careers and afterwards.

The Veterinary Department, consisting of Veterinary Officers (VOs) and Veterinary  Technicians (VTs) has a dual role: regulatory and welfare.

On the racecourse, regulatory responsibilities include the administration of the dope testing procedures, the identification of horses and the monitoring of horses to ensure the equipment they have is correct and the examination of horses as and when requested to do so by the stewards. At the same time, the Veterinary Department sets the veterinary standards for racecourses covering the number of vets on duty and the facilities in place for horses.