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HRA Publishes Report Into Cheltenham Festival Equine Deaths
25/07/06

The Horseracing Regulatory Authority has published its report into the equine fatalities at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.

The report, produced by the HRA's Racecourse Department, details all the possible factors, including the individual horses, the going, obstacles, the weather, the race conditions and the riders and whilst it is unable to reach a definitive explanation for the abnormally high fatality rate, concludes with seven key areas of review or action.

Tony Goodhew, Director of Racecourse Licensing and Standards, said: "Many people have theories and opinions and there is rightly public concern when the casualty rate is so unacceptably high. This is exactly why we spent such a large amount of time and effort accumulating and examining all the facts and gathering expert opinions to establish if there were common factors in the fatalities.

"We could not be satisfied that any specific factor, or combination of factors, caused or linked the unusually high number of fatalities, although we are satisfied no fault rested with the Cheltenham Executive and the way the track had been prepared.

"The report does highlight, for example, that drainage is not the problem that some people perceived and it also highlights that the 10 year rolling fatality rate has reduced by just under 25% in the last 8 years, even including this year's figures.

"However, because the safety and welfare of horses and riders are of paramount importance and continuous improvement is always being sought in these areas, we have made seven recommendations which we will now discuss with the Cheltenham Executive."

The seven recommendations include a mandatory veterinary review of all runners at the Festival and a number of areas for the Cheltenham Executive to consider, including the conditions of the National Hunt Chase, safety factors and the siting of certain obstacles.

John Bridgeman, Chairman of the HRA, said: "Racing cannot afford to be complacent and should always be concerned when casualties are so high, as was the case at this year's Festival. Whilst we all recognise that horseracing carries an element of risk for its participants, we are determined to minimise those risks through regulation and best practice.

"The Cheltenham Festival is jump racing's Olympics and, working with the industry and the racecourse, the HRA is fully committed to minimising the risk and ensuring that the Festival remains a tough, but most importantly, fair test.

"Publishing this report in full, rather than distilled highlights, shows our desire to be transparent and accountable to the horseracing public. This will remain a fundamental principle of our regulation of British horseracing."

Cheltenham Racecourse Welcomes HRA Report

Cheltenham Racecourse welcomes the HRA report into the fatalities at this year's Festival.

The Cheltenham Board regards the safety and welfare of the horses and riders as its highest priority and continues to do everything it can to reduce manageable risk. It is encouraged by the long term downward trend of fatalities but regards the number at this year's Festival as unacceptable.

The Board is already acting on all the HRA's recommendations related to the course. Fence 14, at the top of the hill, on the New Course has been re-sited and the fences on the New Course are being widened further to enable more ground to be protected on the chase course solely for the Festival. A feasibility study is being undertaken into adding a third chase and hurdle course to preserve even more un-raced ground for March.

Recommendations to reduce safety factors and to change the conditions of the National Hunt Chase have been discussed with trainers and will now be discussed with the BHB.

Cheltenham's Managing Director, Edward Gillespie said: "In excess of £3m has been spent at Cheltenham in the last six years on projects that are specifically related to horse welfare.

"These include widening the course, improved routes to the start and a veterinary centre. We look forward to implementing these recommendations for the 2007 Festival and continuing to work with trainers and welfare organisations to ensure we are at the forefront of best practice on such an important matter."