Posted on the 21st June 2025
New information obtained from the Food Standards Agency by Animal Aid (through a Freedom of Information request) reveals the truth behind the smokescreen of ‘glamour’ at Ascot this week. Statistics show that 317 horses from the racing industry were sent to slaughter in England in the first five months of 2025. 186 of these were just five years old or less.
This figure is highly disturbing, and shows a marked increase compared to 2024 when 107 horses with racing industry passports were slaughtered in England between January and June.
303 of the 317 horses had Irish passports – meaning many were likely to have endured stressful and harrowing transportation from Ireland before drawing their final breath in an abattoir. This echoes the figures for 2024 – where 538 Irish racing horses were slaughtered in England. This huge increase followed the closure of Ireland’s only licensed slaughterhouse, Shannonside Ltd, after abuse and fraudulent activity were uncovered in an RTÉ programme.
How can racing be complicit in this horrifying abuse, whilst simultaneously promoting themselves as ‘guardians’ of horse welfare? The racing industry is breeding horses in their thousands and then cruelly disposing of the ones who are no longer profitable. It is an industry built on greed, selfishness, and a disregard for the sentience of other animals.
These shocking statistics may also reflect the public’s waning support for horse racing. Crowds were significantly lower at Epsom a few weeks ago, and a recent survey by World Horse Welfare shows that more than 20% of the UK public do not support the use of horses in sport at all.
Says Nina Copleston-Hawkens, Animal Aid Campaign Manager:
“As Royal Ascot takes place this week – an event dripping in champagne, money and the disturbing fantasy that horse racing is in some way glamorous – unwanted horses from the racing industry are being killed in abattoirs for their meat. What is glamorous about a horse being sent to slaughter because they couldn’t run fast enough? What is stylish about toasting the cruel dominance that humans exert over innocent animals? When will this hellish spectacle – akin to a dystopian Hunger Games – end?”
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