The festival continues to face backlash over its chaotic and stressful race starts. Stewards have called multiple false starts so far, with jockeys jostling for position and horses manoeuvred like vehicles while the riders on their back shout and argue with one another.
This is incredibly stressful for horses. Attempts to force them into position – often by yelling or kicking them, as we saw earlier in the week – followed by a sudden burst of movement can increase stress, confusion, and the risk of accidents before the race has even begun.
The British Horseracing Association has called for a “full review” into race starts, but nowhere in their statement do they mention the wellbeing of horses.
14 horses did not finish their races on Thursday, bringing the total number of ‘DNFs’ to 56 for the festival so far. Sadly, two of these have already lost their lives – Hansard on the first day of the festival and HMS Seahorse on day two – but the rest are still very much at risk. If they fail to return to the ‘racing standard’ demanded by the industry, they may be killed away from the cameras and concerned public.
That’s why the fate of every non-finisher, faller, and pulled-up horse will be closely monitored beyond the racecourse.
We will continue tracking them over the coming days and weeks to ensure that any injuries or developments are documented and not quietly forgotten once the festival headlines fade.
Further resources:
- Our latest annual report, Victims of British and Irish Horse Racing 2025-26 is available now.
- Death Watch launched in 2007 after nine horses died during Cheltenham the previous year. We aim to record and expose every single death of horses due to on-course injuries in Britain.
- In 2026, we’re celebrating the Year of the Horse and asking people to boycott watching or betting on racing.
For more information or an interview, contact Isobel McNally at isobel@animalaid.org.uk or 01732 364546.
