Horse racing remains one of the most popular sports across the globe, with millions following action surrounding some of the biggest events in the diary. The sport has come a long way throughout its history, and it is easy to argue that racing has never been as safe as it is in this modern day.
Transformative changes to the main rules of the sport have helped safeguard not only the equines involved, but also those that ride and work with the stars of the sport on a daily basis.
Of course, betting on racing remains most popular, with sportsbooks such as TwinSpires.com offering odds for every major race throughout the year. But, who are some of the most influential figures that have helped transform racing to what it is today?
Laurie Williams
One of the most important figures in safeguarding riders is Laurie Williams, who is credited with creating the patented safety reins that are regularly seen at every track in the modern day.
Before Williams’ intervention, riders would become entangled in their reins when falling, creating issues for not just professional jockeys but also young children looking to learn how to ride. Williams realised that conventional reins were no longer fit for purpose, and created a solution.
The solution would see the reins operate with a quick-release system, meaning that it would help prevent riders from getting tangled when falling off a horse. This has helped reduce injuries for both riders and horses alike.
Dr. Kevin Keegan
As a lifelong lover of equines and sport, Dr. Kevin Keegan has been a regular speaker at equine-related conferences throughout his career, and he is the founding father of the revolution technology known as Equinosis Q.
The tech has gained traction across the world for its ability to safeguard horses, whether on track or during basic training work. Rolled out in the U.S., this form of tech is wearable by horses, and it is able to relay to trainers whether the equine is lame. It works by the horse stepping up into a trot, before identifying mechanisms within the horses’ body to determine whether the animal is 100% healthy.
It is a revolutionary piece of technology that helps to safeguard horses and ensure that animal welfare is at the forefront of the sport. Identifying whether a horse is lame is challenging from the naked eye, meaning that the tech reduces any doubt.
Cath Dennis
One of the most exciting parts of any horse race is the start, with the stalls providing the fascinating starting point in some of the world’s biggest races.
The invention of making stall entry as safe as possible for the horses involved was created by Cath Dennis. Dennis studied equine behaviour at teaches about all things horses at Aberdeen University. Loading can often be an unnerving experience for some horses, but the inventor’s discovery of a harness being used to load a horse into the stall.
She came up with the idea after watching her husband load Zenith, with the process taking longer than expected, which would ultimately unsettle other horses that were already in position to start the race. The idea has developed throughout history, and the business is now booming.
World Horse Welfare
While huge changes have been implemented to safeguard horses within the sport, it is plainly obvious that more can always be done. Therefore, World Horse Welfare as important in this modern day as they have always been.
The organization acts as an impartial body, who is able to give feedback in terms of changes that they recommend being made to enhance the safeguarding of horses involved.
As well as giving feedback to governing bodies, the organization also acts as a space for newcomers to the sport to learn more about racing, giving the most accurate facts surrounding fatalities and horses that are still in training. The honesty and integrity of the body ensures that it is one of the worlds most trusted, and any feedback recommended is typically taken on board with advice almost immediately taken on board.
Racing To Relate
A thoroughbred’s life isn’t over when they are retired from the track, and there are plenty of programmes on offer to indicate that there is a life after racing for those that don’t go to stud. According to the BHA, there are 33,600 racehorses across the United Kingdom.
Therefore, a career after racing is vitally important. One of the leaders in the field is Racing To Relate, which was co-founded by Jennifer Barker. The group delivers pioneering research into welfare of horses after they have retired from the track.
Their main goal is to help identify any potential issues after retirement from the track, while gaining an understanding as to how horses are able to transition into new roles once their racing career has come to an end.
