FEATURE HORSE WELFARE
FEATURE HARRY COBDEN
Quality is key for Cobden at the Cheltenham Festival as he chases his first championship ONLY THE BEST
HORSE WELFARE Respect for the horse is at the heart of British Racing, with an industry strategy to ensure every horse bred for racing will lead a life well-lived AT CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE
T hose involved in the sport – whether it be jockeys, trainers, owners, or wider employees – work tirelessly to deliver five- star care to enable racehorses to thrive as athletes, perform to their best, and live a good life. Racing also has an independently chaired Horse Welfare Board, formed in 2019, to help focus collective efforts to drive forward innovation and progress across the sport. It goes without saying that equine welfare is of the upmost importance to The Jockey Club. Our vision is for every Thoroughbred racehorse in British horseracing to be always treated with compassion, respect, and care. A vital part of our strategy is ensuring equine welfare and that we set the standard for industry facilities. For so many, the chance to see these beautiful animals competing provides a wonderful spectacle, steeped in tradition and heritage. Horseracing makes an enormously valuable contribution to communities, generating £4.1 billion annually for the rural economy and providing jobs for over 18,000 full-time employees. It is also the biggest single investor in equine veterinary research, science and education, having provided more than £40m over the last 20 years via the Horserace Betting Levy Board and, more recently, The
into improvements across both Cheltenham and wider Jockey Club Racecourses. This work is identified and managed by a panel of experts including vets, racehorse owners and Jockey Club employees. Specifically qualified equine vets are present on each raceday at Cheltenham. They care for the horses from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. During each race, vets follow the runners by car and can respond to and attend a horse. There are equine ambulances on the course at all times, as well as ambulances for any incidents involving injuries to jockeys. In recent years, Cheltenham Racecourse has: l Installed a horse weighing machine l Jointly funded a research project by Liverpool University studying Risk Factors and Mitigation Measures in Jump Racing l Installed an equine solarium l Installed a rubberised horse walk in and around the pre-parade ring l Provided access to a portable X-ray machine at every meeting l Installed cooling fans in the unsaddling enclosure l Enlarged and refurbished the veterinary treatment box
Racing Foundation. Investment that ultimately benefits the whole equestrian community. Racing also works with top-tier universities and collaborates with organisations across the world to access cutting edge research and thinking to continuously improve welfare and safety in the sport. In 2022, research carried out by Exeter University on equine vision resulted in all markers on hurdles and obstacles across all 40 of Britain’s Jump courses being changed from orange to white. This improved visibility and contributed towards ongoing efforts to minimise risk on racecourses. Horseracing in Britain is among the world’s best regulated animal activities. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is the Government-recognised body responsible for the regulation of horseracing. Among an equine population estimated to be around 1 million, racehorses in Britain are among the healthiest and best looked after 2% of horses in the country. The 14,000 horses in training at any one time enjoy a level of care and a quality of life virtually unsurpassed by any other domesticated animal. We strive to ensure that the facilities we offer are industry-leading with significant equine welfare related investment each year
P icking up as many rides as possible in pursuit of winners is key for any jockey embroiled in a battle to be crowned Champion Jump Jockey. However, while not forgetting his title aspirations, Harry Cobden is content that it will be quality over quantity for him at the Cheltenham Festival. While enjoying his tussle with weighing room colleague and good friend, Sean Bowen, in the race to lift the 2023/24 Jump Jockeys’ Championship, the 25-year-old has plenty to look forward to, from what he says will be a ‘small but select team’ at the Cheltenham Festival. Last year’s meeting was a particularly memorable one for Cobden, who celebrated Grade One victories aboard the Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Stage Star in the Turners’ Novices’ Chase and Stay Away Fay in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
And with both of his heroes from 12 months ago bidding for further Cheltenham Festival glory among a team that includes several other well-fancied Grade One runners, it is easy to see why Cobden is eager to get the show on the road. Cobden said: “It is going to be a small but select team I will have for the Festival, as I don’t think Paul will have many more than ten runners, but what Paul will be sending there is horses with proper chances. “We probably won’t be as busy as previous years, but what we do send will definitely have chances of competing with the best of them. “I’m looking forward to the Festival, but I won’t be forgetting about the championship while I’m there.
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