British Racing Promotes Horse Comes First Campaign

The leading organisations in British Racing launched a national campaign at Sandown Park’s Tingle Creek Christmas Festival this weekend, to raise awareness of the high standards of equine welfare and care given to racehorses.

The Horse Comes First is an industry-wide initiative supported by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Racecourse Association, Racehorse Owners Association, Professional Jockey’s Association, National Trainers Federation and The Jockey Club, promoting the sport’s commitment to the welfare of horses throughout and after their careers in racing. 

Speakers at the launch at Sandown Park included Steve Harman, Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority, together with Dr Peter Webbon, former Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust, and Jock Bennett, winner of the Employee of the Year award at this year’s Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.

Steve Harman, Chairman of BHA, said: ‘In the five months since I took on the role of Chairman of BHA, I have spent a lot of time talking to people whose livelihoods depend on the sport, including breeders, trainers, jockeys, stable staff. You only need to spend a short time in their company to recognise and understand that everybody in this sport cares passionately about horse welfare. The bond between man and horse is the common thread running through all of the sport’s participants.’

‘The launch of The Horse Comes First campaign is a significant step in raising awareness of the first class care and attention that is given to the 14,000 racehorses in training. We are proud to be one of the organisations supporting The Horse Comes First and we will be working with the racing community to push the campaign further in 2014. Confidence in the sport’s commitment to horse welfare should be an asset; one which we use not only to protect racing’s reputation but to also help promote the sport and increase its customer base.’

The launch saw the unveiling of the campaign material, including a video – which can be seen at Sport Industry TV – shot at Nicky Henderson’s yard highlighting the day to day care racehorses experience. 

The video and adverts will be shown across the country at all of Britain’s major race meetings, supported by a range of activities designed to promote standards of care.