Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare through the Lens of ‘Social License to Operate—With an Emphasis on a U.S. Perspective

Abstract

This review addresses the question of whether Thoroughbred horse racing is sustainable in the context of current social values. A recently acknowledged framework, known as ‘Social License to Operate’ (SLO), provides us with a lens through which to view and assess racehorse welfare. In multiple surveys of the general public, the horse owning public, and university students, the primary topics of concern regarding Thoroughbred racing show considerable concordance: concern about catastrophic injuries—particularly as related to track surfaces, concern over the racing of two-year-olds, whip use by jockeys, drug/medication policies, and aftercare opportunities for retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Legitimacy of an industry, consent from industry stakeholders, and trust between the community players, are all essential to have and maintain SLO. In the current era of 24/7 global media access, and the proliferation of social media providing an interactive platform for all interested parties, a dramatic change has occurred in commentary related to racehorse welfare concerns. The situation at Santa Anita (California, USA) from late December 2018 through mid-November 2019 demonstrated just how tenuous the SLO for horse racing is. This article will provide a brief review of what ‘Social License to Operate’ is, along with a brief literature review of five of the areas of primary concern voiced by stakeholders.

Factors Associated with Mortality in Ontario Standardbred Racing: 2003–2015

“…Injury and fatality in racehorses are issues of ongoing concern [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Extensive research has been performed for the thoroughbred, with primary focus on musculoskeletal injuries (MSI), the greatest source of loss.…”

“…It covers frequency and intensity of work, as well as characteristics of the work environment, from track surface and length to geographic location, regional track distribution, and horse movement, track and training center facilities, and prevailing economic circumstances. Finally, it encompasses the physiologic and psychologic dimensions of training and race intensity exercise [ 2 , 5 ]. These combine to create the environment in which racehorses work.…”

Identifying Sources of Potential Bias When Using Online Survey Data to Explore Horse Training, Management, and Behaviour: A Systematic Literature Review

“…This is important because the traditional methods of animal handling, training, and management are increasingly being challenged [ 8 , 9 ]. Public attention has questioned whether industries, ranging from those using laboratory rodents to those using racing horses, maintain a SLO to use animals as they have done historically [ 10 , 11 ]. SLO is not a formal or written contract, rather society’s permission for an entity to continue to operate.…”

Co-Produced Care in Veterinary Services: A Qualitative Study of UK Stakeholders’ Perspectives

“…Contextualised for human–animal relationships, basic adherence to animal welfare legislation or farm animal assurance schemes is no longer considered as sufficient to secure broad public acceptance. The concept of social licence is increasingly realised in sporting equestrian pursuits [ 16 ] and livestock production [ 17 , 18 ].…”