The Curragh, 16 July 2024 – The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), in collaboration with the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association (IRTA), has today confirmed that all trainers with entries in the upcoming Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle will be requested to submit detailed medication records for their horses in those races prior to declarations.
The welfare of all participants in horseracing, in particular the safety of both horses and riders, is of paramount importance and at the core of the integrity functions carried out by the IHRB. To this end, the IHRB initiated the Equine Injury in Irish Racing Risk Reduction (EIIRRR) Project in late 2022 to undertake an analysis of Irish horseracing data and to evaluate worldwide evidence of injury risk mitigation strategies, helping us identify opportunities to improve safety for racehorses and riders in Ireland.
Arising from the ongoing work of the EIIRRR Project, the IHRB continues to evolve and enhance its risk-based approach, with the first significant change implemented being the ongoing expansion of the IHRB’s existing raceday equine veterinary inspection programme. This latest measure will involve trainers being contacted after entries for the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle races close and being asked to submit medication records dating back to 1 January 2024 for those horses they have entered.
This additional layer of pre-race veterinary oversight will complement full card inspections and trot-ups which will take place for all horses before racing on each of the seven days at Galway.
Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer, commented: “As part of the IHRB’s relentless focus on the safety and well-being of our human and equine participants, we are further developing our risk-based approach to pre-race inspections. We welcome the positive engagement with the IRTA ahead of introducing this extra step for the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle.
“By obtaining medical records before a racing engagement we will be in a position to increase our understanding of the clinical status of each horse and thus better tailor our risk assessment and pre-race activity, working with the trainers and their veterinary surgeons, ahead of their engagement at Galway.”
Ryan McElligott, CEO of the IRTA added: “Any additional developments which may enhance the safety of horses has to be welcomed and we look forward to working with the IHRB on this initiative ahead of Galway.
“Many Irish trainers will be accustomed to this practice following similar requests ahead of races at meetings like Cheltenham, Aintree and further afield in Hong Kong, America and Australia, so I would expect a seamless transition to this request and overall it is another positive move for all.”