As the 2025 horse racing season kicks off at Vancouver’s Hastings racecourse, the VHS is urging the public to rethink attending horse races and is calling on decision-makers to invest in alternative community events that don’t put horses in harm’s way.
Horse deaths in racing are commonplace
Just weeks before the start of this year’s season, a 3-year-old horse named Wynn Magic was euthanized after suffering a catastrophic leg injury during a workout at Hastings.
The incident follows a troubling trend—four horses died at Hastings in 2024, and eight more in 2023.
Racing practices cause stress and risk
Beyond the fatalities there are also broader welfare issues in the horse racing industry, including:
- Harsh training methods and equipment like whips and bits.
- Breeding practices that prioritize speed rather than skeletal strength.
- Short careers that mean the industry professionals often cannot afford to care for retired horses, leading to rehoming or auction.
- Health complications from beginning training or racing at a young age.
Horses typically start racing at just two years old, but research has shown that beginning intense activities like racing at such a young age can significantly increase the risk of injury and lead to early physical decline. In one study, 85% of two-year-old racehorses experienced at least one injury or illness during training or competition. Another study found that only 46% of horses that began racing at age two or three were still racing just two years later.
Wynn Magic’s death serves as another stark reminder of the need to rethink how animals are used in sport and entertainment.