Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund call for continued action to protect racehorses
WASHINGTON (May 2, 2025)—As the Triple Crown begins with this weekend’s Kentucky Derby, we are again reminded of the risks horses face in the name of sport and entertainment, notes Humane World Action Fund President Sara Amundson:
“At Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, our position remains clear: we support the strongest possible protections for racehorses—and we reject any system that tolerates animal suffering and exploitation.
“The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has made significant strides in implementing and enforcing rules that protect horses from injury, overuse and abuse—and is clearly succeeding in reducing horse deaths from racing. In 2024, racetracks under HISA's jurisdiction reported the lowest racing-related fatality rate on record. These efforts are critical and impactful, and they must continue with the full support and engagement from all participants in racing. These improvements highlight both the efficacy and necessity of uniform national standards.
“However, troubling disparities persist, and too many horses are dying because some racetracks refuse to adopt even the most basic safety and anti-doping standards. The basic protections provided by HISA are critical to protect these magnificent but highly vulnerable animals.”
Learn more about Humane World for Animal's efforts to protect horses, burros and other equines at https://www.humaneworld.org/en/issue/protecting-equines.
Media Contact: Liz Bartolomeo: 202-472-0475; ebartolomeo@humaneworld.org
