uk thoroughbred horse production: racing to the … · 2014-05-07 · 83 517 horses were needed for...
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UK THOROUGHBRED HORSE PRODUCTION: RACING TO THE KNACKERMAN’S YARD?
Andrew Byers
Senior Lecturer
School of Animal Rural and Environmental Science
Brackenhurst Campus
Nottingham Trent University
Background
83 517 horses were needed for Thoroughbred racing in Britain in 2008.
These horses generated £2.86 billion for the British economy overall with the direct economic impact of British racing being £870,000,000 (2006)1. £870,000,000 (2006)1.
It has been suggested that surplus horses produced by the Thoroughbred industry contribute significantly to the number of unwanted horses in the UK.
Surplus and unwanted horses are at the highest risk in regards to their welfare.
Aims of today
•Establish the number of surplus
horses generated by the
Thoroughbred industry
•Determine the impact of the economic •Determine the impact of the economic
downturn on the demand for
Thoroughbred horses
•Identify the level of responsibility
demonstrated by T’bred industry
Production – UK and Ireland
Thoroughbred Foal Production2
17800
18000
18200
18400
18600
10 June 20094
16800
17000
17200
17400
17600
17800
2005 2006 2007 2008
Pre training surplus
Excess Broodmare population
20000
30000
40000
Total No of Mares
10 June 20095
-20000
-10000
0
10000
2005 2006 2007 2008
Total No of Mares
Totals foals
Excess
Pre training surplus
• 1980 foal crop entering training 62% (Jeffcott et al., 1982)3
• 1999 foal crop entering training 55% (Wilsher et al., 2006)4
• Estimate for 2008 between 38 – 45% did not entering training
10 June 20096
• Pre training surplus 2008 estimate
– UK + Ireland 6968 – 8253
– UK 2250 - 2664
Post racing surplus
•Limited Data
•Approximately 4000 leaving racing (Retraining of Racehorses)5
•RTR state 4% of horses are rehomed
10 June 20097
This would be 3700 horses leaving racing (2008)
•BHA 2006 figures 19% horses leaving racing are retired to stud6
Mare plus 1st year stallions for 2006 = 1436* (19% = 7558 total)
Approximate total numbers of surplus Thoroughbred horses annually
• Excess broodmare populations 12 339
• Foals not entering racing 6968 – 8252
• Horses retired from Racing 3700 – 7558
• Horses retired from breeding 39782
• Mares deceased or retired
10 June 20098
• Total 23 007 – 28 150
• Total less excess Bm populations 10 668 – 15 811
What is being done by the industry
• Horserace Betting Levy Board7
• 10% levy on gambling
• Total levy 2007 - 08 £116 500 000
10 June 20099
• Expenditure for retraining/rehoming racehorses £58 000
• % spend on retraining racehorses 0.05%
• % spend on administration by HBLB 3%
• National Stud and grants to breed societies £389 920
Retraining of Racehorses
• Expenditure 2007 – £550 0008
10 June 200910
• Expenditure 2007 – £550 0008
• Does not directly retrain or rehome ex racehorses
• Claims four funded charities rehome 4% of horses coming out of
racing.
Charities which work directly with horses
Charity Rehomed ‘08 Expenditure
Greatwood 7 £514 000
HEROS 79 £285 600
10 June 2009
11
HEROS 79 £285 600
Moorcroft 31 £310 700
T'bred Rehab Centre 31 £413 900
Total 148* £1 524 200
*148 @ 4% = 3700 individual horses
Rehoming and expenditure figures8
Outlines what relevant
organisations can do
to reduce the
incidents of equine
welfare problems9.welfare problems9.
The BHA regulates horseracing in the
UK and this specifically includes the
welfare of horses under the control of
those it regulates. Those regulated
include owners of horses in training,
jockeys and trainers, but do not jockeys and trainers, but do not
include thoroughbred horse
breeders, or those who keep
thoroughbred horses retired from
racing, except those in the care of
licensed trainers9
GDP Growth –National Statistics10
10 June 200914
Economic Downturn in Racing Industry
Aggregate (Gns) Tattersalls 1998 - 2008
£150,000,000.00
£200,000,000.00
£250,000,000.00
£300,000,000.00
Aggregate (Gns)
10 June 200915
£0.00
£50,000,000.00
£100,000,000.00
£150,000,000.00
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
Aggregate (Gns)
Economic Downturn in Racing Industry
Average Number of Horses Presented for Sales and
Sold - Tattersalls 1998 - 2008
5,0006,000
7,0008,000
Sold
10 June 200916
01,0002,000
3,0004,0005,000
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Sold
Offered
Economic Downturn in Racing Industry
Tattersalls 1998 2008 -% Horses Sold
88 8877 74 77 79 78 81 81
73 70
40
60
80
100
%
10 June 200917
0
20
40
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Economic Downturn in Racing Industry
Change (%) in major Thoroughbred Sales from March 2008 - Feb
2009 against previous years sales
140
160
180
% Change in Average
10 June 200918
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0 5 10 15 20
Price of 18 major
T'bred Sales
Linear (% Change in
Average Price of 18
major T'bred Sales)
Industry response to economic downturn!
Percent change in stud fees 2008 - 2009
British Stallions*
100
150
% Change
10 June 200919
-100
-50
0
50
Stallions
% Change
* British Horseracing Authority – 115/132 listed British stallions with covering fee over £1000. 17 removed from data as no 2008 fee listed or currency discrepancy between 2008-20095.
Conclusions
• Thoroughbred registrations ------424 43710
• Horses in training UK -------------15 349
• Balance ----------------------------409 088 non racing Thoroughbreds
• Budget to retrain/rehome all horses coming out of the system
approximately £118m?
10 June 200920
• Exact numbers of surplus Thoroughbred horses needs to be
established (transparency)!
• The destination of these horses need to be know!
• Responsible and efficient production considering demand and
economic situation!
Sources of information
1 (2006) Economic Impact of British Racing . Deloite for British Horseracing Board.
2 Weatherbys (2008) Weatherbys General Stud Book – Fact Book. Weatherbys GSB Ltd,
Northhants.
3 Jeffcott, L. B., Rossdale, P.D., Freestone, J., Frank, C. J. & Towers-Clark P. F. (1982) An
Assessment of wastage in Thoroughbred racing from conception to 4 years of age.
Equine Veterinary Journal, 14(3), 185 – 198.
4 Willsher, S., Allen, W. R., and Wood, J. L. N. (2006) Factors associated with failure of
Thoroughbred horses to train and race. Equine Veterinary Journal, 38(2) 113 – 118.
5 Retraining of Racehorses (2009) RoR Video. www.ror.org.uk.
6 British Horseracing Authority (2009) Current whereabouts of horses that left racing in
2006 – horse welfare questions and answers. www.britshhorseracing.com.
7Horserace betting Levy Board (2008) Annual report 2007/08. HBLB.
8 Charity Commission (2009) Annual report data.
9 National Equine Welfare Protocol (2008).
10 National Statistics (2009) GDP Growth: Real GDP Quarterly Growth. www.
Statistics.gov.uk.
11 National Equine Database (2009) Passport count report by organisation.
www.nedonline.co.uk.