THIS YEAR, for the first time at Royal Ascot, enhanced pre-race examinations will be carried out on every horse running throughout the week.

After successful trials at Newbury and Goodwood, the process to help ensure that all horses are lining up in the best possible condition following their journey to the racecourse will be carried out. The evaluation will include a cardiac assessment using a stethoscope, a trot up over a distance of approximately 25 metres and an examination of the musculoskeletal system. These standard pre-race examinations used before both flat and jumps racing will be performed at Ascot by the BHA’s Veterinary Officers.

Suitability To Race

There are five specifically qualified equine vets on duty every day at Royal Ascot, dedicated to the welfare of all the horses. The on-site vets can work with trainers to evaluate the gait and address any questions about the horse’s suitability to race in advance of racing.

This thorough evaluation process is aimed to include and involve all of the professionals associated with each horse in the making of decisions about their suitability to race, and may include supporting videos of the horse trotting in hand before and after exercise and reports from the trainers’ home vets. These examinations are designed to support the work of the whole sport to reduce avoidable risk, adding an extra layer of protection so that we know horses are lining up in the best possible health post-travel and pre-race.

There have been many other safety and welfare focused improvements of recent years at Ascot including a safer race track created by cambering the home and old paddock bends, equine misting fans were installed to aid with post-race cooling of horses and the flat course pop-up irrigation system underwent a £150,000 overhaul in 2017 to ensure consistent and enhanced watering of the racing surface for safer footing.

The team at Ascot has worked closely with Duralock, the leading supplier of PVC fencing to the racing industry, to install non-metal ground fixing for the midcourse fencing and rail. The new rail uses no metal below or above ground with a design that enhances safety for horses and jockeys in the event of a major collision. There are three equine ambulances on course at all times and Ascot’s two permanent veterinary boxes are supplemented with an X-Ray machine to assist with swift diagnosis before administration of treatment on site or any movement necessary to equine hospitals. Let’s hope Ascot week is a welfare succes story.