The British Horseracing Authority has expanded its online system of registering retired racehorses to allow trainers, in addition to owners, to lodge information on where their charges are headed for their second careers. Under the previous system, only owners had been able to register this information. The new system, which debuts on Feb. 13, is designed to improve the traceability of horses permanently retired from racing. A dedicated page on the BHA's website, which will go live in March, will allow participants to check the retirement status of any horse.
David Sykes, director of equine health and welfare at the BHA, said, “At all stages of a racehorse's life, being able to trace a horse's whereabouts is vital in demonstrating responsibility and commitment to the long-term welfare of our equine athletes. Whilst there are many possible routes that horses may take on leaving training, the first step is to identify those that have been retired from the sport. Today's announcement represents an important and significant improvement in this area and will mean we can ensure our record keeping is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.”
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