One-year-old racehorses among 1,400 slaughtered for meat in Ireland last year

The details have emerged ahead of the Grand National at Aintree next weekend, where 33 of the 50 runners will come from Ireland

Nearly 50 thoroughbred racehorses under two years old were among 1,428 slaughtered for meat in Ireland last year, new figures have revealed.

The age profile of the horses killed in meat factories during 2023 has been described as “deeply disturbing” by Animal Aid, the UK-based charity whose investigation into the slaughter of racehorses led to major changes in the industry in 2021.

The details have emerged ahead of the Grand National at Aintree next weekend, where 33 of the 50 runners will come from Ireland.

It also follows the launch of a new communications campaign regarding animal welfare by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) last week.

The new figures provided to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy by the Department of Agriculture show that a total of 49 thoroughbred racehorses were slaughtered before the age of two during 2023.

Another 100 ended up in meat factories before reaching three years of age and 193 of those slaughtered last year were aged between three and four.

A spokeswoman for Animal Aid said the data on the ages of thoroughbred horses being sent to slaughter “makes a mockery” of welfare campaigns by the racing industry.

“Despite efforts this week by the racing industry to continue to perpetrate the fairytale myth that is ‘racehorse welfare’, the truth is that horrific slaughter is still the inevitable end for so many horses,” said Nina Copleston-Hawkens.

“These figures are deeply disturbing and make a mockery of any welfare rhetoric the industry will try to push amidst the Grand National meeting this week. Again, despite industry spin, the horrors of slaughter are categorically not ‘euthanasia’.”

The slaughter of 1,428 thoroughbred racehorses in Ireland in 2023 represented an increase of more than one third compared to the previous year.

Consumption of horse meat has been growing globally since the 1990s. It is considered a delicacy in parts of France, Italy, Holland, Switzerland and Belgium. It is also commonly served in China, Russia, Central Asia, Mexico, Argentina and Japan.

Most Irish carcasses are exported to Europe, where they are eaten as burgers, steaks or roasts.

In 2021, an investigation by Animal Aid formed the basis of a Panorama documentary, which claimed that injured Irish racehorses were being transported to UK abattoirs contrary to animal welfare guidelines.

The programme also alleged that contaminated horse meat was entering the food chain as a result of fraudulent practices.

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.