557 abuses of whip regulations in 2024 – it’s time to ban the whip in horse racing!

The abuses: 

•  557 abuses of whip regulations against horses by 286 jockeys 
• 539 horses whipped ‘above regulations’  
• Almost all other race horses would have been whipped ‘within regulations’.  
• 18 horses were whipped ‘above regulations’ more than once. 
• 5 horses were left with weals (when a horse is whipped so violently that a wound on the skin or below the surface is visibly apparent)  
• 5 jockeys breached whip regulations 6 times 
• 17 jockeys were referred to the Judicial Panel for accumulating whip offences 

Whilst there has been a decrease in whip offences compared to 2023, the nature of some of the breaches were truly shocking. Horses were whipped multiple times above regulations – including a horse being whipped eight times above the ‘permitted level’. This means the horse was whipped fourteen times. If a dog was whipped fourteen times, would this be seen as acceptable practice, or unacceptable animal cruelty? 

Additionally, horses were whipped in the incorrect place and with excessive force. This is truly disturbing. 

Says Nina Copleston-Hawkens, Animal Aid Campaign Manager:  

‘In 2025, it is truly unbelievable that innocent animals are being publicly beaten to try and win prize money for humans, all whilst being watched by paying crowds. This is the stuff of nightmares – and a practice that generations to come will look back upon with shame and disbelief. No animal should be beaten – whether that is behind closed doors at ‘home’, or on a racecourse in fronts of thousands of people. Imagine how the horses must feel, being inflicted with pain when simply trying their best. No excuses, the whip must be banned now.’ 

Take action & find out more

•  Take the pledge to not attend or bet on horse racing
• Visit Animal Aid’s Race Horse Death Watch site
•  Order campaign materials such as leaflets and posters by e-mailing info@animalaid.org.uk

Our new report ‘Victims of Abuse in British Horse Racing’ will published on Thursday 6th March – check back to our website then for a deep-dive into the reality of horse racing in Britain.