Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare through the Lens of ‘Social License to Operate—With an Emphasis on a U.S. Perspective

Camie Heleski, C. Stowe, Julie Fiedler, Michael L. Peterson, Colleen Brady, Carissa Wickens and James N. MacLeod
Additional contact information
Camie Heleski: Department of Animal and Food Sciences and UK Ag Equine Programs, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Julie Fiedler: Central Queensland University, Norman Gardens, Queensland 4701, Australia
Michael L. Peterson: Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Colleen Brady: Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Carissa Wickens: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
James N. MacLeod: Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-23

Abstract: This review addresses the question of whether Thoroughbred horse racing is sustainable in the context of current social values. A recently acknowledged framework, known as ‘Social License to Operate’ (SLO), provides us with a lens through which to view and assess racehorse welfare. In multiple surveys of the general public, the horse owning public, and university students, the primary topics of concern regarding Thoroughbred racing show considerable concordance: concern about catastrophic injuries—particularly as related to track surfaces, concern over the racing of two-year-olds, whip use by jockeys, drug/medication policies, and aftercare opportunities for retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Legitimacy of an industry, consent from industry stakeholders, and trust between the community players, are all essential to have and maintain SLO. In the current era of 24/7 global media access, and the proliferation of social media providing an interactive platform for all interested parties, a dramatic change has occurred in commentary related to racehorse welfare concerns. The situation at Santa Anita (California, USA) from late December 2018 through mid-November 2019 demonstrated just how tenuous the SLO for horse racing is. This article will provide a brief review of what ‘Social License to Operate’ is, along with a brief literature review of five of the areas of primary concern voiced by stakeholders.

Keywords: racehorse welfare; social license; horse racing industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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