Around 2,250 racehorses are permanently retired each year in GB, and since 2020, a digital Non-Racing Declaration (NRD) is completed by an owner or trainer when permanently retiring a racehorse. A NRD can only be revoked with permission from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), and after completion of a reinstatement to racing process.
Only 0.5% of horses permanently retired are reinstated to racing. Although this is a small number of horses within the racing population, it was anticipated they are at higher risk for a negative outcome in terms of horse welfare and public perception, and integrity concerns centred around the opportunity for administration of a Prohibited At All Times (PAAT) substance during the period the horse is not bound by the Rules of Racing.
The BHA reinstatement to racing process involves both a veterinary assessment of a horse’s physical suitability to return to racing, considering both horse welfare and public perception, in combination with integrity checks and testing to ensure the horse has not been administered any PAAT substances.
Between 2020 and 2025, 60 horses were reinstated. 59/60 horses had a racecourse performance pre or post NRD registration, totalling 1061 race performances, and 46/60 horses had a racecourse performance post registration consisting of 253 race performances. 44% of horses raced more than three times post registration.
Following reinstatement average horse ratings declined by approximately 10% and horses tend to perform in lower-level races. 1 fatality occurred on a GB racecourse, 2 horses died off the track and 4 long term injuries were recorded.
The aim of this study was to review the welfare and performance outcomes for permanently retired racehorses reinstated to racing over a five-year period, and whether the available data can support the regulatory changes that have been made to the reinstatement to racing process.