BREAKING: The recent publication of the 2025 Racing Australia Fact Book confirms that the industry continues to shrink in size across key areas, including the number of horses being bred into the industry, horses actively racing, number of races held and the number of racehorse trainers and racehorse owners.
Thoroughbreds bred in 2024: 11,691
Thoroughbreds bred in 2023: 12,594
Thoroughbreds bred in 2022: 13,340
In fact, the number of thoroughbreds bred for racing is now less than half what it was in 1989 where numbers peaked, and it has steadily declined since. In addition, the industry news site The Straight has predicted that the decline is set to continue in 2026, based on the number of mares impregnated this season.
Although this doesn’t mean racing has become less cruel to the horses, it does mean that fewer horses are subjected to the cruelty and that fewer horses are at risk of being abandoned or killed when they are no longer of use to the racing industry.
This is indeed a sign of the times: Australians increasingly do not support animals being exploited for profit and gambling.
We cannot thank you enough for your support in raising awareness about what goes on behind the scenes in racing and fueling the fight for kindness over cruelty!
Thank you for incredible advocacy work. If the ABC would only rescreen The Downside to Horseracing.
A shocker.