best turned out

To recognise and acknowledge the high standards of care and attention racehorses receive, particularly from stable staff, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) launched the ‘Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council best-turned out league’ in January 2021.

Participating racecourses record their best-turned-out winners which HRI then aggregate and create the best-turned out league table. A yard can win a prize in both Flat and National Hunt categories. The specific category which a yard fits will be established at year end, when the number of runners at participating tracks is calculated.  If there is a tie, then the prize will be divided. The prize goes to the team in the winning yard.

John Osborne, Equine Welfare & Bloodstock Director at HRI, said: “The care of our horses is largely in the hands of our stable staff whose work is greatly appreciated. The presentation of the horses is really a reflection of all the days spent preparing the horses at home. The best turned out league will particularly highlight the yards which consistently do well even if they are at a numerical disadvantage.  The work required is the same, whether the yard is small or large.”