Retrospective Analysis of the Horse Racing Industry in Türkiye with a Specific Focus on Population, Earnings, and Injury Rates

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 33 - 40, 28.03.2025

İsmail Gökçe Yıldırım , Solmaz Karaarslan

Abstract

Objective: The global horse racing industry is expanding in terms of horses and market value, but these growths may not always yield positive outcomes. The study aims to evaluate the current situation of horse racing on a Türkiye scale and provide information for the industry.
Material and Methods: This study conducts a retrospective analysis. Data from all horse races held across the country were used in the study. The data utilised came from the TJC software support team and the official website.
Results: The study observed a notable increase in the number of horses participating in races, and the number of races being held from these races over the years. However, it’s important to note that while the number of young horses participating in races has seen a proportional increase, the ratio of horses in older age groups has seen a decrease. Furthermore, the average earnings of horses in the older age groups have seen a proportional decline, leading to a significant decrease in all age groups. The findings from this study suggest that over the years, horses in Türkiye have been tending to shorten their racing life.
Conclusion: The relative decrease in the number of horses participating in races in the senior age categories, along with the decrease in the amount of earnings within the total values, is predicted to have a negative impact on the future of the industry. The study proposes early identification and removal of horses with restricted athletic abilities. These limitations may arise from conformational defects, biomechanical predisposition, or developmental delays.

Keywords

horse, age, injury, thoroughbred, arabian horse

Ethical Statement

To assess the impact of injuries on the age distribution and racing lives of horses, injury records from the İzmir Şirinyer Hippodrome from 2018 to 2023 were utilised, with permission from TJC on March 29, 2023. This part of the study was carried out with the permission of Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee, numbered 64583101/2023/44.

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