Thoroughbred Auction Company Enacts Reforms

At PETA’s urging, a major thoroughbred auction company has made a crucial change at this month’s sales event that could reduce the risk of injury to horses forced to participate in “under tack shows“—dangerous sprints that thoroughbreds are forced to run just to impress potential buyers.

A PETA undercover investigation documented that 2-year-old horses—whose bones and muscles are still not fully developed—suffered catastrophic injuries and fatal breakdowns during these one-eighth or quarter-mile sprints.

Now, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company (OBS) has implemented PETA’s most significant recommendation for its January under tack show: eliminating deadly timed sprints for juvenile horses, some of whom are just yearlings.

PETA has asked all four major thoroughbred auction companies—Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Fasig-Tipton Company, Keeneland Association, and Barretts Equine Limited—to adopt a series of reforms to make these races safer for horses.

PETA will continue to push all the auction companies to protect horses by implementing all our crucial reforms. You can help by urging the auction companies to act now.