The first international conference co-organised by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation and three overseas partners concluded on Wednesday, bringing together 220 speakers and delegates from 25 countries to advance the safety and welfare of thoroughbred racehorses through science and collaboration.
Held over three days under the theme “Applying Science to the Care of the Thoroughbred Racehorse,” the translational conference bridged cutting-edge research and on-the-ground practice.
Sessions focused on evidence-based policies to improve equine welfare, with presentations on injury prevention and early diagnosis, advances in musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and gastric health, the use of data for injury tracking and rulemaking, and models for cross-disciplinary, cross-border collaboration.
HKJC Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said equine welfare is central to the Club’s mission, noting its cradle-to-retirement programme covering importation, training, racing and post-care.
He highlighted the Club’s commitment to scientific research, pointing to the Foundation’s creation in 2020 with a HK$600 million donation.
Since then, the Foundation has allocated over HK$60 million to support 46 equine-related scientific studies worldwide.
“The three-day international conference represents a landmark step forward in global collaboration to advance equine welfare,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “Against evolving societal expectations and a changing operating environment for horse racing, the event deepened shared understanding of the issues we must address. I am confident practitioners and researchers will translate the latest findings into actionable policies and solutions.”
HKJC Head of Racing Andrew Harding, said many welfare challenges are common across jurisdictions in what is a global sport.
He welcomed positive feedback from industry participants, who worked through pressing issues and explored solutions grounded in data and clinical evidence.
He added the conference offered valuable opportunities for early-career researchers to present their work, connect with mentors and join a global community focused on equine welfare, including several scholars supported by Foundation grants.
