Racecourse row shows staff welfare issues have potential to blow up into a big problem

Not long ago the awful case of the illegally transported horses found in terrible conditions at Dover put equine welfare in the spotlight.

Last week it was the welfare of British racing's human workforce which came into focus with the publication of a critical three-year strategic plan.

Equine welfare and the sport's ability to staff training yards and breeding establishments are of course inextricably linked. The report, titled Our People, Racing’s Future, by the Horseracing Industry People Board pointed out that "concerns around equine welfare present challenges at many levels".