To Members of the Racing Community,
In an industry that does not always speak with one voice, there should be one clear point of agreement: we are judged by how we care for our horses. Without a firm commitment to equine welfare, our sport cannot sustain its future. We owe them safety, dignity, and lifelong care.
Everyone involved in racing shares responsibility for these horses, not only during their careers, but long after. The era of "business as usual" is over. This is a business, but it is also a responsibility that requires integrity and a clear commitment to doing right by these animals.
This is a pivotal moment for our industry. It calls for action, not silence. Inaction will be noticed and judged. The decisions we make now will define both our future and our credibility.
For this reason, 1/ST supports the passage of H.R.1661/S.755, the Save America's Forgotten Equines Act. This legislation would permanently prohibit domestic horse slaughter and the export of horses for human consumption. While slaughter facilities no longer operate in the United States, the pipeline continues through export. In 2025, more than 25,000 U.S. horses were shipped to foreign slaughter plants, a sharp increase from the previous year. The SAFE Act would close this loophole and establish permanent federal protection.
Many of us work to identify and help horses at risk, particularly those we recognize. But the reality is that most horses in this pipeline no longer have an identity that connects them back to our sport. The question is not how many we can save, but how many we never see. Public expectations around animal welfare have shifted and will continue to do so.
Industries that fail to respond face consequences. Racing should not assume it will be treated differently or given more time. This is not only an ethical obligation, but also essential to the sport's long-term viability.
We commend the work of the Wild Beauty Foundation, the Lost Horses campaign, and countless others for bringing attention to this issue and driving meaningful change. There are moments when industries are asked to show what they stand for. This is one of them. 1/ST asks organizations across racing and the broader equine community to take a clear position by contacting members of Congress and publicly supporting the SAFE Act.
At 1/ST, we are not waiting for perfect alignment, we are acting now. We encourage others to do the same and help set a clear standard for the humane treatment of horses, both during their careers and beyond. Only when we account for our horses beyond racing can we truly claim to protect them.
Sincerely,
Aidan Butler, president, 1/ST
The Jockey Club Echoes Support for SAFE Act
The Jockey Club stands with 1/ST president Aidan Butler and his colleagues at 1/ST for their support of the SAFE Act and their recent, highly effective work to gain attention for this critical issue for the future of horse racing. We pledge to work with 1/ST and others in the industry to advance this landmark legislation and finally see it become law.
To date, there are more than 225 co-sponsors of the SAFE Act. Thank you to lead supporters Reps. Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican, and Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat. The Jockey Club renews our call for House leadership to pass this bipartisan legislation for the benefits of the American economy and a strong American sports tradition. We encourage all members of the Thoroughbred community to express their support for the SAFE Act, especially now as interest in the sport is at its greatest during the Triple Crown season.
The Jockey Club has partnered with the Final Stretch Alliance to End Horse Slaughter and other racing industry groups by directly making our case for the SAFE Act to House and Senate leadership.
We have joined animal welfare groups in support of their Hill efforts, including, since 2016, being a member of the Humane World for Animals' (formerly HSUS) National Horse Racing Advisory Council, which with others in animal welfare has lobbied Congress to both ban slaughter in the U.S. and make it a crime to transport America's horses out of the country for slaughter. In addition, we work closely on this issue with the Center for a Humane Economy and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The SAFE Act is one necessary aspect of the safety and welfare of our sport's central figure—the Thoroughbred. The Jockey Club is a longstanding and principal supporter of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and similar efforts, such as the Thoroughbred Incentive Program, to care for and give Thoroughbreds a career after their racing and breeding roles are over. We continue to encourage all in the Thoroughbred industry to make the safety and well-being of the Thoroughbred our top priority.
The Jockey Club
Breeders' Cup Adds Its Voice to Promote SAFE Act
Breeders' Cup Limited supports the SAFE Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that would permanently prohibit the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and end their export for that purpose abroad. This measure represents a critical step toward ensuring all horses, regardless of their stage of life, are treated with decency and care.
Breeders' Cup Limited has long prioritized equine safety and welfare through industry-leading safety protocols, veterinary oversight, and collaboration with regulators. We join 1/ST Racing, The Jockey Club, and more than 225 co-sponsors of the SAFE Act in urging Congress to enact this important legislation, reaffirming a national commitment to the humane treatment of horses.
Breeders' Cup
