Former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch joins Horse Welfare Board as an independent member  

Tracey Crouch, the former Minister for Sport and Civil Society, has been appointed as an independent member of British racing’s Horse Welfare Board.

The Welfare Board has been created by the BHA with a remit is to develop a new equine welfare strategy covering the whole racing industry.

There have been moves from outside the sport for the issue of equine welfare to be taken out of the BHA’s hands and be handed to an independent body.

Tracey Crouch has joined British racing’s Horse Welfare Board as an independent member

But the appointment of Crouch is a move the BHA will point to as introducing independence of thought to the body it has created.

Crouch’s appointment follows the announcement last month that Barry Johnson, a former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and past Chairman of World Horse Welfare, was to the independent chair of the Welfare Board.

The Welfare Board will also look at how the sport’s welfare standards are communicated and how they are perceived by the sport, the public and other audiences.

Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, said: ‘I am thrilled to be joining the board at an important time for the sport and look forward to being able to combine both my passion in animal welfare with my interest in horseracing..”

Johnson added: ‘I am delighted Tracey Crouch has been appointed to the Welfare Board. Her knowledge of animal welfare issues and integrity will be of enormous value to the sport.’

Both the Horsemen’s Group and the Racecourse Association will both be represented on the Board, alongside the BHA’s Director of Equine Health and Welfare, Dr David Sykes.

The Board is aiming to set out its thinking for the future of horse welfare in racing later this year and to make initial recommendations by the end of 2019.