As with all elite athletes they have a shelf life.

But unlike the stars of football, rugby, cricket and the like, the stars of horseracing are unable to fend for themselves once their careers are over.

We’re not talking about the jockeys here – although they are obviously top performers in their own right – we’re talking about the horses, without whom the sport clearly doesn’t exist.

And they are the stars of the show. After any big race, the winning owners, trainers and jockeys will always talk about the horse.

The horses are at the peak of their powers – young, extremely fit and conditioned to race against all-comers.

Of course, they’re very well looked after – it’s a privileged lifestyle! – with everything designed to get the very best out of them when they are racing, whether it be over jumps or on the flat.

But what happens when a horse’s racing days are over?

A horse can often live for another 10 years, so that is a big chunk of their lifetime.

The majority of horses are very well cared for in their retirement, of course.

Some are switched to eventing or dressage, quite a lot go into hacking, while some become companion horses, seeing out their last years in a field.

But exactly which ex-racehorse is doing what, where and when isn’t always clear, which is why British Racing’s Horse Welfare Board has launched the first ever thoroughbred census in Great Britain in collaboration with research experts at Hartpury University.

‘Thoroughbred’ refers to all ex-racehorses – not just the household names – and all owners of former racehorses are being asked to submit a completed census which will help build an improved thoroughbred data bank about former racehorses and the lives they go on to lead.

The initiative is part of British Racing’s Horse Welfare Board’s five-year welfare strategy ‘A Life Well Lived’ and its commitment to improve traceability for all horses bred for racing.

Helena Flynn, Programme Director for the Horse Welfare Board, said they were looking to promote responsible ownership, telling The Local Answer: “It’s about education, this is a real opportunity to improve the traceability of racehorses.

“We consider the entire lifespan of a thoroughbred, beyond their racing career, acknowledging that they are treated as athletes during training.

“However, our responsibility as a collective extends beyond racing and forms an integral part of the sports’ social license to operate.”

The benefits of improved traceability are obvious. With improved data, British Racing and its aftercare charity, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), can better support owners with access to educational resources and routes to compete if desired, as well as continue to build informed and helpful communities.

Improved data at this stage of a thoroughbred’s life can also help the Horse Welfare Board and RoR improve and adapt welfare initiatives and will, most importantly, enable fast and effective contact in the event of an equine disease outbreak.

The census will request information on each horse’s equine identification document (passport) number, microchip number, age, current residence, second career, and more to provide a robust view of the 2023 British retired racehorse population.

“The launch of this census is a significant project to help increase the depth, quality and volume of data about thoroughbreds at this important stage of their lives,” added Flynn.

“Just as importantly, this campaign will help us talk about responsible ownership and the critical part every thoroughbred owner plays in ensuring their equine identification document is up to date.

“We are delighted to be working with Hartpury University on the census and hope that between us we can encourage as many owners as possible to participate.”

The six-month census, which will close on 31^st December, is being funded by the Racing Foundation and is supported by World Horse Welfare and Weatherbys General Stud Book. The census can be completed online HERE