NATIONAL animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports is calling for tighter safety measures in horse racing ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, at which 74 horses have died in 23 years.

At every single Cheltenham Festival since the year 2000 — apart from 2001, which was cancelled due to foot and mouth — at least one horse has died as a result of being raced.

Emma Judd, head of campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “As the festival gets under way again this year we know it’s inevitable at least one horse is going to die needlessly for entertainment.

“These shocking figures show that tighter safety measures are imperative to protect these animals and their jockeys.

“A new independent regulatory body with horse welfare as its number one priority needs to be created.”

The league is also campaigning for the use of the whip to be banned in horse racing, because it causes pain, and pushes tired horses beyond their limits.

An early day motion in 2020 calling on the government to ensure the British Horse Racing Authority banned the use of the whip for “encouragement,” was signed by 97 MPs.

Its use was banned in Sweden in 2022, and it can now only be used to ward off a dangerous situation.