5/2/2026
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: TIME TO END ILLEGAL SULKY RACING
The illegal and cruel practise of ‘sulky racing ‘must be ended immediately.
That’s according to Aontú’s Limerick Councillor and well-known animal welfare advocate, Sarah Beasley, who says she is horrified by the latest in a string on inhumane cases where horses died as result of abject cruelty and serious neglect.
Cllr Beasley says
“Just this week, a pregnant mare named Anne died after being whipped and pushed for miles during an illegal sulky drive across Dublin before being abandoned on a road in Ballyfermot, still attached to her sulky.
“Somebody has to call this out for exactly what it is. This is not culture. This is cruelty”
“It is endangering animals and human lives, because we know that sulky racing is talking place on busy national roads as well as more rural ones. Can you just imagine the carnage that would be caused if one of these sulkys’ careered into the path of drivers or pedestrians. The horrors of this are just unimaginable. Currently the spotlight is on scramblers and their use on public roads which is also illegal, and action is being taken to stamp this out for once and for all, but sulky driving is equally as deadly , both to the unfortunate animals and the public.
“I want to be absolutely clear: I respect a community’s connection to horses and recognise the mental health benefits and cultural importance of horse ownership. Many care deeply for their animals and ride with respect. However, many clearly don’t and is beyond unacceptable that people are not speaking out on this issue”.
“Garda Superintendent Eddie Golden has confirmed that sulky racing on public roads remains illegal, yet a 2026 petition notes that repeated reports of serious injury and fatalities demonstrate that reliance on enforcement of existing provisions has not been sufficient.
The Facts Are Stark:
- Foals as young as three months old have been found with full shoes, their soft baby feet destroyed, used in sulky racing when their bodies aren’t ready for it
- Horses are started in sulky racing at age two or three, racing on hard ground while still growing. Because horses don’t finish growing until age five, this causes permanent damage to their developing limbs
- Ireland’s underground sulky racing scene is dominated by people with serious criminal connections
- My Lovely Horse rescue regularly finds horses dead on the side of roads, having impacted parked cars and moving vehicles, “literally discarded as soon as they die” “This is happening for entertainment. For TikTok videos. For illegal betting,” Cllr Beasley said.
“I’m not calling out any community. I’m calling out an activity that kills horses, endangers the public, and enriches criminals”
The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2026-2030 is currently being developed. We need statutory prohibition of sulky racing and training now.
“We need proper tracks for regulated harness racing. We need enforcement with real consequences. We need to stop horses like Anne from dying in agony on our streets,”
“The time for dancing around this issue is over. It is cruelty of the highest order, and I will continue to fight against it.” Cllr Beasley said.
