The Jockey Club moved to install padded hurdles at all 11 of its racecourses that host National Hunt matches in response to strong statistics about the safety of runners.
These barriers have reportedly been employed in Exeter, Market Rasen, and Wincanton in recent years, with extremely encouraging Industry Jump Racing Risk Model figures.
A programme overseen by the Horse Welfare Board has observed that races conducted over padded hurdles have an 11% lower risk of falls than races conducted with birch hurdles.
Officials from the racecourse, veterinarians, and trainers have also consistently and clearly stated that there has been a significant decrease in minor injuries like cuts, scratches, and lacerations.
Throughout the following two seasons, all remaining Jockey Club racecourses that host jump meetings—Cheltenham and Aintree—will switch to padded hurdles; the conversion is expected to be finished by the beginning of the 2026–2027 season.
Jon Pullin, the group’s head of racing and clerk of the course at Cheltenham, said: “Following extensive research and analysis, it is evident that padded hurdles provide a safer alternative to traditional birch hurdles, while still presenting the same jumping challenge and spectacle for racing fans. Having been successfully utilised at some of our racecourses from as far back as 2016, we feel it is the right decision to deploy padded hurdles at all 11 of the Jockey Club’s racecourses that stage Jump racing. This process will require significant investment by the Jockey Club and will be completed in time for the start of the 2026-27 season.”
Carlisle, Haydock, Huntingdon, Kempton, Sandown and Warwick are the other tracks affected.