Care for a racehorse throughout their life has never been a higher priority

'A Life Well Lived' is the title of the 2020 report from British racing's independent welfare arm, the Horse Welfare Board (HWB), and encapsulates in one easy-to-remember phrase the guiding principles behind the sport's renewed emphasis on ensuring that its equine participants are well cared for at every stage, including once their primary career is over.

The report identified 26 actions to be carried out across a five-year period, covering quality of life, lifetime care, safety and finally – but perhaps crucially in the instance of a major investigation from outside the sport such as Panorama's – the growth and maintenance of public trust.

The HWB was established in 2019 under the chairmanship of Barry Johnson, a former president of the Royal College of Veterinarians as well as the driving force behind World Horse Welfare for many years.