12/11/2025
The Government and Parliament have allocated around 140 million euros per each year of the 2026–2028 three-year period in support of the horse-racing sector, without providing a single budget line necessary for the protection and rehoming of horses at the end of their sporting careers. This emerges from the analysis of the expenditure items for horse racing included in the draft budget law currently under review in the Senate. We are calling for a clear reversal of course at both the legislative and budgetary levels.
In the last two budget laws (2024 and 2025) and in the draft for 2026–2028, tens of millions of euros are allocated to the horse-racing industry. Here is a summary of the main items:
For the 2026–2028 three-year period, according to the draft budget bill, about €94 million per year is envisaged for subsidies to racing companies, about €36–38 million per year for sector development, and roughly €5.7 million annually for the Totalizator and other specific items (horse anti-doping controls, racing events, transport of samples).
For 2024, sector development was funded with about €86 million, subsidies to racing companies with about €41 million, while expenses for management, oversight, and control amounted to about €25.5 million.
For 2025, development remains at a similar level (around €86 million), subsidies to companies are confirmed at around €41 million, while controls and oversight decrease slightly to about €24 million.
There is no budget line assigning resources to the welfare of horses at the end of their competitive careers; to a serious, efficient, transparent, and traceable equine registry reform; or to a real and binding strengthening of territorial controls outside racetracks against illegal races, horse trafficking, abuse, and mistreatment—phenomena recently highlighted by the Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into Ecomafias in its “zoomafia” report (June 2025)—often linked to the horse-racing sector.
Bill no. 1689 (“State Budget for the 2026 fiscal year and multi-year budget 2026–2028”) was presented on 22 October 2025 and is currently in the Senate, awaiting assignment to the competent Committees. Until this occurs, neither Committee discussions nor decision-making procedures can begin.
We urgently call on the Government and Parliament to make public contributions to horse racing conditional: no more blanket funding for the racing industry unless mandatory budget lines are allocated for the protection of retired horses, a traceable equine registry, and independent public controls. Specific and earmarked resources must be allocated to programmes for the rehabilitation, adoption, and care of horses leaving the racing circuits, as well as to ensuring transparency of the registry. Political decisions must follow the facts: the recommendations of the Committee and investigative authorities on illegal racing must translate into concrete actions and visible public spending.
It is unacceptable that public money continues to support a system that exploits horses without providing any protection once they stop racing. We continue to demand real change: out of respect for the animals, for transparency, and for legality.