AN ANIMAL rights group has accused Brighton Racecourse of poor animal welfare standards following the death of a horse.

Animal Aid accused bosses of “hitting a new low’’ following the death at the race track last week.

The group claims the death was not investigated properly and other horses in the race were whipped excessively.

Animal Aid’s horse racing consultant Dene Stansall said: “This is one of the worst races I’ve seen for a long time. If ever there was an example of how poorly regulated the welfare of horses is within racing, it was seen last Thursday afternoon at Brighton racecourse.

“This is not acceptable. If the British Horseracing Authority – racing’s regulator – is serious about horses’ welfare, it needs to act promptly and ban the use of the whip and make every effort to prevent horses being killed.

“If it does not do this, the welfare of race horses should be taken out of its control.”

Four-year-old gelding Raise The Game injured his foreleg during a race at Marathonbet Festival Ladies Day, on Thursday August 10. The horse was put down by owners at the course due to his injuries.

But the group claims there was no enquiry if the state of the racecourse caused his death .

They also claim jockeys were not punished for excessively whipping horses over the permitted amount, and another horse was having her second race in the space of 24 hours.

But the co-owner and trainer of the Raise The Game, Will Turner, said there was nothing controversial about the horse’s death which was put out of its “agony” after being checked by a vet. Mr Turner said: “They couldn’t have been more professional and the clerk of the course was very distressed about it.”

It comes just weeks after a horse was killed at Brighton racecourse after running into a railing. But racecourse bosses insist horse welfare is their priority.

A Brighton Racecourse spokesman responded to the allegations made by Animal Aid by stating the welfare of the horses was top priority.

He said: “We meet the high standards of equine care set by the British Horseracing Authority.

“With regards the use of the whip, enhanced rules and controls, which were introduced in 2012, have seen the number of whip offences in British racing decrease by nearly 50 per cent. These rules, along with the padded, energy-absorbing design of the whip, ensure that the welfare of the horse comes first. However both Brighton Racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority are not complacent about the issue and continue to monitor the data closely and look to address any anomalies that appear.”