Thoroughbred Welfare Group Receives 160 Submissions

Media Release - Tuesday September 15

A panel looking into thoroughbred welfare headed by former Victorian Premier Dr Denis Napthine has been “very pleased” by the number of suggestions it has received.
 
More than 160 submissions have been made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group (TAWWG) by prominent trainers, owners, breeders, race clubs as well as welfare groups, veterinarians, equine re-trainers, researchers and the general public. Racing Australia and each of the principal racing authorities have also made submissions.
 
“The working group has been very impressed and pleased with the standard and the sheer number of submissions that have been lodged,” said Dr Napthine. “It is clear that there is a real appetite from both within and outside the thoroughbred industry to look at how welfare can be improved.”
 
The TAWWG was established in February this year by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, the Australian Trainers’ Association, the Australian Jockeys’ Association, and with the support of other leading industry stakeholders.
 
In early June the TAWWG released an Issues Paper canvassing key horse welfare topics and publicly called for submissions from anybody who had an opinion on improving the wellbeing of thoroughbred horses, especially those exiting the racing and breeding industry.
 
Dr Napthine added: “I can assure everyone who made a submission that they are all being read by the panel and will be given consideration as we go through our work.
 
“There have been lots of suggestions, ideas and insights in the more than thousand pages of documents we have received. I’ve been particularly pleased with the range of viewpoints that have been put forward and many different voices heard.
 
“We are now engaged in meetings with some of those who wrote to us, and with other key local and international stakeholders and experts, to further explore the many issues, ideas, suggestions and considerations as we begin to shape our report and its recommendations."
 
The TAWWG has so far held more than 20 consultative meetings and has scheduled many more in September and October.
 
It is expected the group will publish their final report and recommendations in late spring of this year.
 
The four person panel is made up of Dr Napthine, who also served as Victoria’s racing minister and is a qualified veterinarian; Dr Ken Jacobs, a former director of the Australian Veterinary Association; Dr Bidda Jones, Chief Science and Strategy Officer for RSPCA Australia; and Jack Lake, a senior agriculture advisor on policy in the governments of Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and Kevn Rudd.
 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
G1 Metrop Win for Australian Bloodstock
Second in the Italian Derby at three, progressive stayer Royal Supremacy (IRE) had racked up multiple Group placings in Europe before his sale to Australian Bloodstock and broke through for his first ever stakes win when taking out the $750,000 Group I ATC The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chirs Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.