Racing Australia Equine Welfare Meeting

Media Release - Friday October 25

Officials from State and Territory Thoroughbred racing authorities met in Sydney today, at a meeting coordinated by Racing Australia, to identify options to further strengthen Australian racing’s equine welfare programs.
 
“People who work across the Thoroughbred industry share the public’s outrage at the recently identified cruel and inhumane treatment of horses at a Queensland abattoir,” Racing Australia Chairman Greg Nichols said.
 
“In 2016 Australian racing led the world with equine welfare reforms which ensured their authorities had oversight on the location of Thoroughbreds from birth to retirement.
 
“Today’s meeting reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to building on those reforms,” Mr Nichols said.
 
The session identified a number of immediate initiatives including:
 

  • seeking national adoption of the prize money levy and introduction of a sales levy to help finance an expansion of national Thoroughbred aftercare programs;
     
  • further strengthening industry rules and penalties on the ownership, location and retirement destinations of Thoroughbreds and committing resources to ensure compliance;
     
  • working with governments to ensure the introduction of the National Traceability Register for all Horses;
     
  • upgrading racing’s technology platforms to simplify participants’ ability to comply with the industry’s equine welfare rules and make access to data more transparent and robust;
     
  • promoting the Thoroughbred industry’s welfare policies and practices.  

 
Chair of Racing Australia’s Equine Welfare Committee, Steve Wilson AM, said “our goal is for Australian Thoroughbreds to be the best cared for members of the animal kingdom”.
 
“Racing Australia and the State racing authorities are keen to work with Federal, State and Territory governments to achieve the changes needed to provide better outcomes for Thoroughbreds after they leave our industry,” Mr Wilson said.
 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Expensive Ghaiyyath Colt Wins Stakes
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) had his first Australian winner earlier this week and overnight produced a new stakes-winner in the UK where Godolphin owned colt Opera Ballo won the Listed Heron Stakes (1m)at Sandown.
Sires With Winners - Friday May 30
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cool Aza Beel Strikes Again
Proven Te Akau Racing filly Cool Aza Rene put her quality on display when prevailing in a competitive Nellies Restaurant and Bar 2YO (820m) at Wingatui on Sunday.
First Winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s Champion 3YO Miler Palace Pier(GB) was a one term shuttler to Australia for Darley in 2022 and that crop will race next season, but in the meantime he had his first Northern Hemisphere winner overnight at Haydock.
New Classic Prospect and New Aussie 2YO Winner for Wootton Bassett
The Group III JRA Derby Trial (2000m) at Baden Baden in Germany overnight produced a new stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett (GB) with lightly raced colt Juwelier staking a claim for classic success.
Familiar Faces Win $100,000 Jumps Features at Sandown
Jumps racing took centre stage at Sandown on Sunday with some familiar colours and faces winning both the $100,000 Australian Steeplechase (3900m) and the $100,000 Australian Hurdle (3900m).
Aussie Bred Trifecta in G3 Sha Tin Vase
Toronado (IRE) gelding Helios Express led home a tricta for Aussie bred sprinters in the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m) on Saturday defeating Invincible Sage (Thronum) and Patch of Theta (Zoustar).
Research on Equliume Light Mask
Don’t take our word for granted ….. Research on the Equilume Light mask for the pregnant mare and foal
Lightly Raced Stayer Wins Sandown Cup
The $175,000 Listed MRC Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday featured some battle hardened  old stayers, but it was the young kind on the block that got the prize with four year-old Tavistock gelding Diwali scoring his first stakes win.
Magic Justify x Fastnet Rock Cross Strikes in Hong Kong
With Justify’s very best son City of Troy (USA) shuttling to Coolmore Australia this spring it’s worth remembering the power of the Justify x Fastnet Rock nick and we saw it to the fore at Sha Tin on Saturday when Australian bred four year-old Pray for Mir took out the Group III The Lion Rock Trophy (1600m).