RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2025 7 • Deployment of improved physical and virtual firewalls and communication links to protect Racing Australia systems (and data) from attack from hackers and data corruption/encryption fraud. • Development of updated Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Systems plans following the move to Oracle Cloud and the deployment of improved cyber security systems that deliver fast failover from the primary Melbourne OCI site to the secondary Sydney OCI site to ensure any failures have minimal impact on the operation of racing. The steps that were taken over the 2024 – 2025 year have further solidified the base on which we effectively and efficiently manage the ongoing development of Racing Australia’s systems and set the stage for the third step in the delivery of new cloud based systems for the industry. Racing Australia undertook a review of its in-house development team work load and capabilities, identifying that whilst there was a strong skill set to maintain and enhance the existing systems we were not in a position to design and build new systems using current technology and systems. As such Racing Australia has searched for a development partner to collaborate in the development of a new system covering Stud Book, Registration and all racing systems. We anticipate making an announcement on the selection of a partner by June 2026. We have continued to work on other improvement projects that include: Mobile Application – to deliver an improved and reliable tool to allow identification of horses and update their location through a scanner linked to a mobile phone application. The application has undergone continued enhancements over the past 12 months with the inclusion of the ability to update horse identity information as well as adding last start and compatibility functions. It is currently being used by some PRA’s to undergo evaluation and acceptance for wider use in the industry. Upgraded Stable Returns – to deliver standardised and integrated reporting of horse statuses thus improving traceability. Improved integration between the Australian Stud Book, Registrar of Racehorses and SNS – a key project to deliver improved data integrity and remove impediments to the traceability of horses was successfully delivered paving the way for the replacement of the Australian Stud Book systems. Late Foal Ownership Declarations – a key project to close a gap in the traceability of the horse and to enforce the Australian Rules of Racing 285, 286, 287. Transfers in Progress – a key project for improving communications regarding the status of changes in ownership of horses. Sales House API – an ongoing project to automate the transfer of data between Racing Australia systems and the sales houses to reduce data entry requirements for changes of ownership due to sales. EAA Flags – changes have been made to facilitate EAA’s associated with named transfers and syndicate registrations as well as unnamed horses. International Form –Racing Australia is working to build automatic systems that will ingest form for International horses directly from the overseas jurisdiction. Unique Person ID – As flagged in last years report Racing Australia commenced a major project relating to the validation and verification of ASB, RoR and SNS users. This project is a critical component of standardising the access to and control of Racing Australia systems and is a necessary first step to the ultimate objective of being able to transact digitally. Over the year Racing Australia has cleaned up and validated approximately half of our ASB, RoR and SNS users. In relation to Racing Australia’s role as a source of Racing Materials to Wagering Operators and Commercial users we have signed Wholesaler Agreements with five Racing Material Wholesalers. Under the agreements the wholesalers are required to report on a monthly basis as to whom they supply Racing Materials. Racing Australia is now focussed on compliance to ensure that only authorised / licensed and approved Wagering Operators receive Australian Racing Materials. Racing Australia and the PRA’s will now be able to work more effectively with ACMA and other parties to deal with illegal Wagering Operators. WELFARE AND SAFETY As noted last year Racing Australia engaged with the PRAs to deliver a consensus position response to the Federal Government on the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Livestock Land Transport. We have recently been able to review a draft standards document which appears to incorporate all Racing Australia’s feedback. At this stage we are unaware of any further developments but continue to keep a close watch on this work. In December 2022, the State Agriculture Ministers endorsed the National Horse Traceability Working Group’s recommended approach to development of a National Horse Traceability System. Racing Australia has continued involvement in this project through its role on the National Horse Traceability Implementation Taskforce. The final report was submitted to National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) at the end of March 2025. The report included Racing Australia’s position that the traceability systems in use by the Thoroughbred Industry are more than adequate and any national equine traceability system implemented should work within these existing traceability systems. Racing Australia strongly rejected any levy imposed on the Thoroughbred Industry to fund any new traceability systems. At this stage there has been no further significant movement in this area. Following the delivery of the jockey safety vests scoping report, Racing Australia commenced an investigation into actions being taken to evaluate vests in international jurisdictions. All jurisdictions investigated, with the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA1NTI=