16 RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2021 In reviewing the past year, it is with great pride we acknowledge the work and dedication achieved by the Equine Welfare Teams within each of the Principal Racing Authorities. They have provided a truly collaborative and supportive team of people who regularly come together and share experiences to continually strive to improve the welfare framework for Australian Thoroughbreds for the duration for their lifecycle. The question that is most common with Thoroughbred Welfare is how many horses retire from racing and what is the outcome of those horses. In 2021 a piece of independent research was produced by the Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences titled Drivers of Exit and Outcomes for Thoroughbred Racehorses that are participating in the 2017 – 2018 Australian Racing Season. As part of the new traceability rules Racing Australia and the Principal Racing Authorities are continually provided with expansive information on Thoroughbreds Equine Welfare and Traceability continue to be at the forefront of Industry development and Racing Australia is key in providing the tools for the industry to be accountable. as they journey through their lifecycle. Through our data partnership with Equestrian Victoria over 5,000 Thoroughbreds were verified as currently participating in Equestrian Sports. In May 2021, Racing Australia provided a series of tools that allows anyone who has ownership of a Thoroughbred, whether active in racing, retired or breeding, to record updates on a horse’s location, career change, subsequent retirement from second career or notification on end-of-life. For an active Thoroughbred horse updates are required every 6 months (for horses not yet retired) and every 12 months (for horses registered with the breeding community). In the 2020/21 Racing Season, Racing Australia processed 11,008 retirement status updates and end-of-life notifications for horses aged 0-36 split into active season notifications and historical updates. Racing Australia also regularly reviews the status of the potential racing herd. Karen Day General Manager Equine Welfare and Traceability Racing Australia and our State and Territory Principal Racing Authorities share a common aspiration of elevating the quality of equine welfare in Australia to ensure Australia is regarded as being the standard bearer within global Thoroughbred racing and breeding. EQUINE WELFARE AND TRACEABILITY REPORT
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