8 RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2023 • to ban the administration of bisphosphonates to horses under the age of 4; • to deem a horse ineligible to participate for 12 months from the date of the administration of bisphosphonates and not permit to race until 1 August of the year the horse turns 4. • for horses over the age of 4, a horse cannot be subject to the administration of bisphosphonates on any of the 30 clear days before the day of the race in which the horse is declared to run. AR 88B, AR 78, AR 297 Racing Australia has introduced nationally consistent policies to address the following issues: 1. Horses that have not started in a race for 12 months or longer – returning to training and racing; 2. Horses that have experienced a cardiac arrhythmia after a race – returning to training and racing; 3. Horses that have suffered a major fracture and/or undergone major orthopaedic surgery – mandatory reporting and returning to training and racing; 4. Horses aged 12 years – pre and post-race veterinary inspections; and 5. Horses that have been retired from racing – reinstatement for training and racing. Each of these rules seek to improve horse welfare outcomes by clearly defining the protocols that must be adhered to when a horse is returning to training/racing after an extended period or serious injury. These rules are given force under the Australian Rules of Racing as Racing Australia Codes of Practice. While participants have general obligations to comply with such Codes and may be penalised for non-compliance (see AR 16 and AR 233), new rules have been introduced to impose specific obligations regarding participants’ compliance with these new Codes, as follows: • New AR 88B in Part 5 – Eligibility of horses to race, Division 2 – Restrictions/ exclusions in relation to participation of horses in races etc for points 1-3 above; • Amendments to AR 78 for point 4 above; and • Amendments to AR 297 for point 5 above. A further 10 rules have been under consideration since March 2023 and these were approved by the Board at its November 2023 meeting to come into effect 1 February 2024. These rules cover: 1. Adoption of Asian Screening Limit (ASL) for Dexamethasone. 2. Adoption of International Screening Limit (ISL) for Procaine (in plasma) and Asian Screening Limit (ASL) for Procaine (in urine). 3. Australian Residue Limits (ARL) and Definition (Rule) & Preamble. 4. Cannabinoids – addition to Prohibited List A. 5. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) – amendment to AR248, AR17, AR 253, AR 286 & Definition for SARMs Clearing Certificate. 6. Eligibility to Race (Horse) - Specified Prohibited Practices (new rules) – Division 2 – AR88C & AR88D. Chemical Castration & Blistering. 7. Bleeder Rule – AR79 – amendment. 8. National Equipment Register – Stirrup Irons (Step Stirrups). 9. National Equipment Register – VIPA III Safety Vest. 10. Race Riding Boots with embedded lead – AR186 amendments to ban. These rules represent the racing industries commitment to continual review and improvement of horse welfare, health and safety. RESEARCH AND AGRIFUTURES Racing Australia has communicated with Agrifutures to re-engage on specific racing related research projects. These projects will be specifically aimed at horse and participant welfare and safety. Projects will be evaluated on an ongoing basis for positive outcomes. At present Racing Australia is investigating funding specific research into predicting catastrophic bone fatigue to reduce equine injuries. RACING AUSTRALIA BOARD During the year Racing Australia farewelled with thanks Ms Robyn Whishaw and Mr Dave Garnier of Tasracing who were the nominated Director for Canberra Race Club, Thoroughbred Racing NT and Tasracing and welcomed Ms Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds from Thoroughbred Racing NT who replaced them as the nominated director for Canberra Race Club, Thoroughbred Racing NT and Tasracing. CONCLUSION Whilst the 2022 – 2023 year has been challenging from a point of view of change in staff, systems and projects, Racing Australia staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the necessary services continue to be provided to support the racing industry. The work that has been carried out has laid the foundations for significant changes in future service delivery that will deliver benefits to the racing and breeding industry. The next 12 months will see work commencing on a new SNS design that utilises a single view of the horse from registration through to retirement to: • better support traceability; • reduce paper forms and move towards full digital transacting; • reduce the complexity of systems; • improve reliability and performance; • development of alternative additional revenue streams.
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