12 RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2024 The principal activity of Owners and Breeders Services is to operate the Australian Stud Book ensuring the integrity of Thoroughbred breeding in Australia in accordance with the Rules of the Australian Stud Book. Together with a Registrar’s role, it also records the initial registration, ownership and naming of all Thoroughbreds in accordance with the Australian Rules of Racing. In addition, each Principal Racing Authority (PRA) employs a Deputy Registrar. The Deputy Registrar is responsible for: • subsequent changes in racehorse ownership (Transfer or Lease) of horses based in their respective states. • registration of racing colours (silks). • registration of Syndicates of owners. • the regulation of licensed promoters (Syndicators). INTERNATIONAL THOROUGHBRED INBREEDING WORKING GROUP The Australian Stud Book is a founding member of the International Stud Book Committee (ISBC), comprising nine world Stud Book authorities, which has met annually since 1976 to ensure the relativity of rules and expedite the international movement of horses. The ISBC members are also responsible for monitoring and preserving the genetic fitness of the Thoroughbred for the future of the breed through its member countries. Several members of the ISBC have or are conducting studies on the levels of inbreeding in their population, namely, the United States, Australia, France, Japan, Britain, and Ireland. The ISBC have recently reaffirmed that more scientific papers are being published which reinforce previously published papers pointing to high levels of inbreeding The Australian Stud Book is a founding member of the International Stud Book Committee (ISBC), comprising nine world Stud Book authorities, which has met annually since 1976 to ensure the relativity of rules and expedite the international movement of horses. OWNER AND BREEDER SERVICES REPORT within the Thoroughbred breed globally, compared to other inbreeding-monitored equine breeds, and the challenges that this is, and is likely to continue, to present to the breed in the relatively short-term future. The committee is establishing an ISBC inbreeding working group (TIWG) to: • consider the published scientific evidence on increased and increasing levels of inbreeding in the Thoroughbred and the evidenced current and potential challenges presented by this research; and • consult and encourage constructive debate on the topic with all stakeholder groups including policy makers and breeders worldwide; and • formulate workable solutions, led by the data rather than opinions. RACING AUSTRALIA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND Racing Australia continues to support research and development directly associated with the Thoroughbred with $20 from each Registration application allocated to the Racing Australia Research and Development Fund. The Research and Development Grant Assessment panel review submissions and recommendations on funding to the Racing Australia Board. Assessment criteria require research to be innovative with clear hypothesis and methodology to produce tangible outcomes for the health, welfare and performance of the Thoroughbred in Australia.
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