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RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2016
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S
REPORT
Integrity is the foundation of public and punter confidence
in the industry and the Government’s actions will
significantly enhance racing’s integrity in the ever evolving
online world.
Peter McGauran,
Chief Executive Officer
Equestrian
68.3%
Breeding
20.5%
Died Natural
4.6%
Euthanised
3.9%
Retirement
0.2%
Other
1.3%
Abattoir
0.4%
Livestock sale
0.8%
Blank
0.2%
Destination of retired racehorses 2015/16
Racing Australia has successfully introduced a number
of lasting integrity and animal welfare reforms in
2015/16. Principal amongst them has been traceability
and ownership rules for all thoroughbreds from
birth until retirement as a racehorse. This will enable
authorities to know the location, and, if need be, the
condition of every thoroughbred whereas previously a
horse only came under the Australian Rules of Racing
at the time of its registration as a racehorse, usually at
two years of age. There are few, if any, other breeding
and racing jurisdictions in the world with this level of
accountability and transparency.
1. NEW RULES ENSURING INTEGRITY OF
RACING AND THE WELFARE OF HORSES
Having completed an extensive consultation period
and given consideration to feedback from stakeholders,
the Racing Australia Board unanimously agreed that
new Australian Rules of Racing and Stud Book Rules
be introduced to make acceptance into the Stud Book
conditional on foals being registered within 30 days
of foaling and their beneficial owners being declared
within a further 60 days. In doing so, foals and owners
will come under the Australian Rules of Racing.
Owners and breeders filing Foal Ownership
Declarations (to the extent that they are not already
bound by the Rules of Racing as a result of the
lodgement of any other form, the making of any other
declaration or the operation of any of the Rules), agree
to be bound by the Rules of Racing which relate to
welfare, traceability, banning of steroids and prohibited
substances in racehorses
Racing Australia believes that these reforms will
strengthen ownership transparency and traceability
to improve integrity and animal welfare in the
Thoroughbred industry.
Stewards will only have access to studs and farms
for anabolic androgenic steroids in young horses,
prohibited substances in racehorses and to monitor the
health and welfare of horses generally.
2. RETIREMENT OF RACEHORSES
The Australian Rules of Racing (AR.64JA) require owners
and trainers to inform Racing Australia of the date of the
retirement of horses and their retirement destination via
the Retirement and Death Notification Form.
Data collated from the forms submitted reveals that
92% find homes including 68.3% entering equestrian
programs and 20.5% going into breeding.
Compliance with AR.64JA is being undertaken by the
Principal Racing Authorities and enhancements to the
Retirement and Death Notification Form are being
considered to improve the analysis of the data.