Racing Australia Annual Report 2017

20 | Racing Australia Annual Report 2017 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 recommend on funding to the Racing Australia Board, with assessment criteria requiring research to be innovative with clear hypothesis and methodology to produce tangible outcomes for the health, welfare and performance of the Thoroughbred in Australia. The following projects were approved by the Board in September 2016: THOROUGHBRED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LEVY Since 2012, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has been consulting with breeders and the Federal Government for support for the introduction of a Federal Government funded Research and Development Levy. This levy is to replace the loss of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)’s specialised horse research program. In May 2017 the Federal Government pledged to match the breeding industry’s own contribution. This will result in up to $2.4million over the next four years for research and development (R&D), and will be invested into the key areas of disease control, horse welfare, reproduction and fertility improvements, and injury prevention. The Stud Book has been appointed as the official Levy Collection Officer by the government to collect this Statutory levy. The levy will commence on 1 September 2017, and will be funded by mandatory breeder contributions. Stallion owners will be levied $10 per mare covered, while broodmare owners will be levied $10 per mare returned. The TBA has stated that they consider this levy to the be most equitable method for sharing the costs and the benefits of research work. The research will be undertaken by RIRDC, and they will be directed in their research by a Thoroughbred R&D Advisory Panel. The makeup of this Panel will be determined by the TBA, Racing Australia, Australian Stud Book, and AgriFutures (Formerly known as RIRDC) . RACING AUSTRALIA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND 2017/2018 University of NSW Detection of gene doping in Thoroughbred racehorses $120,000 over 3 years National Measurement Institute Detection of gene doping in Thoroughbred racehorses $330,291 over 3 years Associate Professor Helen Davies, University of Melbourne Tools for reducing injury and breakdown in training and racing $149,847 over 3 years Racing Analytical Services Detection of anabolic steroids in equine hair $57,431 one-off grant Associate Professor Guy Lester, Murdoch University Exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage $50,002 one-off grant Dr M A Brownlow Exertional heat illness $19,490 one-off grant RACING AUSTRALIA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUND 2017/2018 Balance ROR Research Fund 1 July 2017 $527,099 Approved project expenditure $229,223 Balance ROR Research Fund 1 July 2017 $297,876 Actual ROR Research Fund Revenue $0 Forecast ROR Research Fund Revenue $240,000 Forecast Balance ROR Research Fund $537,876 Owners and Breeders Services continued