Racing Australia Annual Report 2018

18 | RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 KEEPER OF THE AUSTRALIAN STUD BOOK – OWNERS AND BREEDERS SERVICES REPORT 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. Jacqueline Stewart, Keeper of the Australian Stud Book (Owners and Breeders Services Manager) 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 Australian Stud Book Rules. Together with the 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 ownership (Transfer or Lease) of horses based in their respective states • registration of colours • registration of Syndicates of owners • the regulation of licensed promoters (Syndicators) FOAL OWNERSHIP Reforms were implemented in 2016 to strengthen ownership transparency and traceability to improve animal welfare in the Thoroughbred industry, making acceptance into the Stud Book conditional on foals being registered within 30 days of foaling and their owners being declared within a further 30 days. Compliance with the new rules in its first year of implementation, has increased from 72% declaration of forms submitted within the required 60 days from birth to 91% compliance for the 2017 foal crop. New automated notifications have been implemented using mobile SMS and email to remind breeders and owners of the rules and their obligations to submit ownership declarations. An Online submission system for transfers of ownership will be deployed in early 2019 which will further provide a more efficient system for breeders and owners and will be a significant improvement to the current paper-based function. 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 requires research to be innovative with clear hypothesis and methodology to produce tangible outcomes for the health, welfare and performance of the Thoroughbred in Australia. Racing Australia Research and Development Fund 2017/18 Balance ROR Research Fund 1/7/2017 $527,099 Approved project expenditure $298,436 Actual ROR Research Fund Revenue $224,958 Forecast Balance ROR Research Fund 1/7/2018 $453,621 AGRIFUTURES THOROUGHBRED HORSE PROGRAM The re-introduction of the Research and Development Levy has seen the establishment of the AgriFutures (formally RIRDC) Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel, a group of industry leaders who assess and recommend research projects focusing on the key areas of disease control, horse welfare, reproduction and fertility improvements, and injury prevention. The advisory panel is chaired by Professor Nigel Perkins (Head of School, School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland). Other members include Dr Catherine Chicken (consultant to the Scone Equine Hospital on pathology and infectious disease), Derek Field (Widden Stud General Manager), Dr Judith Medd (Racing and Wagering Western Australia Industry Veterinarian), Tas Rielley (owner/operator of Basinghall Broodmare Farm) and Jacqueline Stewart, (Keeper of the Australian Stud Book). There are thirteen current projects with $132,455 invested in R&D since July 2018 and a further $1,549,091 committed to R&D from 1 July 2018 onwards. To learn more about the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses projects, please visit the website agrifutures.com.au/thoroughbred-horses The Australian Stud Book was appointed the official Levy Collection Officer by the Australian Government and collects Statutory Levy contributions of $10 per mare return lodged by breeders and $10 per mare covered paid by the stallion owner. From 1 September 2017 to 31 July 2018, the Stud Book has collected $382,510 on behalf of breeders to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Federal Government on eligible Thoroughbred research. Jacqueline Stewart Keeper of the Australian Stud Book (Owners and Breeders Services Manager)