Racing Australia Annual Report 2020

8 | RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2020 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT N o industry or sport covers the breadth of our nation like Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing. Throughout the year Racing Australia continued to work collaboratively with the industry to advance the Australian Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industry. COVID-19 In a year where the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every aspect of our personal and professional lives, the Racing Australia team transitioned to working from home in March and successfully provided continuity of products and services. During this time the team were also able to maintain a focus on innovation in order to advance the growth of the company while continuing to advocate for the industry. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic Racing Australia recognised its responsibility to provide leadership during the stressful and uncertain times by undertaking analysis to provide information to all levels of government that quantified the impacts of COVID-19 on our industry. To achieve this the Size and Scope Study of our industry was quickly reviewed and updated. (A summary of this can be found on page 31 of this Annual Report). Racing Australia set three core objectives and in conjunction with the industry Racing Australia set about; (1) To keep racing going, (2) To maintain employment of the 74,000 participants who comprise our workforce and (3) To ensure equine welfare is maintained at the highest level. The Principal Racing Authorities led this important work and together with Race Clubs, Industry Participants, Racing Australia and Government, our industry collectively accomplished all three of the above objectives. (With the exception of Tasmania where racing did stop for a number of weeks) I take this opportunity to thank the Racing Australia team located in our Sydney, Scone and Melbourne Offices who have been extraordinary during these unprecedented times. EQUINE WELFARE & TRACEABILITY The appointment of Racing Australia’s first Equine Welfare and Traceability Executive (Karen Day) throughout the year was an important step in Racing Australia’s ongoing commitment to the welfare and traceability of the Thoroughbred. Equine welfare and retirement programs remain the responsibility of the Principal Racing Authorities (PRAs) across each State and Territory of Australia. Racing Australia’s role is to work closely with the PRAs to help coordinate and promote “best practice” equine welfare standards across the Thoroughbred industry. Given Racing Australia has specific operational and system responsibilities for equine traceability the new role has very quickly begun monitoring and reviewing these responsibilities whilst also undertaking research, preparing reports and other communications reporting and promoting equine welfare practices. Amended Rules of Racing and Rules of the Australian Stud Book were developed to improve the traceability and associated compliance. The corresponding operational and systems development were scoped with a final decision on the rules and implementation due in the new financial year. Given the jurisdictional reach of the Australia Rules of Racing and the Local Rules of Racing of each Principal Racing Authority, Racing Australia supports the proposed National Traceability Register and is a member of the national working group. “Throughout the year Racing Australia continued to work collaboratively with the industry to advance the Australian Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industry.” Myles Foreman Chief Executive Officer