Racing Australia Annual Report 2020

12 | RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2020 T he 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 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 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) MY HORSE RACING PORTAL The myhorseracing.horse portal was launched in April 2019, providing a significant and more efficient online system for racing participants to the paper-based functions. An objective of the Racing Australia Board on behalf of the Thoroughbred racing industry is to proactively and quickly grow the use of myhorseracing.horse and reduce the use of paper forms for Registrar and Deputy Registrar functions. Ongoing development, communication and training with industry participants by the Management Team will ensue in this regard. Extensive investment and development has continued over the past financial year and will continue into the next financial year to develop the final piece of merging the industry databases into the Single Nation System, being the Australian Stud Book database. 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 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 2019/2020 Balance ROR Research Fund 30/06/2019 $424,805 Approved project expenditure $289,546 Actual ROR Research Fund Revenue $227,952 Balance ROR Research Fund 30/06/2020 $363,211 AGRIFUTURES THOROUGHBRED HORSE PROGRAM Commencing in the 2017-18 financial year, the Research and Development Levy has seen the establishment of the AgriFutures (formally RIRDC) Thoroughbred Horses Levy, supporting priority research, development and extension activities to address Thoroughbred industry challenges and opportunities. 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 KEEPER OF THE AUSTRALIAN STUD BOOK - OWNERS AND BREEDERS SERVICES “An objective of the Racing Australia Board on behalf of the Thoroughbred racing industry is to proactively & quickly grow the use of the myhorseracing portal & reduce the use of paper forms.” Jacqueline Stewart Keeper of the Australian Stud Book (Owners and Breeders Services Manager)