Racing Australia Annual Report 2020

4 | RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2020 RACING AUSTRALIA LIMITED - THE COMPANY Racing Australia (RA) is the national body comprising Australia’s eight State and Territory Principal Racing Authorities (PRAs) which regulate the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. Racing NSW Racing Victoria Racing Queensland Racing and Wagering Western Australia Thoroughbred Racing SA Tasracing Thoroughbred Racing NT Canberra Racing Club Our industry is one of the iconic industries of the nation with a long and proud history of achievement. As an industry, our economic contribution is around $9.5 billion with 51 per cent (or $4.8 billion) of economic activity generated in regional Australia. We provide jobs for approximately 75,000 Australians and nearly 160,000 participate in the Thoroughbred racing industry as a participant, employee or volunteer – 63 per cent of whom reside in regional areas. This includes 21,425 volunteers who assist and support racing clubs and participants. No industry or sport covers the breadth of our nation like Thoroughbred Racing. To read more about the Size and Scope Study visit page 31. In September 2014, Racing Information Services Australia Pty Ltd (RISA) purchased the assets of the Australian Stud Book (ASB). Subsequently on 13 April 2015, RISA along with its assets merged with the Australian Racing Board (ARB) to form one entity named Racing Australia Pty Ltd. On 18 September 2015, Racing Australia Pty Ltd ultimately converted from a proprietary company to a public company named Racing Australia Limited. The primary objective for which Racing Australia was established is for the encouragement and promotion of horse races, by, amongst other things: a. establishing and conducting a national consolidated Racing Materials and information services business to service the Australian horse racing industry and other users of horse Racing Materials, including: 1. developing a consolidated national uniform and standard system for the collection, processing, storage, dissemination and protection of Racing Materials; 2. establishing and maintaining participation in such a consolidated national uniform and standard Racing Materials system by the Principal Racing Authorities and all others integral to the successful conduct of such system; and 3. developing procedures to maximise the integrity, and minimise duplication on and data cleansing costs, with respect to all Racing Materials collected, processed and disseminated in the conduct of such a system; Photo: Courtesy of Racing NSW ABOUT RACING AUSTRALIA