Racing Australia has announced significant changes to the registration process for foals which will ensure that breeders are governed by the Australian Rules of Racing.
In future, the registering of Thoroughbreds within the Australian Stud Book (ASB) must take place 30 days after the birth of a foal. In measures designed to improve the ability to track the country's Thoroughbred population, breeders will also now be asked to acknowledge that they are governed by the rules of racing when signing stallion return, mare return or new breeder registration forms submitted to the ASB.
A statement released on Friday by the umbrella body for Australia's principal racing authorities across different states read, “Traceability is the cornerstone of integrity and will also underpin the industry's drive on animal welfare standards. The fact that a significant number of Thoroughbreds are not regulated by any authority is unacceptable in the modern era where community values and expectations have evolved from the past. It is the view of Racing Australia that this initiative is a paramount obligation of racing authorities and that regulation is essential to ensure best practices in animal welfare across all Thoroughbreds in the industry.”
Though only a small number of rules currently apply to horses prior to entering training, crucially those relating to anabolic steroid use and gene doping apply from birth, as well as a requirement for breeders and owners to account for the whereabouts of Thoroughbreds never registered as racehorses. Planned regulation changes also include a register of all owners who will benefit from the sale of a horse at public auction.
The statement continued, “Racing Australia stresses that Australia's breeding industry is highly regarded as evidenced by the large number of international investors here and buyers attending from all parts of the world. However, Racing Australia aims to strengthen even further breeding and racing's transparency and accountability as demanded by the community and as expected by government.”
Racing Australia has been in discussion for two years with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA), which, instead of bringing breeders under the rules of racing, favours the introduction of a Breeding Welfare and Integrity Panel to be charged with enforcing penalties for any breaches of ASB rules which currently govern breeders.
A strongly worded riposte from the TBA described the surprise announcement from Racing Australia as a “power-grab” and insisted that the proposals are opposed by the TBA Board and wider breeding industry in the country.
TBA President Basil Nolan said, “This is nothing more than a power-grab by Racing Australia, a body which is totally unaccountable. It is as if the butchers suddenly decided they wanted to regulate farmers.
“TBA will support any reform which enhances our industry, but this move does not do that. It tells you everything about Racing Australia that they made today's announcement without even bothering to first inform Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and while they were still supposed to be considering a proposal from us.”
The TBA statement also points to the fact that at a meeting at the recent Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, at which Racing Australia Chairman John Messara and Chief Executive Peter McGauran outlined the proposals, the 90 breeders present voted unanimously against the planned changes.
In a draft proposal, the TBA has asked for the creation of the role of an ASB Steward who would investigate breaches of ASB rules, with potential disqualifications of up to 10 years for breeders found guilty of offences relating to animal cruelty.
Other changes announced in the Racing Australia reforms include the introduction of training agreements for owners and joint-owners, the forthcoming introduction of a rule which applies to the racehorse trading in a bid to outlaw secret commissions, and a comprehensive re-writing of the Australian Rules of Racing, which will include a section devoted to equine anti-doping rules.
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