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RACING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2016

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S

REPORT

Integrity is the foundation of public and punter confidence

in the industry and the Government’s actions will

significantly enhance racing’s integrity in the ever evolving

online world.

Peter McGauran,

Chief Executive Officer

Equestrian

68.3%

Breeding

20.5%

Died Natural

4.6%

Euthanised

3.9%

Retirement

0.2%

Other

1.3%

Abattoir

0.4%

Livestock sale

0.8%

Blank

0.2%

Destination of retired racehorses 2015/16

Racing Australia has successfully introduced a number

of lasting integrity and animal welfare reforms in

2015/16. Principal amongst them has been traceability

and ownership rules for all thoroughbreds from

birth until retirement as a racehorse. This will enable

authorities to know the location, and, if need be, the

condition of every thoroughbred whereas previously a

horse only came under the Australian Rules of Racing

at the time of its registration as a racehorse, usually at

two years of age. There are few, if any, other breeding

and racing jurisdictions in the world with this level of

accountability and transparency.

1. NEW RULES ENSURING INTEGRITY OF

RACING AND THE WELFARE OF HORSES

Having completed an extensive consultation period

and given consideration to feedback from stakeholders,

the Racing Australia Board unanimously agreed that

new Australian Rules of Racing and Stud Book Rules

be introduced to make acceptance into the Stud Book

conditional on foals being registered within 30 days

of foaling and their beneficial owners being declared

within a further 60 days. In doing so, foals and owners

will come under the Australian Rules of Racing.

Owners and breeders filing Foal Ownership

Declarations (to the extent that they are not already

bound by the Rules of Racing as a result of the

lodgement of any other form, the making of any other

declaration or the operation of any of the Rules), agree

to be bound by the Rules of Racing which relate to

welfare, traceability, banning of steroids and prohibited

substances in racehorses

Racing Australia believes that these reforms will

strengthen ownership transparency and traceability

to improve integrity and animal welfare in the

Thoroughbred industry.

Stewards will only have access to studs and farms

for anabolic androgenic steroids in young horses,

prohibited substances in racehorses and to monitor the

health and welfare of horses generally.

2. RETIREMENT OF RACEHORSES

The Australian Rules of Racing (AR.64JA) require owners

and trainers to inform Racing Australia of the date of the

retirement of horses and their retirement destination via

the Retirement and Death Notification Form.

Data collated from the forms submitted reveals that

92% find homes including 68.3% entering equestrian

programs and 20.5% going into breeding.

Compliance with AR.64JA is being undertaken by the

Principal Racing Authorities and enhancements to the

Retirement and Death Notification Form are being

considered to improve the analysis of the data.