Racing Australia Fact Book 2018/19

2 RACING AUSTRALIA FACT BOOK 2018/2019 RACING AUSTRALIA Australian Thoroughbred Racing Structure Major Race Clubs Australia has 385 race Clubs, the major race clubs in each State and Territory are: State Club Racetrack(s) Victoria Victoria Racing Club Flemington Melbourne Racing Club Caulfield Sandown Mornington MooneeValley RacingClub Moonee Valley New South Wales Australian Turf Club Randwick Rosehill Canterbury Warwick Farm Queensland Brisbane Racing Club Eagle Farm Doomben South Australia South Australian Jockey Club Morphettville Western Australia Perth Racing Ascot Belmont Park Tasmania Tasmanian Racing Club Hobart (Elwick) Tasmanian Turf Club Launceston (Mowbray) ACT Canberra Racing Club Canberra Northern Territory Darwin Turf Club Fannie Bay Equine Genetics Research Centre The establishment of Australian racing’s first equine genetics laboratory service was announced in October 2017. The Racing Australia Equine Genetics Research Centre (EGRC) was officially opened by Mr John Messara AM and Mr Russell Balding AO on April 23, 2018 in Scone, NSW. The Core Business The EGRC performs parentage verification and DNA profiling for the Australian Stud Book and approximately 30 other breed associations. The Centre also offers DNA testing for 11 genetic diseases and 18 other phenotypic traits, many of these related to colours and markings. These include three new tests that were not previously offered. Projected numbers of tests processed annually * Australian Thoroughbreds – parentage verification 12,700 Imported Thoroughbreds – DNA profiled to confirm identity 1,500 Non-Thoroughbred – parentage verification 5,500 Non-Thoroughbred – diagnostic testing 6,000 Total DNA tests performed annually 25,700 * Figures based on previous numbers processed The Research In 2019 the EGRC once again achieved a perfect 100% accuracy score in the International Society of Animal Genetics Equine Comparison Tests. The EGRC was awarded its first competitive Category 1 research grant from Agrifutures Australia in July 2019. This grant will support the EGRC’s efforts as the international leader in developing methods to detect gene doping and gene editing in Thoroughbreds. Other studies the Centre is involved with include investigating genetics underlying fertility traits in Thoroughbreds and the development of new genetic tests to identify markers for phenotypic traits. The EGRC also continues to be a contributing member of the International Equine Genome Mapping Workshop. Dr Natasha Hamilton presented an invited plenary on Thoroughbred genetics at the International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology in Lorne, Nov 2018. She also represented Racing Australia at the 22nd Association of Racing Chemists Gene Doping Workshop in Japan and attended meetings of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities Gene Doping Control Subcommittee and the International Stud Book Committee Genetics Subcommittee. Manager Dominique Dolgener presented to members of Equine Veterinarians Australia in August on the application of PCR based molecular diagnostics in equine science and pathology. The EGRC has also hosted a number of smaller groups on tours of the laboratory and hosted its first international guest speaker for an all-breeds forum in March 2019. Outreach and Education The Centre can offer advice on how to avoid breeding horses affected by genetic diseases. It will hold educational seminars open to all interested parties throughout the year.