Racing Australia Chief Executive Peter McGauran has moved to clarify the organization's new rules for registration of foals and their owners announced on Monday. McGauran told Racing.com the rules are designed to provide accountability for young horses.
“At the moment, authorities have no knowledge of the owners, nor any responsibility or authority until they're registered as racehorses at two years,” he said. “That's unacceptable, as there are some 3000 Thoroughbreds born each year that aren't registered as racehorses. We do need to account for them so we can rebut the animal-rights extremers. We can satisfy the general community that Thoroughbreds are cared for and their location is known.”
Racing Australia has this week been working with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia on coming to an agreement with the rules. The TBA expressed concerns that bringing breeders under the rules of racing would lead to increased administrative burdens and higher costs for stud farms.
When the proposal for the new rules was announced in April, TBA President Basil Nolan contended the breeding and racing industries should be operated separately, telling rsn.net.au, “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.”
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