The racing industry has been the subject of increasing scrutiny over recent years, and it has never been more vital to ensure, and be able to demonstrate, continuous improvement in welfare at every stage of a standardbred horse’s life.
Given the ever-increasing public interest and expectations concerning animal welfare and social media providing a previously unheard-of voice and platform for both positive and negative publicity, Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) are committed to upholding the Equine Welfare and Traceability Strategy of Harness Racing Australia (HRA).
The strategy, which has a strong focus on traceability of horses within the industry at all stages of life, relies heavily upon industry compliance and transparency and integrity across all areas, particularly in welfare matters. The strategy is fundamental to harness racing’s social licence to operate, thus the industry’s ongoing sustainability and success.
In 2023, HRA introduced a suite of new rules, along with an expansion of existing rules, relating to equine welfare and traceability. These rule changes included a death of a horse to be immediately notified if in the care of a licensed trainer or 24 hours in any other case. The relevant media release in relation to HRA’s Equine Traceability Rule Changes in 2023 can be found here.
There have been recent instances where neither HRA nor HRV have been notified that a registered horse has been retired from racing, or a decision has been made to not race the horse. There have also been recent instances where HRV Stewards have not immediately been notified where a horse has died whilst in the care of a licensed trainer, and where a death of a horse has been notified, or which should have been notified, by the owner or trainer and the carcass has been disposed of without the permission of either HRV or the Stewards.
HRV Stewards remind all participants of their obligations under the Australian Trotting Stud Book Regulations (ATSBR).
ATSBR 11 reads:
11 Retirement or Death of a Horse
(1) HRA may on application made by the owner of a horse withdraw the registration certificate of the horse. (2) Notification of retirement or death shall be given to HRA on Form R25-A or in such manner or form as may be determined by HRA.
(3) (a) Where a registered horse has been retired from racing or a decision has been made to not race the horse, the owner of the horse at the time of its retirement from racing must, with seven days of the horse’s retirement, notify the Registrar by lodging the relevant form prescribed by the Registrar.
(b) Where a registered horse has been retired from racing or a decision has been made to not race the horse but retain it for the purposes of breeding, the owner of the horse at the time of its retirement from breeding must, within seven days of the horse’s retirement notify the Registrar by lodging the relevant form prescribed by the Registrar.
(4) The owner or trainer of a registered horse at the time of its death shall:-
(a) In the case of a horse which dies whilst in the care of a licensed trainer immediately notify the Stewards of the death.
(b) In any other case notify HRA and the Controlling Body or Stewards of the death within twenty four hours of its occurrence.
(5) A notification of death under sub rule (4) shall be in writing or such other form as HRA, the Controlling Body or Stewards may determine.
(6) The person in possession of the dead horse’s registration certificate shall within 7 days of such notification return the certificate to HRA.
(7) The owner or trainer shall comply with any direction given by HRA, the Stewards or the Controlling Body to verify the death.
(8) The owner or trainer of a horse whose death has been notified, or which should have been notified, under sub rule (4)(a) shall not dispose of the carcass without the permission of the Stewards or the Controlling Body.
(9) Where notification has been given in accordance with sub-rule (3) the horse will be ineligible to race unless it is re-registered.
(10) Sub rules (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) are Offence Provisions.
For further information on this please contact HRV Integrity using one of the following options:
HRV Stewards – Phone – 03 8378 0292
Integrity Hotline – Phone – 03 9214 0651 or Email – integrity@hrv.org.au