Thoroughbred Breeders Australia have responded to the redrafted rules of racing which relate to breeders and foal owners which have been the major
talking point and controversy among all breeders in recent months.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia President Basil Nolan released the following:
Dear Breeder,
I am writing to you about the issue with Racing Australia and our concerns
about their attempts to bring breeders under all the Rules of Racing.
I'm pleased to inform you that Racing Australia, in consultation with
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, has redrafted the Rules of Racing that relate
to breeders and foal owners.
As a result, stewards will only have access to studs and farms to test for
anabolic androgenic steroids in young horses, prohibited substances in
racehorses and to monitor the health and welfare of horses.
Racing Australia has also agreed to form a new body called the Australian
Racing & Breeding Committee, with representatives of both racing and
breeding, which will meet at least four times a year to discuss industry
issues.
I believe the creation of this committee is an important step forward and I
sincerely hope Racing Australia and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia can work
consultatively and co-operatively through this new board in the future.
Racing Australia has clarified that a representative of a foal owner (such as a
farm manager) can return the Foal Ownership Declaration when they have written
approval to act as an agent for that owner. This clarification will provide
comfort to many farms and studs, especially those with large numbers of clients
or those which complete paperwork on behalf of clients.
The redrafted Rules of Racing provide clarity to the breeding industry about
the scope of Racing Australia's intentions and this is welcomed by Thoroughbred
Breeders Australia.
In a press release sent out by Racing Australia this afternoon, its chairman,
John Messara, said: "It is pleasing that the matter has finally been resolved
with the TBA.”
I echo those sentiments.
I have included, below, the redrafted Rule of Racing 14b:
(f) It is a condition
precedent to any application or lodgement under this rule that the Manager, or
his or her Authorised Agent, lodging the Foal Ownership Declaration or making
application undertakes to be bound by these Rules and, upon action being taken
in compliance with this rule (including a syndicate as applicable), the
Eligible Horse and its owners thereby become subject to, and agree to be bound
by, the Rules for the following purposes only (as a consequence of, and
relating to, the lodgement of the Foal Ownership Declaration):
- The testing of a Named Horse which has not been retired from racing pursuant to AR 64JA for the presence of substances that are prohibited at any time by the Rules;
- The testing of an Unnamed Horse for the presence of anabolic androgenic steroids;
- The observation of other horses for health and welfare reasons only where there is a concern for their health and welfare based on reasonable grounds; and
- The Rules that relate to traceability (AR 54A, AR64J, AR64JA and any relevant Local Rules).
As a result of this redrafted Rule of Racing the rules of the Australian Stud Book will also be amended to clarify that breeders and foal owners are bound only by Rule 14b (if they have not agreed to be bound through other forms such as an application to register a racehorse).
Finally, I would like to thank the vast number of breeders who have supported TBA so vocally on this issue.
For further information please contact TBA chief executive Tom Reilly on 02 9663 8581 or tom@tbaus.com.