Thoroughbred industry’s independent welfare panel calls for submissions
After a Covid-19 delay, the expert panel convened by the Australian thoroughbred industry to examine the welfare of horses leaving the racing and breeding industries is calling for submissions to guide the working group as it crafts a national strategy focused on seven key areas.
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group (TAWWG) will be accepting submissions until midday on July 24 based on terms of reference released in an issues paper today. The issues paper highlights seven key areas that the panel will examine further:
- What is good horse welfare?
- Thoroughbred breeding
- Thoroughbred traceability
- Racing and breeding industry – sponsored programs for retired racehorses
- Regulation
- Humane horse processing facilities
- Research, development and education
The panel was set up earlier this year by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA), the Australian Trainers’ Association (ATA) and the Australian Jockeys’ Association (AJA), in conjunction with a host of industry stakeholders.
The four-person panel is chaired by Dr Denis Napthine, former Victorian premier and minister of racing as well as a qualified veterinarian. He is joined by Dr Ken Jacobs, a former director of the Australian Veterinary Association; Dr Bidda Jones, chief science and strategy officer for RSPCA Australia; and Jack Lake, a senior advisor on agricultural policy in the Hawke, Keating and Rudd governments.
“There have been a number of factors related to Covid-19 that have seen us wait until now to proceed with submissions, but we think the time is right to move forward,” TBA chief executive Tom Reilly, who has led the establishment of the independent working group, told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday.
“I’m grateful to the panel that they have given a lot of thought to what the key issues are. It’s not really about how horses are treated while they are in work; it’s focused on horses and making sure that, once they leave the racing and breeding industries, the outcomes are as good as they can be. I think that, anyone who takes the time to read the issues paper, you’ll see that there is a lot of thought that’s been put into it.
“I think it’s a strong document. It will certainly spark debate and hopefully it will encourage people to share their insights and opinions.”
The panel will be guided by a steering group comprising some of the leading lights within the racing and breeding industries. The group includes Chris Waller, owner and administrator Neil Werrett, Godolphin Australia managing director Vin Cox and studmaster John Kelly; they are joined by Reilly, Andrew Nichol and Martin Talty, the chief executives of the TBA, ATA and AJA respectively.
“The steering group is there to provide advice about the industry, we’ve got a broad skill-set there,” Reilly said. “The participant groups on that panel are there to be a sounding board, too. That panel has already had their opportunity to give feedback on the issues paper, which was drafted and pulled together by the working group. It’s really there to assist the working group.”
In addition to the steering group, the panel will be engaging in consultation with racing authorities, clubs, administrators and participants, as well as those outside the industry. Most importantly, Napthine and his group will engage with governments to ensure that there is a common approach to the seven issues.
“Right from when we announced it, Denis was on the front foot,” Reilly said. “He reached out to a number of the principal racing authorities and a number of the clubs too. He’s sat down with Peter V’landys, he’s sat down with Giles Thompson, he’s sat down with Greg Nichols and they all have an important role to play. There is an ongoing dialogue there and I’m sure Denis and the working group will be reaching out to those groups that obviously have some real insight to share.
“We’re lucky in that Denis is very experienced in the political realm and so too is Jack Lake, he has worked across many governments in Canberra but also working specifically in the agricultural sector and has an amazing understanding of the interaction between federal and state governments.”
While welfare issues have long been a focus of the racing and breeding industries, the practices exposed by ABC’s 7.30 in their The Final Race story sparked not only external scrutiny, but also an industry-wide conversation which continues with the panel’s examination.
“There’s a huge amount of good work that is being done already on the welfare front,” Reilly said. “This is about saying, can we improve upon that? Can we work more collaboratively? It’s not just about what racing does or what racing or breeding participants do, it’s also about working with state governments and the federal government.
“It’s about saying, if animals are going to be euthanised or processed, that has to be done to a standard that everyone can feel confident in. At the moment, I don’t think that’s the case. Horses are one of the few animals where there are not proper and enforceable standards and guidelines at a state level, so that’s something we need to rectify.
“I think this group really gives us the opportunity to do that, because we’ve got people on there who understand that system, people on there who are very credible. It’s not just what we do internally as an industry, but looking outside it too. The governments have recognised that and they’ve set up working groups to look at enforceable standards for all horses and also to look at traceability. Our group, headed by Denis, is going to plug into that, so there is a real opportunity to get some real traction this year and make some real progress.”
Napthine hopes to have submissions from parties both inside and outside the racing and breeding industries, as well as from abroad. In particular, there will be engagement with animal welfare groups in a bid for a collaborative approach.
“This project can only be successful if there is strong engagement from all stakeholders, including animal welfare groups, the racing and breeding industries and indeed anyone who has valuable insights to share, so we would encourage as many people as possible to come forward and have their say,” Napthine said.
“This important process will be open and transparent, and so anyone who wishes to provide their views, information and expertise will be given the opportunity to assist the panel’s considerations and guide our consultation process.
“We look forward to engaging with a wide range of people so that we can formulate a plan to ensure the health and welfare of all thoroughbreds, particularly those who have retired or who never made it to the racetrack.”
Reilly added: “The panel, when drafting that document, didn’t want to be overly prescriptive because a good idea can come from anywhere. Certainly I’m hoping that we get a lot of submissions from people, not just inside the industry, but outside the industry too. The questions and the issues are a guide to what the panel sees as important, but they are essentially creating a platform to come in from all angles and with different views.
“I haven’t come across anyone in the industry who has criticised the formation of the working group. Everyone I speak to realises that welfare is a challenge and that we’ve got to get it right. Everyone who has spoken to me about it is coming from the same position: if we can improve, let’s improve.
“If that means asking people from outside the industry to give us their feedback, then let’s do it if it’s going to make us better. If people from other industries or even from the thoroughbred industry overseas want to share their knowledge and that can lead to an improvement, I think that’s a great thing.”
Once submissions close in July, the panel will put together a report with their recommendations. Their findings are expected at some point during the spring.
“We’ve asked the panel to come back with their recommendations in spring. Despite the hold-ups because of Covid, I’m hopeful that they will be able to meet that timeline,” Reilly said.
Submissions can be emailed to secretariat@thoroughbredwelfareinitiative.org.au or posted to TAWWG, PO Box 149, Canterbury, NSW 2193.