Off the Track Program: Racing Victoria

Off the TrackRacing Victoria

Horses. People CultureFriday, 13 May, 2016

Victorian Thoroughbred Racing

• 70,000 people who actively participate in thoroughbred racing in Victoria each year

• 9000 thoroughbred racehorses competing in Victoria annually

• Over $300 million spent on training, care & welfare ‐ $35,000 per horse each year

Equine Welfare

• Thoroughbreds are the centrepiece of our industry and their health and welfare is of the utmost importance

• Racing Victoria spends more than $2 million annually on equine welfare and veterinary services

• Investment in research to continually refine and improve equine welfare practices

Retirement of Racehorses

• Industry Retirement Rule introduced by the ARB in 2014

• Thoroughbreds with a link to racing are the most represented breed among 600,000 pleasure & equestrian horses in VIC

• Racing Victoria’s Off the Track Program introduced in 2012

RV Off the Track Program

Overarching aims:

• Increase demand for retired thoroughbred racehorses as pleasure & performance horses

• Assist with the placement of retired racehorses in second careers by supporting a network of 39 acknowledged re‐trainers across the state


• Racing Victoria engages a statewide network of ‘Acknowledged Retrainers’ including Katie Ramsay.

• Individuals/Groups with shared aims• Undergo application process via RV• Acknowledgement by RV • Act as a conduit between racing & equestrian• Partnerships with racehorse trainers & owners• Entitlements & Incentives


Achieving the aims:

• Marketing & Promotion• Attributes of the thoroughbred • Sharing success stories• Event sponsorship

• Education • Equestrian & pleasure industry• Racing Industry (Owners & Trainers)• General Public


Thoroughbred Success Stories• TS Jamaimo – Retired after one unsuccessful trial, now one of the world’s premier CCI4* event horses. Rio Olympics.

• Koko Pop – Retired after one start in WA. RV OTT Triequithon winner in 2015. Sold to William Fox‐Pitt in UK.

• DP Destiny – Winner on the track for Colin Alderson. Tried as a broodmare before retired to the show ring. Winner of inaugural Off the Track Show Series in 2014 & OTT National Championship in 2015.

• Chosen One – Winner on the track for Tony Noonan. Winner of Garryowen in 2014 & 2015.

• Super Impressive – Multiple Stakes winner for Lee Freedman retired into Victoria Police’s Mounted Branch.


• Sponsorship of more than 400 competitions in which over 12,000 retired racehorses have competed within:

• Show Horse (Royal Melbourne Show, Victorian Off the Track Show Horse Series, etc)

• Eventing (MI3DE, Racing Victoria Triequithon)• Show Jumping (Aus SJ Champs)• HRCAV (Thoroughbred Riding Club)• Pony Clubs


Achieving the aims:

• Marketing & Promotion• Attributes of the thoroughbred • Sharing success stories• Event sponsorship

• Education • Equestrian & pleasure industry• Racing Industry (Owners & Trainers)• General Public


Racing Victoria’s 2016 Equine Welfare Strategic Plan

• Vision ‐ To be a leader in equine welfare and build a racing culture in which the safety and welfare of the racehorse is paramount to all participants and owners

• Aim ‐ Consolidate and advance knowledge, policies, guidelines and practices where there is scope to improve outcomes for horses

• Aim ‐ Work with other organisations within racing and beyond, to share knowledge and improve practices in other jurisdictions or equine pursuits (including working with Racing Australia to achieve a consistent national approach)

• Aim ‐ Develop and implement programs and initiatives that advance welfare outcomes for racehorses before, during and after racing

• Aim ‐ To have all industry participants and owners understand and embrace their responsibilities in relation to equine welfare