Racehorse breeders call for transparency

More must be done to ensure thoroughbred racehorses are tracked and accounted for after their careers, a peak body says.

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia says those governing the industry must act along with participants to reinforce the post-racing programs which include rehoming retired horses.

On the eve of the showcase Caulfield Cup in Melbourne and The Everest in Sydney, the ABC’s 7.30 program says the numbers of horses being slaughtered are much higher than stated and has shown vision of horses being killed at an abattoir in Queensland..

“I am appalled by the vision broadcast,” TBA chief executive Tom Reilly said.

“All horses, whether thoroughbreds or not, deserve to be treated humanely and with dignity.

“The full force of the law should be brought down on anybody in the footage shown mistreating those horses.

“The thoroughbred industry needs a full and frank discussion about what happens to horses when they leave the industry.

“And while there is good work being done to rehome horses, we have to look at how participants and regulators can and must do better.

“We also need to have confidence in the numbers the industry publishes about what happens to animals when they leave racing.”

In October 2017, Racing NSW introduced a rule to track horses from cradle to grave and to ban sending horses to slaughter.

A percentage of prize money from racing goes to horse welfare.

Racing NSW has bought two properties in the state for retraining of racehorses for other pursuits including equestrian activities.

Chief executive Peter V’landys says anyone caught sending horses to be slaughtered will be prosecuted.