Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has today denounced the hardline position taken by Racing Australia that has the potential to see a significant number of foals born this year banned from racing.
Introduced in 2016, Part 14 of the Australian Rules of Racing (AR) have imposed strict requirements on breeders, mandating that mare returns be lodged with the Australian Stud Book within 30 days of a foal’s birth (AR 285), alongside foal ownership details submitted to Racing Australia within the same timeframe (AR 286). Under AR 287, failure to meet these deadlines – unless Racing Australia grants an exemption at its sole discretion – means the foal cannot be registered for racing under Australian rules. This effectively strips affected foals of any value as racing prospects, leaving their future uncertain.
In a release published on its website yesterday, Racing Australia has stated that as of 1 August 2025, it will implement a strict process of penalties for failing to meet the 30-day deadline:
TBA President Basil Nolan has decried the strong stance taken by Racing Australia and instead is calling for a more collaborative approach to simplify the system of submitting mare returns and registering foal ownership details.
“We are united in our desire to see improved traceability amidst our industry’s substantive efforts to advance equine welfare outcomes, however this aggressive approach taken by Racing Australia is an unfair and punitive attack on those people who are at the coalface of protecting our horses’ wellbeing: the breeders.
“Breeders have expressed frustration with the current system for lodging mare returns and foal ownership details, describing it as outdated and cumbersome, which not only slows the process but also impacts the time required to complete these returns.
“Rather than introducing harsh penalties that could cripple participants’ livelihoods and put their horses’ welfare at risk, we implore Racing Australia to direct their energies to improving their systems and making the registration of mares and foals a much easier and more efficient online process.
“Like our fellow industry stakeholders, TBA wants to see all horses traceable from birth through to leaving the thoroughbred system, and we believe the way to achieve this is to make the process as simple as possible for our breeders.”
TBA has led the way with the Australian thoroughbred industry’s advancement of equine welfare outcomes, highlighted by its work to establish and fund an independent welfare review, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Working Group (TAWWG)
