Spring Racing Carnival veterinary protocols 

Racing Victoria (RV) has today confirmed the veterinary protocols that will be in place for international horses competing in the 2025 Spring Racing Carnival (SRC) and all horses competing in the 2025 Melbourne Cup.

Introduced in 2021, the veterinary protocols have set new safety standards for thoroughbred racing and contributed to the past four editions of the SRC being conducted without fatal injuries to horses.

The foundation of the protocols will remain unchanged for 2025, however their application will alter for certain international horses. Enhancements centre around the introduction of advanced technology to assist decision making on the suitability of a horse to race.

Following are the changes to the 2025 SRC veterinary protocols and their application:

• Variation to scanning protocols for select horses – International horses that do not hold an entry for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup will only be required to undertake one mandatory pre-travel Computed Tomography (CT) scan and won’t be required to have further CT scans before each race in Australia. Such horses will remain subjected to other protocols including multiple pre and post travel physical veterinary inspections. Where a horse in this cohort undertakes pre-travel Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), it must undergo its mandatory CT scan in Australia prior to racing in Victoria;

• Pre-travel international scan to be a CT wherever practical - Where reasonably practicable, international horses must undergo a CT of all distal limbs in their home country prior to entering pre-export quarantine to travel to Australia. MRI of the distal limbs will only be permitted where a CT scan is not reasonably accessible. Standing CT technology is available in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, France and Germany. Japan and Ireland remain without high quality standing CT technology commensurate with that in Australia;

• PET scan now available to validate CT results if desired – For international horses competing in Victoria and local horses in the Melbourne Cup, where a mandatory CT scan has identified a potential issue, a follow-up Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan will now be accessible, time permitting, to further assist in determining the horse’s suitability to race. To afford an opportunity for PET scanning, the window for horses entered in the Melbourne Cup to present for their compulsory pre-race CT scan has been extended, now opening prior to the Caulfield Cup; and

• Melbourne Cup Eve vet inspection must take place in Victoria – All Melbourne Cup acceptors must be in Victoria in sufficient time for their physical veterinary inspection on the day prior to the race. This inspection will no longer be permitted interstate.

In addition to the changes to the veterinary protocols and their application, RV has also identified opportunities to enhance its communication processes. This includes:

• Providing further insights to stakeholders on the factors considered to determine the suitability of a horse to travel to and/or compete in Victoria;

• Providing feedback directly to managing owners, in addition to trainers, in relation to horses deemed unsuitable rather than placing this responsibility on the trainer; 

• Enhancements to communications processes and procedures with international participants and connections; and

• Developing an enhanced online resource centre, including short form videos, that further educate and inform interested parties on the veterinary protocols.

Quotes attributable to RV Chief Executive, Aaron Morrison

“The protocols have served to arrest an alarming trend and been a catalyst for the last four Spring Racing Carnivals and Melbourne Cups being conducted without serious injuries.

“After each Carnival the protocols are evaluated to consider their application, ongoing suitability and any potential enhancements based on stakeholder feedback, our learnings, data and new technology.

“What remains unchanged is that every international horse will have to pass a CT scan to compete here, however we’re taking a more pragmatic approach with the volume of scans for those horses not entered in the Cups or Cox Plate. Importantly, all other veterinary oversight of the international horses remains in place to monitor them during the Spring Racing Carnival.

“Beyond that, the advancement of technology means this year we can introduce PET scanning where appropriate and time permitting to provide further information if an area of concern is identified on a CT scan here in Australia.

“Our goal remains to deliver world class racing, whilst ensuring the safety of horses and riders. We look forward to working with international and local connections to maintain the recent positive trend.”

Accompanying Notes

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - PET is a unique medical imaging procedure that shows activity of bone or soft tissue lesions at the molecular level. PET requires a small amount of radioactive material to be injected into the horse 30 minutes before its scan which takes approximately 30 minutes and can be conducted whilst the horse is standing. PET is a much quicker procedure requiring less sedation than scintigraphy and delivers 3D imagery compared to 2D. The only PET scanner in Australia is located at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre at Werribee. It was trialled successfully during the 2024 SRC. 

• Computed Tomography (CT) - The standing CT scanner allows efficient 3D imaging of the lower limb and identification of otherwise undetected bone damage. It is essentially cross-sectional radiographs and very useful, providing excellent, high-detailed images for bone and fair to good images for soft tissues. The quality and contrast of images created by CT is far superior to standard x-ray. It requires a mild sedative and scanning takes less than 30 minutes. In Australia, there is a standing CT scanner at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre at Werribee and another in Sydney. 

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI uses magnetic fields and resistance to create high-quality 3D images of bone, fluid and soft tissue. MRI shows an image of the physical change occurring during injury or disease. All standing MRI units are low-field, so those images have less detail than high-field MRI (which requires general anaesthesia) and CT scans. 

Following is a high-level summary of the veterinary protocols in place for international horses in the 2025 SRC. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of all protocols to be adhered to:

Internationals (visitors/imports) entered for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup

Pre-Travel

• Stable veterinary report including medical and veterinary history

• CT scan of all distal limbs (MRI permitted alternative only if CT is not reasonably accessible)

• Three physical veterinary inspections by RV appointed veterinarians (twice at its stables, once in pre-export quarantine)

In Australia

• Standing CT scan of all distal limbs before each start in the Spring Racing Carnival

• Weekly physical veterinary inspections by RV appointed veterinarians

• Pre-race physical veterinary inspections by RV appointed veterinarians (twice for the Melbourne Cup, once for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate)

Internationals (visitors/imports) NOT entered for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup

Pre-Travel

• Stable veterinary report including medical and veterinary history

• CT scan of all distal limbs (MRI permitted alternative only if CT is not reasonably accessible)

• Three physical veterinary inspections by RV appointed veterinarians (twice at its stables, once in pre-export quarantine)

In Australia

• If MRI is conducted pre-travel, a standing CT scan is required prior to first Australian start only 

• If CT is conducted pre-travel, a mandatory second CT scan is not required within Australia

• Weekly physical veterinary inspections by RV appointed veterinarians

Other key protocols for international horses (which are unchanged from previous years) include:

• A horse may only have one start in Australia prior to competing in the Melbourne Cup; and

• Any horse with a previous major fracture is excluded from travelling to the Werribee International Horse Centre to quarantine in Victoria and/or competing in the SRC.