Equine Welfare CEO Update – August 2025

As we did this time last year, I wanted to provide you with an update on Racing Victoria’s (RV) work around equine welfare and an overview of our investment and focus areas throughout the past 12 months in supporting the activities of owners and trainers.

I would like to start by thanking you and all those working and participating in Victorian racing for the love and care shown to our horses every day.

From the investment our owners and breeders make, to the 24/7 care afforded by trainers and their stable staff, riders, veterinarians, farriers, float drivers and many more, it is clear that we are united by a passion for the care of our horses.  

What is RV’s role in respect of equine welfare?

RV’s role is to enhance welfare outcomes for thoroughbreds by complementing and supporting the work of various industry stakeholders with programs that consider their welfare before, during and after racing.

RV’s focus and contribution to equine welfare spend is broad and is split across the different phases of a racehorse’s life to enhance outcomes on and off the racetrack.

During racing, our key focus is injury reduction and raceday care. Post-racing our key priorities are increasing demand for Off The Track (OTT) thoroughbreds to pursue second careers and supporting vulnerable horses.

In 2019, we released a three-year Equine Welfare Strategic Plan, and we then built on our whole-of-life approach with the release of our current 2023-2027 Equine Welfare Strategic Plan.

A contribution of 1% of prizemoney was introduced in Victoria in August 2017. This was increased to 2% in January 2020 to help accelerate and expand our 2019 plan and continues to this day.

The contribution from prizemoney plays an important role in funding a range of activities as highlighted further below. Notwithstanding this investment, the industry remains reliant on a whole-of-industry approach to ensure the best outcomes for our horses and our sport.

Accordingly, we are grateful for the efforts of trainers and owners who, through their own direct initiatives and financial support, ensure that the majority of horses finishing their racing careers find suitable post-racing homes.

What was RV’s investment in equine welfare across the 2024-25 financial year?

We invested $5.94 million into equine welfare across FY25 which took our total investment since the introduction of the prizemoney contribution in 2017 to $44 million.

This past year we’ve expanded our programs, supported the industry through acute drought conditions, and strengthened safeguards for vulnerable horses. This saw an increase in investment across our Post Racing, Safety Net and Visibility portfolio.

That was possible through a targeted reduction in our investment in Risk Reduced Racing which we had consolidated in previous years through important investments in world-leading technology, injury prevention research and the establishment of our veterinary protocols.

Following is a snapshot of how we directed our spend across our key focus areas in the 2024-25 financial year (FY25):

• Post Racing, Safety Net & Visibility – 46.3% of spend (37.6% in FY24)
• Risk Reduced Racing (Injury Prevention) – 18.1% of spend (32.2% in FY24)
• Equine Welfare & Veterinary Operations – 30% of spend (28.6% in FY24)
• Industry Education & Reputation – 5.6% of spend (1.6% in FY24)

What were RV’s notable equine welfare outcomes from the 2024-25 investment?

• Drought subsidies in time of need – we delivered over $800,000 in support for more than 1700 horses under our Emergency Aid Program over a four-month period from March to June 2025. This helped eligible participants to maintain high welfare standards in areas defined by the Victorian Government as being impacted by drought conditions;
• Another safe Spring Racing Carnival - veterinary protocols were in place again in 2024 and helped ensure our fourth consecutive spring and Melbourne Cup without any fatal injuries. These protocols have become the basis for new standards of safety in several major jurisdictions worldwide;
• Increasing and expanding the monthly reporting subsidies that Acknowledged Retrainers receive plus a $350 husbandry subsidy per horse to support initial care costs and an additional $400 veterinary assessment rebate for horses which arrive with a short-term injury that requires rehabilitation prior to retraining;
• Launch of PRESET Program – providing financial support to eligible Acknowledged Retrainers via direct funding for retraining and/or rehabilitation support of between $3,000 and $5,000 per horse;
• Launch of the Off The Track Carnival – in a boost for OTT owners, we launched Victoria’s biggest equestrian event for retired thoroughbreds to be held on 13-14 September 2025 at Boneo Park. We hoped for 200 entries and received nearly 400 which is a fantastic start. We now look forward to building this event and enabling meaningful post-racing careers for retired racehorses. Click here to read more;
• Expanding our visibility of OTT thoroughbreds – we’ve reached key milestones this season with over 10,000 address updates and updated ownership records for more than 6,600 retired racehorses claimed on ottcommunity.com.au since its launch;
• Expanded engagement with OTT owners and riders – over 500 horses and their riders received subsidised lessons across 55 clinics as a value add for taking on an OTT;
• Launch of Acknowledged Rehomer Program – unveiled in early 2025, we’re building relationships with rehomers (those who rehome direct to the equestrian community) to help expand our visibility of retired racehorses in Victoria with 14 providers signed up to date; and
• Active investigations of horses at risk – 625 horses were physically inspected by RV’s equine welfare investigators, including six joint inspections with the RSPCA. Outside of racing and breeding, it’s worth noting that our jurisdiction only extends to retired thoroughbreds that are located at the properties of licensed and registered participants.

If you missed reading our May 2025 equine welfare update, click here to read more about some of the other initiatives, programs and policies that were a focus of the past 12 months

What are the key numbers from RV’s programs over recent years?

Since 2021, we have greatly improved our visibility of retired racehorses through the Off The Track Community (ottcommunity.com.au), and better collection of post-racing data, audits, program nominations and welfare inspections.  

Following is a snapshot of key outcomes over the past four years alone thanks to improved capabilities:

What new welfare initiatives are being delivered in 2025-26?

In addition to delivering and further developing our existing programs and initiatives, some of which have been outlined above, I’m pleased to advise you of some new initiatives planned for 2025-26.

These initiatives will help promote OTTs for rehoming or sale, expand our safety net for vulnerable horses and help communicate to the broader community about the industry’s welfare efforts.

• ottcommunity.com.au Expansion – we’ve launched an ‘Available OTTs’ feature on the OTT Community platform. This new functionality allows RV Acknowledged post-racing providers to exclusively advertise OTTs available for rehoming or sale directly to more than 10,500 OTT Community members; 
• Project Hope Partnership – we’re pleased to announce a pilot 12-month partnership with equine education and welfare organisation, Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria (PHHWV). This will act as an extension of our existing Safety Net program, offering additional support to Victorian thoroughbreds which may end up in vulnerable welfare situations in the latter stages of their retirement from racing or breeding; and 
• Melbourne Cup Carnival – we’re working with the VRC to showcase the Off The Track program and elevate the industry’s story about equine welfare trackside throughout Cup Week as part of The Park precinct. This is a great opportunity to educate attendees and families.  

Conclusion

Ensuring the welfare of our horses is a fundamental ongoing responsibility of all owners and trainers and is critical to the continued success and acceptance of our sport.

I again extend my appreciation for everyone involved in supporting the ongoing care and welfare of our horses before, during and after racing.

If you have any questions about this update or our broad range of equine welfare programs, please email equinewelfare@racingvictoria.net.au or visit www.racingvictoria.com.au/equine-welfare.