Contacts

If you're seeking clarification of any veterinary details or requirements, please contact either:

Dr Grace Forbes (Australia Based) Mobile: +61 (0) 406 750 390 Email: g.forbes@racingvictoria.net.au
Dr Amanda Piggot (UK Based) Mobile +44 7841 117 132 Email: a.piggot@racingvictoria.net.au

If you're seeking clarification of any logistics or administration details or requirements, please contact either:

Paul Bloodworth (Australia Based) Mobile +61 (0) 403 346 467 Email: p.bloodworth@racingvictoria.net.au
Lauren Moor (Australia Based) Mobile +61 (0) 408 200 646 Email: l.moor@racingvictoria.net.au

The Equine MediRecord system is being used to manage pre-race trainer and veterinary declarations. This system is currently used by various racing jurisdictions around the world including in the USA, UK, Ireland and the middle east.

Those who require access to the Equine MediRecord system will be sent login details from info@equinemedirecord.com

The Equine MediRecord system can be accessed by clicking here.

See below the key dates for the 2024 Spring Racing Carnival:

Imaging Window (dates subject to change):

  • Imaging Opens - Thursday, 1 August 2024
  • First European shipment imaging closes - Friday, 6 September 2024
  • Second European shipment imaging closes - Friday, 20 September 2024
  • First European shipment post-quarantine / pre-race scan - Saturday, 12 October 2024
  • Second European shipment post-quarantine / pre-race scan - Saturday, 26 October 2024
  • Standing CT scan window - Saturday, 19 October to Wednesday, 30 October 2024 

Caulfield Cup:

  • Trainer Declaration Form - submitted by 5pm (AEDT), Friday, 11 October 2024
  • Veterinary Declaration Form - submitted by 5pm (AEDT), Friday, 11 October 2024
  • Pre-Race Veterinary Inspections - Thursday, 17 and Friday, 18 October 2024
  • Raceday - Saturday, 19 October 2024

Cox Plate:

  • Trainer Declaration Form - submitted by 5pm (AEDT), Friday, 18 October 2024
  • Veterinary Declaration Form - submitted by 5pm (AEDT), Friday, 18 October 2024
  • Pre-Race Veterinary Inspections - Thursday, 24 and Friday, 25 October 2024
  • Raceday - Saturday 26 October 2024

Melbourne Cup:

  • Trainer Declaration Form - submitted by 5pm (AEDT), Friday, 25 October 2024
  • Veterinary Declaration Form - submitted by 5pm (AEDT), Friday, 25 October 2024
  • Standing CT scan window - Saturday, 19 October to Wednesday, 30 October 2024 
  • Pre-Race Veterinary Inspections #1 - Thursday, 31 November and Friday, 1 December 2024
  • Pre-Race Veterinary Inspections #2 - Monday, 4 November 2024
  • Raceday - Tuesday, 5 November 2024 

For a full list of Victorian race dates, please click here.

The following fact sheets are provided as a guide for trainers, veterinarians and connections preparing a horse to compete in the Spring Racing Carnival:

The Sleip App will be used to record and collect pre-travel veterinary video recordings of your horse – such as trot ups – for Racing Victoria to consider as part of its overall assessment of your horse's suitability to travel to the Werribee International Horse Centre in preparation for compete in the Spring Racing Carnival.

User Guide

Click here to download a general guide for using the Sleip App as part of the Spring Racing Carnival veterinary requirements.

Access

An email will be sent by Sleip on behalf of Racing Victoria to the appropriate nominated person in your team to download and access the mobile application to record and submit trot-ups to Racing Victoria. Further information on how to use the App can be made available.

It's also worth consulting the Sleip App “Get Started” webpage – https://sleip.com/get-started - which provides additional information on how to use the App.

Veterinary Examinations

RV approved veterinarian(s) will also be using the Sleip App at each of the scheduled examinations prior to your horse's shipment to Victoria, Australia. Your horse's action will also continue to be monitored using the app by an RV veterinarian(s) post-arrival at the Werribee International Horse Centre.

The data will also continue to be compared to previous results and therefore, it is in your best interests to ensure the pre-export recordings accurately reflect your horse's action over time and it is recommended that recordings are taken clear of medication, or other treatments, that may potentially alter a horse’s action.

This video details the process of a CT scan at University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Victoria.

Requirements Overview

RV’s aim is to work with stables to establish the baseline condition of the horse. This is to assist RV veterinarians responsible for monitoring horses and performing pre-race inspections to understand any veterinary issues the horse may have so that an informed decision on the horse’s suitability to race can be made at the time of pre-race veterinary inspections. 

Pre-travel Veterinary Inspection

Pre-travel veterinary inspections are undertaken, and declarations submitted to ensure, as far as possible, that the horse is not affected by any pre-existing condition and provides an opinion that the horse is, at the time of examination, in a suitable condition to travel and race in Victoria.

Veterinary inspection by the regular stable veterinarian including a medication and treatment declaration, veterinary history declaration and veterinary inspection and certification of suitability to travel and race. Two veterinary inspections by a RV appointed veterinarian will be undertaken from 1 August and must be completed seven days prior to entering Pre-Export Quarantine. A third and final veterinary inspection will be completed in Pre-Export Quarantine by a RV appointed veterinarian.

Major Fracture or Orthopaedic Surgery
Horses that have had a previous Major Fracture (including, but not limited to a stress fracture) or Orthopaedic Surgery (excluding arthroscopy for removal of a joint chip fragment) be excluded from entering Werribee International Horse Centre or starting in a trial or race within ten weeks of departing any quarantine facility in Australia.
Disclosure of Pre-Existing Conditions or Poor Quality of Movement

RV Stewards require and direct trainers or their representative to inform the RV Veterinary Services team of any horses that have an unusual gait, poor quality of movement, or chronic low grade injury, or any other physical condition that may attract the attention of an RV Veterinarian examining the horse.

In addition, RV Stewards require and direct trainers to inform them of any training setbacks a horse may have recently suffered. This is to ensure that opportunity is provided to consult with the trainer and or the attending veterinarians and if necessary, to perform a preliminary assessment of the horse and or request additional diagnostic tests.

RV Stewards expect transparent reporting with respect to the health and soundness of all racehorses, especially any condition that may affect the racing performance of a horse.

Trainers must report to RV Stewards any injury, deterioration of any pre-existing condition, illness or any other condition which has the potential to affect the racing performance of a horse or, which causes a horse to miss a scheduled training session, as soon as is practicable.

Pre-Travel Diagnostic Imaging

International horses must undergo a CT of the distal limbs (or MRI where CT is not available) and submit the images at the expense of the connections prior to entering Pre-Export Quarantine.

Optional X-Ray Imaging

As part of the pre-travel veterinary screening, radiographs (x-rays) of the horse’s four (4) fetlock joints can be submitted optionally for preliminary review by Racing Victoria by the veterinarians engaged to undertake the imaging review.

Post-Arrival Veterinary Inspection

Post-arrival veterinary inspections will be performed on all horses at Werribee International Horse Centre (WIHC) by an RV Veterinarian and the attending
veterinarian. The pre-travel veterinary inspections and declaration will be shared with the attending veterinarian.

This provides an opportunity to consult with the trainer and or the attending veterinarian and if necessary, to perform a preliminary assessment of the horse and/or request further reasonable examinations and diagnostic procedures, including but not limited to lameness examination with nerve blocks to localise the lameness, radiographs, ultrasound, scintigraphy or CT.

Biweekly Veterinary Inspections

All horses at WIHC will be inspected by an RV Veterinarian and the attending veterinarian twice a week, where practicable.

This is to ensure that opportunity is provided to consult with the trainer and or the attending veterinarians and if necessary, to perform a preliminary assessment of the horse and or request further reasonable examinations and diagnostic procedures, including but not limited to lameness examination with nerve blocks to localise the lameness, radiographs, ultrasound, scintigraphy, or CT.

Trackwork Monitoring

All horses at WIHC will be required to use a track work monitoring system. Information collected will be shared with the relevant trainer of the horse and the RV Veterinary Service team. This information will not be made public.

Additional examinations and diagnostic procedures

An RV Veterinarian may require that further reasonable examinations and diagnostic procedures be performed to investigate any concerns and that a report be submitted to the RV Veterinary Services team.

The results of any diagnostic tests requested by RV Stewards will be reviewed by a panel of veterinarians appointed by RV constituted by a specialist in equine surgery and a specialist in veterinary diagnostic imaging.

Pre-Race CT Examination
All international horses that arrive at WIHC must undergo a CT scan of their distal (lower) limbs prior to each start in Victoria during the 2023 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, before being permitted to compete, with the costs to be met by RV.
Off-Course Pre-Race Veterinary Inspections

As a condition of entry for the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, all horses accepted for these races will be required to undergo official veterinary inspections for suitability to race.

These veterinary inspections will be performed by an RV Veterinarian prior to raceday (typically Thursday and Friday prior to the respective race). An additional pre-race veterinary inspection of horses engaged to run in the Melbourne Cup will be performed on the day prior to the race.

A representative of RV will contact the trainer (or their representative) in the week prior to the race to arrange a time for the official inspections.

If there is a question as to the suitability of the horse to race, a further examination will be performed by a panel of veterinarians constituted of two RV Veterinarians and an independent veterinarian appointed by RV.

On-Course Pre-Race Veterinary Inspections
Horses may be required to undergo an on-course pre-race veterinary inspection for suitability to race. The official inspection will be performed by an RV Veterinarian prior to the time of racing. All boots and bandages must be removed prior to the inspection.
Official Inspection

The official inspection will involve:

  • A trot-up in hand for 20 to 35 metres on a firm, level surface nominated by the examining veterinarian. Where possible, asphalt or an equivalent surface will be used.
  • A firm, grass surface may be used at the discretion of the examiner who will make the appropriate adjustments to the assessment of the movement of the horse. A trot in hand in a circle in both directions on a safe, firm level surface. This may include a digital symmetry assessment.
  • A brief clinical examination which may include palpation, flexion of joints, cardiac auscultation and an assessment of hoof sensitivity.
  • An examination of the horse’s treatment record, and a consideration of any occurrences, conditions and/or treatments which may affect or impact upon the horse’s performance in the race.

Please note:

A suitability to race inspection is not solely a lameness examination. A horse that appears to be trotting soundly may be assessed to be unsuitable to race if a significant musculoskeletal condition is detected during the examination. For example, an inflamed superficial flexor tendon or suspensory ligament or heat, effusion or significant pain on flexion of a joint. RV Stewards may:

  • Authorise one or more RV Veterinarians to conduct the official inspection and submit a report to them.
  • Request further inspections or examinations at their discretion.

Located approximately 30kms (18 miles) from Melbourne’s CBD, the Werribee International Horse Centre (WIHC) is the home away from home for internationals competing in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Owned and operated by Racing Victoria, the WIHC is the only approved Post-Arrival Quarantine (PAQ) facility in Melbourne where horses can remain in full training during the Spring Racing Carnival.

The WIHC, which is monitored by 24-hour security, includes secure storage and implements bio-security measures in line with Australian government requirements.

The WIHC has three compounds:

  • The Newminster compound can house 16 horses across three barns;
  • The Vintage Crop compound can house eight horses across two barns; and
  • The Americain compound can house eight horses in one large barn.

The three compounds operate independently from one another, thereby allowing flexibility around arrivals from different regions without disrupting another compound’s quarantine period.

Each compound includes:

  • Large rubber padded boxes
  • Large day yards
  • Electronic scales
  • Internal sand fibre walking rings
  • Sand rolls
  • Multiple wash bays