Welcome to the first Thoroughbred Welfare quarterly newsletter of 2023. This newsletter focuses our post racing initiatives whilst also highlighting NZTR’s updated Welfare Strategy which details our welfare aims to July 2024.
As always, for any further information on NZTR’s welfare initiatives check out the Thoroughbred welfare section of NZTR’s website or get in touch with one of Thoroughbred Welfare Team.
EQUIFEST
In late 2022, NZTR attended ‘Equifest’ in both Taupo and Christchurch, giving attendees insights to Thoroughbred Welfare and also to the many and varied careers that are offered in our industry and sport.
From a Thoroughbred welfare and traceability perspective, these equine trade events are invaluable in connecting with the equestrian community that provides homes and ‘second careers’ for so many ‘off the track’ Thoroughbreds.
Prize draws run across both events proved to be really popular, and serve a dual purpose of allowing NZTR to gain invaluable traceability data on where more than 100 Thoroughbreds are doing in their lives after racing, whilst also providing information to their respective owners on the support and sponsorship options available to these horses within their chosen equestrian discipline.
The feedback from attendees has been very positive and further validates our efforts.
ACKNOWLEDGED RETRAINERS
The NZTR Acknowledged Retrainers network is intended to make it as straightforward as possible for an Accountable person to fulfil their duty of care in ensuring that each horse is rehomed appropriately upon retirement from racing. This, along with the submission of a completed SR24 form, ensures that both traceability requirements and horse welfare are at the forefront when a horse is retired.
NZTR Acknowledged Retrainers continue to receive support via the 1% Welfare Levy on prize money. However, in addition to this support, the first operational year of the Acknowledged Retrainers network has highlighted the need for industry wide support and buy-in at every level. This is crucial for the network to succeed and continue offering a quality service to the Thoroughbreds it rehomes.
With this in mind, NZTR has recently released a document that outlines the important ways in which Owners and Trainers can support the Acknowledged Retrainers Network to ensure the it remains viable and grow the capacity service the industry and the assist more and more Thoroughbreds into their most suitable ‘second career’.
NZTR WELFARE STRATEGY
November 2022 saw a milestone achieved in the release of NZTR’s Thoroughbred Welfare Strategy Update.
This updated Thoroughbred welfare strategy defines initiatives and objectives that will be undertaken in the two years to July 2024, and is structured in the following parts:
- Welfare initiatives relating to horses in breeding, racing, and training.
- Rehoming and showcasing Thoroughbreds in their ‘second careers’ including engaging with the community of owners of ‘off the track Thoroughbreds’.
- Data gathering and reporting, including the comprehensive traceability of Thoroughbreds in breeding and racing.
Elaborating the last point, NZTR recognises the progress of scientific knowledge and the evolution of public thought are key factors in the endurance of Thoroughbred racing’s Social Licence, so a critical element of our plans for this period is to develop and maintain increasingly detailed and transparent reports and communications for stakeholders, government and public. This requires NZTR’s progressive development of additional key welfare related metrics that will enable future goal setting and monitoring. Regular update of these metrics will require robust and accurate data, which means NZTR must ensure good collection and analysis methods, while participants must (when needed) play their part in providing timely and accurate information.
Therefore, NZTR is not accountable alone in the successful execution of this strategy. We also confer responsibility upon breeders, trainers and owners to proactively meet all traceability obligations under the Rules of Racing, and for all participants to also meet or exceed the general expectations set in the NZTR Thoroughbred Welfare Guidelines.
We encourage you to review the Thoroughbred Welfare Strategy Update.
EXPENDITURE OF THE 1% WELFARE LEVY ON STAKES MONEY
The 1% welfare levy on stakes money has always been intended to be put to use with full transparency to the wider industry. As such, a full breakdown on expenditure of the levy versus forecast expenditure for the 2021-22 season was provided in NZTR’s 2021-22 Annual Report and is also included below.
Expenditure of the 1% Thoroughbred Welfare Levy. The table below details the 2021/22 season.
As detailed, a $327,925 unspent levy will be carried forward in reserve, solely dedicated to supporting NZTR’s Thoroughbred welfare strategy and future initiatives. There are three contributing factors:
- $48,926 additional levy collected. The forecast of $587,00 was prepared prior to stakes increases announced during the 2021/22 season.
- $189,857 under expenditure. In aggregate, not all of the levy collected has been spent as budgeted. The likelihood of this underspend was signalled in communication through the season, with reasoning that NZTR intended developing initiatives that are beneficial and affordable in the long term, rather than being time-bound to spend on initiatives which might not be sustainable or effective; and
- A one-off NZTR start-up welfare contribution of $89,142 was provided. $29,324 of NZTR expenditure not funded by the 1% Levy was offset against this, meaning that the carry-forward for future Thoroughbred welfare initiatives was boosted by $59,818 from $268,106 to $327,925.
Through the careful application of this reserve and the ongoing levy collection, we look forward to continuing to expand our funded Thoroughbred welfare provisions and thereby improve the welfare of the Thoroughbreds who are so very integral to our industry, as well as seeing them go on to continue to have a good life through their success in many varied second careers.
POST-RACING SPONSORSHIP OVERVIEW
NZTR is once again supporting numerous post-racing sponsorship opportunities in the 2022-23 season.
NZTR continues to work in longstanding partnership with Equestrian Sports New Zealand to facilitate the Thoroughbreds in Equestrian Sports (TiES) series which covers each of Dressage, Show Jumping, Show Hunter and Eventing. As announced at the beginning of the season, an additional feature of TiES this year is the introduction of ‘Best in Show’ prizes across the four main equestrian disciplines at the Horse of the Year Show in March. Additionally, the success of the TiES series was underlined by NZB Airfreight announcing sponsorship of a ‘Best Newcomer’ prize in each discipline.
In 2022, which was the first year of the NZTR Thoroughbreds in Polo series, 413 individual Thoroughbreds competed in polo tournaments throughout the season with many more coming through the ranks behind them. This season’s Thoroughbreds in Polo series is well underway with 70 prizes on offer at 20 different tournaments throughout New Zealand.
NZTR has additionally renewed sponsorship arrangements with the New Zealand Show Horse Council, to promote Thoroughbreds in the show ring. Notable successes have this year come from Scott Base and Surrey.
In addition to the formal arrangements with governing bodies of the various equestrian disciplines, NZTR continues to support independent events, such a local sports days and A&P shows who champion the versatility of Thoroughbreds. So far this season, we have partnered with 25 such events and are always interested in hearing from event organisers who would like to create a Thoroughbred specific class or prize within their competition. It’s amazing to see Thoroughbreds pop up in so many different events, or on NZTR’s ever growing ‘Wall of Fame’.
Jess Paul with MYLUCKYMAY (Lucy). Photographer: Michelle Clarke
WRAPPING UP (FOR MY LAST TIME)
As we outline, the 1% Thoroughbred Welfare Levy and the recent release of NZTR’s Thoroughbred Welfare Strategy Update affirms the work that has been undertaken over recent years and provides clear objectives for the period to July 2024.
The future of racing will depend on us all never losing track of the responsibilities that we have in caring for our horses in racing and breeding, and facilitating a continued good life by setting them up for their ‘second careers’ after racing. In this, please understand and positively follow the earlier mentioned guidance we provide in ensuring best passage of off the track Thoroughbreds through the NZTR Acknowledged Retrainers network.
As I prepare to soon conclude my employment at NZTR, this strategy therefore gives me great satisfaction in what we (NZTR and industry organisations) have achieved in recent years, and confidence that NZTR is on a clear and sufficiently resourced (through the 1% Levy) pathway to further improve welfare outcomes and the public’s positive understanding of how we care for our horses.
Maintaining the public’s confidence in high standards of Thoroughbred welfare is a winner, let’s continue to back it!
Kind regards,
Martin Burns
GM – Welfare & Sustainability
M: 0275 110 348
E: martin.burns@nztr.co.nz