Drivers of exit and outcomes for Thoroughbred racehorses participating in the 2017–2018 Australian racing season

Abstract

The destinations of Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses exiting the racing industry is a high-profile issue with ethical and welfare implications of interest to both animal welfare groups and racing regulators. This cross-sectional study investigated the reasons that TBs temporarily or permanently exited racing and training in Australia in the 2017–2018 racing season and the outcomes for these horses post-racing. An online questionnaire was sent to the last registered trainers of a representative sample of 2,509 ‘inactive’ TBs. Inactive horses were defined as those horses that were recorded as ‘active’ but had not trialled or raced in the last 6 months of the racing season or had an inactive status recorded in the Racing Australia database. Of the 1,750 responses received, the largest group of inactive TBs had permanently exited the racing industry (45% retired, 5.3% deceased). A relatively large group exited racing temporarily (43%) but participated in the racing industry in the following season. The reasons for retirement were predominantly voluntary, such as poor performance or owner’s request. Almost one third of retirements were due to injuries with tendon or ligament problems the most frequently conditions listed. The median age at retirement was five (Q1 4; Q3 7) years. Extrapolation of the survey results to the population of horses racing or training in Australia in 2017–2018 (n = 37,750) show that that 17% of the population retire each year and 2.1% die. These estimates provide benchmarks for industry and animal welfare organisations to resource and measure the effectiveness of interventions.

Descriptive analysis of horses and ponies attending horse auctions in Victoria from July 2019 to March 2020

“…However, in recent studies the majority of thoroughbreds retired for performance reasons, with fewer than 30% due to injury. Nearly half of those injured horses were subsequently engaged in ridden activities 22, 23 . There is little data available regarding the factors that influence the purchase of horses from mixed sales and this warrants further study.…”

“…Nearly half of those injured horses were subsequently engaged in ridden activities. 22 , 23 There is little data available regarding the factors that influence the purchase of horses from mixed sales and this warrants further study.…”

National participation levels in the 2017–2018 Australian thoroughbred racing season

“…28 However, while the 2010 Victorian study found a consistent age of retirement across males and females, 5 the age of retirement for geldings in the 2017-2018 Australian racing season was older (6 years) than the 5-year-old age of retirement reported for females (five-years). 28 These studies both found that horses were retiring for primarily voluntary reasons, such as poor performance or at the owner's request, with only 28%-29% retiring due to injury. 5,28 Poor performance and injury both play a role in the retirement of horses and overall economic loss to the TB racing industry.…”

“…17,23,27 Most TB research and a significant amount of public opinion has focused on catastrophic musculoskeletal injury, despite recent research reporting that the most common reasons for leaving the racing industry were poor performance or lack of ability. 5,8,28 Little is understood about what constitutes a typical career for a racing TB. A recent study that followed horses who raced in Australia from 2005 and 2010 Victorian foal crops found that the median age retirement was 5 years of age.…”

“…28 These studies both found that horses were retiring for primarily voluntary reasons, such as poor performance or at the owner's request, with only 28%-29% retiring due to injury. 5,28 Poor performance and injury both play a role in the retirement of horses and overall economic loss to the TB racing industry. 5,6,[10][11][12] Bourke estimated that one third of the Victorian TB racing population exited the industry each year.…”