Birdsville Cup 2023 sets the standard for animal welfare.
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) had a stronger-than-ever presence to oversee more than one hundred starters competing at the two-day 2023 Birdsville Cup carnival.
A total of five QRIC stewards attended to provide stewarding, judging and clerk of the scales duties as well as two members of the new Compliance Assurance Team, two veterinarians, and a photo-finish operator attended the iconic country racing event, with the team coming from locations such as Roma, Julia Creek, Rockhampton and Brisbane.
Across the two days, 13 races were run with 106 starters, including runners from interstate, with some owned or trained locally.
QRIC Deputy Commissioner Natalie Conner was also in attendance and said that ensuring animal and participant safety was paramount, especially with a number of horses racing more than once across the two-day event.
“One of our main objectives is to ensure the welfare of both horses and jockeys, and one of the ways we achieved this was by having plenty of boots on the ground, checking the horses, especially those running more than once,” Ms Conner said.
“Given the number of horses and jockeys racing in this iconic TAB meeting dubbed ‘the Melbourne Cup of the bush’, we ensured there were a similar number of stewards to a metropolitan TAB meeting to uphold compliance with the rules, accompanied by our Compliance Assurance officers and vets.”
The second meeting in the Simpson Desert Racing carnival attracted trainers and horses from interstate, with the 141st Birdsville Cup winner Neodium, trained in Victoria by Phillip Stokes and owned by Birdsville local David Brook.
Ms Conner said that participants were to be commended for their compliance.
“The Birdsville Cup is an opportunity to display the very best of country racing, and we appreciate all participants for showing the racing industry in the best light at this event,” she said.
QRIC stewards will now travel north to oversee the Bedourie Races on Saturday September 9.