Racing Australia and breeders in fight
A court battle is looming between thoroughbred breeders and Racing Australia over proposals to bring breeders under the rules of racing.
Tom Reilly, chief executive of Aushorse and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, said breeders are concerned.
“It gives total control of the breeding industry to the racing industry without any representation at all,” Reilly told Melbourne radio station RSN.
“Any new rule relating to breeding can just be created as a rule of racing by Racing Australia without any input from the breeding industry.”
Reilly said submissions had been given to Racing Australia over the past 18 months and hoped the latest proposal would be put forward at the Racing Australia board meeting on Friday.
He said going to court was a last resort and also seen as a big waste of money.
Racing Australia chairman John Messara and Racing Australia board member David Moodie are two breeders in favour of the new measures while Gerry Harvey and John Singleton are reportedly against the moves.
Moodie said the matter was an agenda item for Friday’s board meeting.
He said what Racing Australia was looking at was bringing forward the registration process for a horses life.
“We are doing this because we need to have understanding and clarity of the horses circumstances, ownership, welfare and every other matter from the time they are born,” Moodie told RSN.
“I’m absolutely dumbstruck why this has become such a serious issue for a senior group of leading breeders.”