Equine Welfare Bulletin

The health and wellbeing of all thoroughbreds is, and has always been, at the heart of our culture at the VRC. Our love and respect for horses has fuelled our involvement in the sport of horseracing and will continue to drive our future actions.

We are, all of us, the champions for happy, healthy, thoroughbreds, and we are proud to share these stories with you.

Equine welfare always has and always will be paramount to the VRC. The safety of the horses, along with all racing participants and racegoers, is our absolute number one priority.

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Emma Booth: Journey of determination

Success in elite sport is often marked by the athlete’s grit and resilience. Paralympian Emma Booth knows this well, and is using everything she has to get to the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

The importance of pre-training for young thoroughbreds

The breaking in and pre-training of young thoroughbreds is a crucial part of their racing career; Woodlow Equine, run by Sam Woods and Shenae Lowings, aims to improve that early equine experience

Celebrating equestrian achievement at Melbourne International 3 Day Event

The Victoria Racing Club continue its support for retired racehorses at Victoria’s premier eventing competition, the Melbourne International Three Day Event.

FACILITIES & PRACTICES

Equine Welfare Measures

A horse’s journey doesn’t end at the finish line after a race; it continues with a series of rituals designed to ensure their wellbeing and recovery.

FACILITIES & PRACTICES

Care on course

The Racing Victoria veterinary services team is committed to protecting equine welfare and maintaining the integrity of the sport. Each race day, General Manager of Veterinary Services Grace Forbes and her dedicated team care for the health and welfare of the equine athletes.

VETERINARY & RESEARCH

Beach benefits

From city lights to sandy beaches... dual training facilities are now becoming more common for many trainers, as they seek to offer their horses more variety in their care.

VETERINARY & RESEARCH

Straight from the horses mouth

Mark Burnell explains why dental health is just as important for horses as it is for humans. Network 10 catches up with the equine dental technician at work.

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Racing Victoria implements new thoroughbred welfare rule

The racing industry's enhanced commitment to thoroughbred welfare in Victoria is demonstrated through a new rule that prohibits the sending of live racehorses to knackeries and abattoirs.

Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture

Shenae Lowings and her thoroughbred Bold Venture have the ideal partnership between rider and horse and their achievements underscore their exceptional talent and dedication.

Living Legends welcomes two new additions

The latest champions to join notable residents at Living Legends are So Si Bon and Lankan Rupee. They have left a mark on the racing world and will now enjoy a well-deserved retirement and enjoy the admiration of racing fans.

Homesman is where the heart is

Revisit Homesman's victory in the TAB Australian Cup and witness his seamless transition into retirement, lovingly guided by his devoted strapper, Tayla Simpson.

Post-race rituals for our equine athletes

After a race, a horse’s journey doesn’t end at the finish line; it continues with a series of rituals designed to ensure their wellbeing and recovery.

Making positive change

After conducting research, Dr Alina Vale and her team made recommendations which have improved equine welfare and outcomes.

Equine Welfare Bulletin Equine Welfare Bulletin