QRIC amnesty on horse retirement extended

An unprecedented number of Thoroughbred and Standardbred retirements since the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) called for an amnesty for owners and trainers to update their racehorse retirement data has led to an extension of the penalty free period for a further two weeks.

There have been 411 Thoroughbred and 308 Standardbred retirements processed since the amnesty commenced on 1 November. The Commission is extending the period to encourage all those with a race horse that has not been properly retired to come forward now, before 29 November 2019.

Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said retirement applications have streamed in since the amnesty commenced.

“This tells us that there is a substantial number of horses that have not been properly retired in Queensland, so we will extend the amnesty period past the original closing date of 15 November to make sure we give a many owners and trainers the chance to update their retirement data without penalty,” he said.

Judge Terry Martin who is heading the Inquiry into the treatment of retired racehorses and animal welfare concerns in dealing with retired racehorses at Queensland abattoirs, has requested registration and retirement data.

To meet this request and to provide the Inquiry with the most useful data to investigate the welfare and treatment of race horses in Queensland the Commission is allowing late retirement notifications.

All Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorse owners and trainers must comply with their obligations under the Rules of Racing to retire their animals and most do, but for those who have not, this is a further opportunity to fully comply.

The retirement process

Thoroughbreds

  • Participants lodge directly with Racing Australia via  an online stable return or paper based RA form – then processed by RA staff in the national system (SNS)

Standardbreds

  • Participants can use Harness Web to complete a deregistration or Death of a Horse under Rules 96A and 96B of the Australian Harness Racing Rules
  • A paper form can also be completed and submitted to QRIC.

For more information contact QRIC on 1300 087 021 or email licensing@qric.qld.gov.au

ENDS

Media contact Vincene Overs 0472 842 346