Journal article

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

K Shrestha, JR Gilkerson, MA Stevenson, ML Flash

Plos One | Published : 2021

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..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by AgriFutures Australia, as part of the AgriFuturesT Thoroughbred Horses Program


Funding Acknowledgements

This study was supported by AgriFutures Australia, as part of the AgriFuturesT Thoroughbred Horses Program (https://www.agrifutures.com.au), in the form of a grant awarded to MLF, JRG and MAS (PRJ-011271). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis or preparation of the manuscript.