Australia, Industry News

Aust Jockeys Support Cut To 6 Race Days Per Week
The Australian Jockeys Association announced it "would support a racing industry proposal for the reduction in the number of race days per week on a trial basis in the eastern states". The AJA stated: "This is an issue to be considered by all stakeholders in the racing industry. Stakeholder sources indicate there is support for consideration of a limited trial period of 6 days racing per week." However the AJA noted it "would only support such a trial on the basis there is no reduction in opportunities for jockeys to ride in races". AJA chairman Ross Inglis commented: "There has been a staggering 43% decline in jockey numbers in recent years, which means the pool of jockeys available face increased pressure & fatigue to travel & ride 7-days-a-week. One also has to take into consideration the requirement for participating in track work & barrier trials, both official & unofficial." The AJA announcement added: "It is clear any such proposal would need to ensure the same number of races were programmed in a 6-day period as would otherwise be programmed in a 7-day period. The AJA intends to begin discussions with the Australian Racing Board & the state jockeys associations will begin discussions with state racing authorities with regard to race fixtures for the 2008-09 season." (Dec 19)

Qld Introduces Multi-Movement Permits
Queensland Racing announced it has arranged with the state's Department Of Primary Industries & Fisheries for "the implementation of multi-movement permits for the thoroughbred racing industry". QR chief operations manager Malcolm Tuttle confirmed multi-movement permits "enable connections to move horses on a permit-basis for a period of 2 months. The multi-movement permits, in most cases, alleviate the need for individual permits for single horse movements & enable connections to make application through QR to move horses between stables & from stables to properties. The application process is simple & saves connections having to apply for each individual horse movement." (Dec 19)

Tasmania Defers EI Vaccination Program
The Tasmanian Thoroughbred Racing Council has deferred plans to vaccinate the state's racing population until at least after the Summer Racing Carnival (which runs from January 27-February 27). However vaccination of yearlings to be sold at the 2008 Tasmanan Magic Millions Select Sale in February will proceed as planned. TTRC chief executive officer Rohan Mitchell explained: "The TTRC has communicated widely with industry participants & received advice both nationally & internationally from a wide range of participants & stakeholders. The TTRC in conjunction with the Australian Racing Board lobbied & secured vaccines on behalf of the industry in order to vaccinate the current racing population. Approval was obtained from the Department Of Primary Industries to use the vaccines on the basis of business risk mitigation that will require at least 85% of the thoroughbred population to be inoculated. Therefore in order to commence vaccination in Tasmania all trainers need to commit to the proposal. Voluntary or spasmodic vaccination in a relatively small number of thoroughbreds would not provide overall benefits to the Tasmanian thoroughbred racing industry & this would not comply with the DPI requirements to gain approval to vaccinate." Mitchell added if vaccination commenced in late December ,all horses would require their booster shots in the middle of the summer carnival, potentially impacting on their preparations." (Dec 19)

Vic Protocols For Horses From NSW & Qld
The Victorian Department Of Primary Industries "has created protocols that will allow the movement of horses into Victoria from equine influenza-infected states (NSW & Queensland) if it can be demonstrated that the horses are not infected with, or at risk of carrying, the EI virus". There are "strict requirements detailed by the zone where the horse is currently located" which include:
Minimum periods of isolation or quarantine of horses in both NSW or Queensland & in Victoria;
Cleaning & disinfection of all horse transport vehicles & equipment;
Strict biosecurity on the properties where the horses are quarantined;
Testing of all horses to prove freedom from EI.
(Dec 19)

Vic Race Meeting Bio-Security Continues In January
Racing Victoria will meet with Department Of Primary Industry chief veterinary officer Dr Hugh Millar on January 16 "to determine for what period bio-security measures are still required at race meetings". Should the number of outbreaks continue to decline "then it is anticipated the measures can be scaled back in the latter part of January". (Dec 19)

Kentucky Takes 1st Steps On Steroid Rules
In the US, the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority "will take its first official steps toward adopting a policy on androgenic-anabolic steroids for horses in training," reported thoroughbredtimes.com. KHRA executive director Lisa Underwood announced she will "direct the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council to look at adopting steroid model rules"; then the council will conduct meetings "that include leading industry representatives for their input"; & "if all goes smoothly, new steroid rules could be in place within 6 months". Underwood confirmed: "If we can move ahead quickly & people are co-operative, perhaps we could have it in place in 6 months. That would be my hope." KHRA member Jerry Yon agreed "the time is right for Kentucky to move forward" noting: "We've actually been looking at this seriously for a while. There were some questions about some of the technicalities involved in administering those rules. The recent fiasco with steroids in baseball provided a platform to once again say: We need to get serious about this & move forward. Now that we've got the revised rules that make a lot more sense, they should be acceptable to more people." Underwood revealed "model rules on steroids presented by the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium at the Association Of Racing Commissioners Conference last spring have been updated" & RMTC chief executive Dan Fick said those changes "involve updating threshold information & clarifying language". The model rules ban any androgenic-anabolic steroids in test samples collected from horses in training; however because the use of some steroids for horses out of training is permitted, residues of the major metabolites of stanozolol & nandrolone & the naturally occurring substances boldenone & testosterone, at concentrations less than the indicated thresholds, are permitted. (Dec 19)