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Racing Victoria Announces Grants For Businesses That Use OTTBs

Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced new support for Victorian businesses, including horse/trail riding services, equine colleges, equine therapy centers and pony clubs, to bolster the opportunities afforded horses' that have retired from the Victorian racing industry.

A new $10,000 business grant for Victorian equine-related businesses will help boost their operations, with the sole objective of growing the number of off-the-track Thoroughbreds being utilized by these organizations.

The Off The Track Business Grant Program is expected to help stimulate businesses to accommodate more horses, including those currently operating with Thoroughbreds or looking to take them on for the first time.

The program contains four key initiatives, including increasing the number of retired Thoroughbreds an equine business can utilize; increasing the breadth of career options for non-competitive thoroughbreds; providing longevity to thoroughbreds in their post-racing career; and encouraging an equine business (which may currently utilize other breeds) to incorporate thoroughbreds into their operation on a sustainable basis.

Both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses are eligible to apply for the grant, and must submit their application before 5 p.m. (AEST) on April 9, 2021 via the programs SmartyGrants page.

Building on the positive progress of RV's current post-racing initiatives, this program recognizes the importance of growing the demand for thoroughbreds beyond the equestrian community to maximize the opportunities afforded every retired racehorse.

This grant becomes even more important in the current climate, where the COVID-19 pandemic continues to suppress economic activity, and may do for a considerable period into the future.

The Off The Track Business Grant Program will complement the various post-racing initiatives RV has introduced over the past 12 months, including the RESET Program, Retrainer Capacity Expansion Grant Program, COVID-19 relief support scheme for RV Acknowledged Retrainers, and partnerships with organizations such as Riding for the Disabled Association of Victoria to help improve the post-racing wellbeing of racehorses in Victoria.

For more information on the Off The Track Business Grant Program, including application criteria, visit: racingvictoria.com.au/grants

Quotes attributed to RV General Manager, Equine Welfare, Jennifer Hughes:

“I'm really excited to see the Off The Track Business Grant Program open to Victorian businesses today.

“It's another important step to help expand our post-racing options available to retired racehorses.

“We know that like any horse, not all former gallopers are suited to the equestrian world, so this opens the door for more Thoroughbreds to explore non-competitive options post-racing.

“The program also provides us the opportunity to work with operators we traditionally haven't considered as a pathway for off-the-track horses and further demonstrate the versatility of Thoroughbreds.

“We hope to support and incentivize those businesses that are either looking to increase the number of Thoroughbreds they currently have or for those considering the breed for the first time.

“Ultimately, our aim is to see this program drive long-term demand for Thoroughbreds post-racing and support the growth of equine businesses operating in Victoria.”

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‘I Can’t Believe It’: 300-1 Shocker Provides ‘Massive Thrill’ In Australian Guineas

There are shock results, and then there are shock results. In a triumph described as “surreal” by his connections, Lunar Fox became one of the longest-priced G1 winners of all time anywhere in the world with a 300-1 victory in the Australian Guineas at Flemington.

“I can't believe it – it hasn't sunk it,” said jockey Michael Dee after landing his fifth G1 success. “To be honest, I didn't give him much hope and no one else really did either! It's obviously a massive thrill and I can't believe it has just happened.”

Australian sources were left racking their brains to find an equivalent – but all were agreed this was certainly the biggest price to succeed at the top level for at least 35 years, going back to 250-1 winner Abaridy in the Caulfield Guineas of 1986.

Blinkers seemed to make a profound difference to Lunar Fox, who had come 12th of 14 on his previous outing in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes at the same venue just two weeks ago.

The son of Foxwedge wore down front-running favorite Tagaloa in the closing stages and the line came just soon enough to deny Cherry Tortoni, who flew home from the rear, by a half-length.

Trainer's representative Holly McKechnie was queried by Racing Victoria stewards about the horse's improvement.

Holly McKechnie (representing trainer Paul Preusker): “It's a bit surreal at this stage. I can't believe it. He's always had a lot of ability, this horse. Obviously last start he ran below par and we couldn't really find any issue. We've done the old trick with the blinkers and it seems to have done the job. Last time was just out of character. He's always trying this horse. Getting to the outside and the additions of blinkers certainly helped him.”

Michael Dee (jockey): “All I could do today was do my job and do it to the best of my ability and hopefully the horse ran well in doing so. Having the blinkers on today and just a massive improvement. They drilled it into me before the race to stay off the fence. From the gate we were able to get the perfect run three-wide and work into it.”

This story originally appeared on Horse Racing Planet and is reprinted here with permission.

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Major Australian Breeder Under Investigation For Embryo Transfer In Mares

Sean Buckley of Australian-based breeding operation Ultra Thoroughbreds, is under investigation for conducting an embryo transfer scheme in Thoroughbred mares, the Racing Post's ANZ Bloodstock reports.

Stewards for Racing Victoria are investigating allegations that the operation has been producing foals through embryo transfer: taking a fertilized egg from a mare in its ranks and placing it into another mare to carry and foal out. One of the mares in question is believed to be Miss Andretti, the 2007 Australian Horse of the Year, who has reportedly had a history of issues conceiving foals.

The allegations list multiple high-profile mares who are accused of using artificial means of conceiving foals during the 2019 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, including Strikeline, the dam of recent Group 1 winner Nature Strip.

The claims allege that Miss Andretti had a filly and Strikeline had a colt during last year's foaling season, both by Buckley-owned stallion Addictive Nature, but mare returns have not been reported for either horse. Both mares were covered by another Buckley-owned stallion, Shamus Award, in December.

The rules of the Australian Stud Book – along with any globally recognized Thoroughbred stud book – state that a registered Thoroughbred can only be conceived through a live cover. Other forms of conception, including embryo transfer, artificial insemination, and cloning, are strictly prohibited within the Thoroughbred breed, through they are more commonplace within the racing spheres of the Standardbred, Quarter Horse, and Arabian breeds.

The investigation was supported on-record by representatives for breed organizations Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria.

Read more at Racing Post ANZ Bloodstock.

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O’Brien Horses In Australia Subjected To Out-Of-Competition Tests After Feed Contamination Concerns

After top international trainers Aidan and Joseph O'Brien were forced to scratch horses from Sunday's races due to concerns about possible feed contamination, news broke Monday that Australian authorities are testing O'Brien horses based there.

Racing Post reported that top Caulfield Cup hopeful Anthony Van Dyck and Melbourne Cup contender Tiger Moth just arrived in Australia to prepare for those races.

The O'Brien horses are fed products made by Gain Equine Nutrition, which warned customers that some batches of some of its products may have been contaminated with zilpaterol. Zilpaterol is not permitted in Europe but is commonly used in the States by cattle farmers to add weight to cows. It is a beta agonist and therefore could have anabolic-like side effects.

A French lab detected zilpaterol in urine samples taken from O'Brien horses after the company's warning.

“Racing Victoria (RV) can advise that its integrity services team are liaising with Irish trainers Aidan and Joseph O'Brien regarding the circumstances that led to the stable scratching runners in France and Ireland across the weekend due to concerns regarding the alleged contamination of horse feed that it utilizes.

“Reports from both trainers and international racing authorities are that feed used by both stables has been found in Europe to be contaminated with the prohibited substance Zilpaterol.

“Following discussions with the O'Brien stables, RV stewards have today conducted out of competition testing on their horses at Werribee to determine whether Zilpaterol is currently in any of the horse's systems. The results of these tests may take up to one week.

“Furthermore, both stables have confirmed to RV stewards today that they have ceased using feed from the provider in question.”

Learn more about feed contamination in this 2015 Paulick Report feature.

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