The second session of the IFAR Virtual Conference, focusing on shaping the racing industry for the future, was held on Apr. 19. IFAR partnered with the Japan Racing Association (Japanese Consultative Committee on Aftercare of Racehorses) to hold this year's event. Tuesday's session was moderated by Australia-based racing broadcaster Caroline Searcy, and speakers were Michael Drapac, owner and breeder; Dr. Adrian Farrington, executive manager of Veterinary Clinical Services at The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Kirsten Green, executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project; and Jennifer Hughes, general manager of Equine Welfare for Racing Victoria.
Farrington, who presented an overview of the transitioning of racehorses off the track in Hong Kong, said, “The transition here of the retiring racehorses starts well before the date of their actual retirement. All the racing stables and the associated professionals, including vets and farriers, operate under the auspices of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and that allows us to have close oversight and centralized medical records of the health and welfare of all horses in training. Ultimately the aim is to identify horses with subtle performance-limiting issues before they become irreversible changes at the time of retirement.”
The session also featured a young professionals' panel moderated by Searcy and composed of Godolphin Flying Start trainees George Broughton and Elinor Wolf; Caoimhe Doherty, co-founder of Treo Eile and stud manager at Forenaghts Stud; Natasha Rose, Equestrian Affairs project manager and Retired Racehorse Unit manager for The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Tom Ward, trainer. For recordings of both virtual sessions, please visit IFAR's website.
Eliot Forbes, member of the IFAR Steering Committee and chief executive officer of Racelab, said, “The decisions that we make today will shape the industry of tomorrow; the industry that this generation of young professionals will inherit. They know the world has changed, and that a sustainable industry will be one that is responsive, transparent, and compassionate.”
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