Unraced horses face tougher checks under new Racing Victoria rules
Racing Victoria has introduced stricter requirements for older horses that have never raced after new analysis found they are significantly more likely to suffer catastrophic limb injuries when making their debut.
The data found horses that have not raced before turning five are around 4.4 times more likely to suffer a catastrophic limb injury than horses that had already raced at a younger age.
The risk increases further with age, rising to 7.2 times higher for unraced six-year-olds and almost 12 times higher for seven-year-olds.
Under the new protocol, unraced horses aged five or older must complete a series of veterinary checks before they can compete in Victoria. The process includes veterinary clearances, a successful jump-out or official trial, post-trial examinations, a full-body bone scan (scintigraphy) and a pre-race veterinary inspection before their first start.
Only limited exemptions will be considered for five-year-olds, while horses aged six and older must complete every step.
Racing Victoria has also reminded trainers that horses returning from 12 months or more away from racing must also pass veterinary assessments and complete a satisfactory trial before being cleared to race again.
The new measures are aimed at reducing serious injuries and improving horse welfare across Victorian racing, which is among the top racing in Australia. .
