Provision of equine veterinary services to the racing industry

Revision of an existing policy ratified 1997

Policy

All veterinarians involved in the horse racing industry should be members of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), its special interest group Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) and should abide by the Code of Professional Conduct of the AVA. They are required to follow the guidelines set out below.

Background

Veterinarians have the following roles in the horse racing industry:

  • to ensure the welfare of horses
  • to protect the safety of riders or drivers
  • to protect the interests of owners by skilled veterinary service to the racing horse
  • to assist racing officials in maintaining the integrity of the industry, and therefore public confidence, by providing expert advice on all veterinary aspects of racing
  • to conduct research into, and to advise on, veterinary matters affecting the racing industries.

In addition to racecourse duties, veterinarians who are full-time employees in the horse racing industry might become involved in:

  • closer liaison with local veterinarians servicing racing on a state-wide basis
  • providing professional advice at racing conferences, including conferences of the EVA
  • research into drug administration and detection and matters affecting soundness of race horses.

Guidelines

Organisation of veterinary services

At least one veterinarian should attend all race meetings. Veterinarians officiating at race meetings should have had reasonable clinical experience in equine practice.

The veterinarian should be a member of the EVA and be familiar with the EVA’s publications, Welfare Guidelines for Horseracing (May, 2000) and A Guide for Official Veterinarians at Racetracks on Raceday (February, 2006). The principal clubs, commissions or other bodies that control racing on a regional basis in each state are encouraged to employ a full-time veterinarian who would be available at all times to consult with stewards, committees and authorities on all veterinary matters.

All veterinarians employed at race meetings should be paid at rates agreed between the racing authority and the EVA in-line with the scope and nature of their duties.

  • No veterinarian should work in an honorary capacity at a registered meeting. (If a veterinarian feels that a club or organisation should be financially assisted, then they could make an appropriate donation).
  • As committee members are normally precluded by the constitutions of the clubs from holding positions of profit, a veterinarian who is a member of a race club committee should not officiate at meetings of that club, unless no other veterinarian is available.
  • Nothing in the above paragraphs should prevent the appointment of honorary consulting veterinarians to race clubs. These veterinarians would not normally be involved in the day-to-day activities of race meetings, but rather serve as consultants to the race clubs in broad matters of veterinary policy.

Controlling bodies

Clubs

Where racing is controlled by an elected committee of a club, the present arrangement of free choice in the selection of a suitable veterinarian for employment is appropriate.

Commissions

Where racing is controlled by a commission, the commission should employ a full-time veterinarian to provide efficient liaison between the commission and the veterinary profession. A veterinarian employed full time by a race club or commission should not be entitled to engage in clinical practice with the horses, trainers and owners under the club or commission’s control.

Research

Clubs should be encouraged to support research on two levels:

  • on a national basis – this could be achieved by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Horse Program
  • on local problems – by using or supporting employed veterinarians.

Code of conduct for veterinarians involved in the horse racing industry

Veterinarians involved in the horse racing industry:

  • should be aware of and comply with the rules of racing
  • should cooperate with any reasonable requests by stewards and racing officials to attend any inquiry and furnish any relevant records (provided there is no breach of client or patient confidentiality)
  • should ensure that their conduct is not regarded as prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing or the veterinary profession
  • must avoid making media statements that are not based on accepted veterinary principles
  • must not make or appear to make statements on behalf of the horse racing industry or the veterinary profession, unless empowered to do so by the industry or profession
  • must abide by relevant federal and state legislation in relation to the supply and dispensing of medications, and ensure that drugs dispensed are approved by relevant authorities and are correctly labelled
  • must comply with reasonable requests from the Ethics and Advisory Subcommittee of the EVA.

Other relevant policies and position statements

  • 7.6Equine competitive events
  • 7.7Jumping races
  • 7.8Racing of 2-year-old horses
  • 7.9Use of whips in horse racing