Every week, the Super QRIS office receives phone calls from breeders and owners requesting information about the procedures required to ensure that their thoroughbreds conform with national breeding and racing requirements. In order to assist Queensland breeders and owners, the Super QRIS Thoroughbred Magazine plans to print a series of articles on these subjects.

These extracts from the Australian Stud Book Handbook are reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of the Australian Stud Book, Dr John Digby.

The Australian Stud Book Organisation.

The term " Australian Stud Book" refers both to the officially published records of thoroughbred bloodlines in Australia and to the organisation which is responsible for the maintenance, accuracy, quality and integrity of those records. The Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club are the joint proprietors of the Australian Stud Book organisation which operates as a department of the Australian Jockey Club and is located in their offices on Royal Randwick Racecourse.

The Keeper of the Stud Book reports to the joint proprietors through two stud book subcommittees, representing each Club. Major policy and planning issues and general progress reports are considered at twice yearly meetings of the joint proprietors.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Australian Stud Book is to ensure the integrity of thoroughbred breeding in Australia.

To achieve its mission the Australian Stud Book must:

• Ensure the true parentage of all thoroughbreds born in, or imported into, Australia.

• Record and publish the breeding lines of the thoroughbred in Australia to international standards.

• Provide industry population, breeding statistics and trends for national and international use.

• Develop proposals and make recommendations to its proprietors on how technology can be applied and managed to best benefit the breed.

• Maintain staff development to ensure the highest standards of service to the industry and public.

• Ensure proven technological advances can be rapidly utilised.

In accomplishing its mission the Australian Stud Book must be:

• Self supporting, funding its own operational and development costs from income and reserves.

• Run on sound business lines as a non profit organisation at all times.