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In any racing season, the survival and success of the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry are primarily due to the dedication of those who work anonymously behind the scenes. But during a year in which Australia and the world were affected so disastrously by the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry owed more to its backstage crew … READ MORE
Supporting Your Employees’ Mental health
Register For Mental Health Webinar As we are all too aware, the impacts of Coronavirus has meant 2020 has been a challenging year. Whether it has been maintaining a business in lockdown, being prevented from seeing family and friends or the stress of the economic uncertainty, there have been more reasons for people to feel … READ MORE
Movement Of Mares Interstate
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) encourages all breeders sending mares interstate for the coming season to consider their transport plans well ahead of any movements. TBA has been liaising with state and federal authorities and all governments have stated that breeding remains an essential agricultural activity. As such, thoroughbreds can be moved interstate. However, anybody transporting … READ MORE
To assist those wanting to engage with the panel, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Welfare Group (TAWWG) have developed an issues paper, which you can download by clicking on the thumbnail below. The issues paper can be summarised as raising seven areas of interest: · What is good welfare· Thoroughbred breeding· … READ MORE
The independent welfare panel that was set up by the thoroughbred industry earlier this year, and is chaired by former Victorian Premier Dr Denis Napthine, is calling for submissions from interested parties to assist its aim of improving the welfare of horses leaving the racing and breeding industries. From today until 12pm on Friday, July … READ MORE
They represent the thousands of mostly unseen, often unsung and thoroughly essential members of Australia’s racing and breeding industry. The 14 finalists announced today in the 2020 Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards are the best-of-the-best in occupations ranging from mucking out stables, to administration, to education, riding, delivering foals, rehoming and retraining ex-racehorses and … READ MORE
Thoroughbred Industry Unites For Welfare
The thoroughbred industry has come together to announce a strategy to develop a national horse welfare regime. Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA), the Australian Trainers’ Association (ATA) and the Australian Jockeys’ Association (AJA) along with other stakeholders have established an Independent Working Group (IWG). This will review the current welfare landscape in the Australian thoroughbred industry, look to … READ MORE
Breeders To Help Bush Fire Victims
The Australian breeding industry will support those affected by bush fires with vendors at this week’s Magic Millions sale donating $500 for every horse sold. As fires rage across much of the country, including in prominent breeding areas such as the NSW Southern Highlands, breeders have decided to make a contribution as they gather on … READ MORE
Dear Breeder, It is with great sadness that I write to you about the passing of a true friend to the breeding industry and to all of us involved with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, Ken Barry. Ken (pictured centre) with the staff & boards of TBA and Aushorse. Many of you will also have been lucky … READ MORE
Update On Welfare Issue
Dear Breeder, I am writing today to keep you updated with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia’s activities since the airing of the ABC 7.30 report into the mistreatment of thoroughbreds. On Tuesday I met with Racing Australia chairman, Greg Nichols, and presented him with an eight-point plan that the TBA board had endorsed (see below). These measures … READ MORE
Dear Breeder, Last night Thoroughbred Breeders Australia hosted a function in Canberra with the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers. This event, now in its fourth year, is an important one for breeders as it gives us a chance to explain our industry to legislators. Given the scrutiny that breeding and racing are under following the … READ MORE
Speech by TBA chief executive Tom Reilly
Ladies and gentlemen, firstly let me thank you for your attendance tonight for what is an important evening for breeders. Ours is a pursuit that is stitched deeply into the fabric of Australia. Thoroughbreds came to these shores on the First Fleet and racing was first held well over 200 years ago. In modern Australia, … READ MORE
Federal politicians from across the political divide have rallied behind thoroughbred breeding, as the industry committed to tackling any issue around welfare. Ministers, shadow ministers, MPs and senators met with industry leaders at Parliament House in Canberra for an annual event organised by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers. There … READ MORE
TBA Calls For A National Task Force
The board of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) today had a teleconference to discuss the issues raised in last night’s 7.30 program. As a result of that meeting we are calling for a national welfare taskforce to be established that would include all industry stakeholders. We believe it is important that we come together as an … READ MORE
TBA Press Release
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) condemns in the strongest terms the treatment of horses shown in tonight’s ABC 7.30 program. “I am appalled by the vision broadcast tonight,” said Tom Reilly, chief executive of TBA. “All horses, whether thoroughbreds or not, deserve to be treated humanely and with dignity,” added Mr Reilly. “The full force of … READ MORE
When David Merrick started working for Widden Stud in 1992, breeding legends such as Bletchingly and Marscay were ruling the roost, Paul Keating was Prime Minister, the Brisbane Broncos won their first premiership, Mabo was decided and we were watching shows like Acropolis Now. Mobile reception? “Crikey, we were lucky to get TV reception,” Merrick … READ MORE
Dear Breeder, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association (HTBA) is writing to notify you of a case of Hendra Virus that has occurred in a horse in the Upper Hunter Valley. It is important to note that this case occurred on an isolated non-Thoroughbred farm, some 50 km from Scone. It is, … READ MORE
As we edge closer to the completion of the yearling sales and start contemplating the 2019 breeding season, I would like to point you to Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse’s recently released report titled Strategy Review 2019. This report outlines key initiatives undertaken in 2018 and looks at major issues we are trying to … READ MORE
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) celebrated its centenary year with the announcement of the Basil Nolan Jnr scholarship at an event on the Gold Coast. More than 200 breeders and industry figures were present as TBA president Basil Nolan acknowledged the award that was created and funded by Aushorse, and named in honour of his late … READ MORE
Seventeen new Fast Track trainees began their journey into the world of thoroughbred breeding on Monday with the aim of building successful careers in the industry. Launched last year by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) in collaboration with TAFE NSW in response to staffing shortages in the breeding sector, the Fast Track training program offers passionate … READ MORE
Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Award nominations are now open (Godolphin) The day after Winx won her final race, her long-time strappers Umut Odemislioglu and Candice Perisijn were back in the real world, mucking out the boxes of regular racehorses. Like the thousands who do what they do, they awoke at an hour closer to … READ MORE
As you may know Thoroughbred Breeders Australia successfully lobbied the Australian Government to introduce a matched thoroughbred research and development levy. This levy started in breeding season 2017 and in its first full year raised about $400,000, which is then matched dollar for dollar by the Australian Government. In addition, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Racing … READ MORE
Back in 2017 the federal government decided to scrap the 457 visas available to the thoroughbred industry: namely, those visas for the occupations of Horse Breeder and Horse Trainer. After extensive lobbying, the Horse Trainer visa was reinstated later that year, with Horse Breeder made available in 2018. However, when the Horse Breeder category was … READ MORE
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia’s traineeship program Fast Track is open for its second intake. The training scheme was launched last year as part of TBA’s commitment to find and educate the next generation of industry talent. The program works by finding young people who have a passion for horses and placing them with a respected farm … READ MORE