National participation levels in the 2017–2018 Australian thoroughbred racing season

Abstract

IntroductionThe social licence of the Australian thoroughbred (TB) industry relies on the general public's perception of how they manage the animal in their care.MethodThis study examines the horse, race and activity records for the 37,704 horses racing and training in Australia from 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018. Three‐quarters (75%, n = 28,184) of TBs started in one of the 180, 933 race starts that occurred during the 2017–2018 Australian racing season.ResultsHorses participating in the 2017–2018 Australian racing season had a median age of 4 years, with geldings more likely to be aged 5 years and older. The majority of the TB racehorse population were geldings (51%, n = 19,210), with 44% (n = 16,617) females and only 5% (n = 1877) entire males. Horses aged 2 years were three times more likely to not start in a race in that year compared with older horses. At the end of the 2017–2018 racing season, 34% of the population had an inactive status recorded. Horses aged 2 years (median two starts) and 3 years (median five starts) had fewer starts than older horses (median seven starts). Eighty‐eight percent (n = 158,339) of race starts were over distances of 1700 metres or less. Race starts by horses aged 2 years (46%, 3264 of 7100) were more likely to have occurred at a metropolitan meeting compared with starts by older horses.ConclusionThis study provides a national overview of the racing and training activities and TBs participating in the 2017–2018 Australian racing season.