Study: Australian Thoroughbreds Retired Sound Easier To Rehome Sponsored by:
After a outcry of public concern regarding the fate of Thoroughbred racehorses when their racing careers were over, a study team was created to assess the incidence, risk factors and outcome for retiring racehorses in Australia.
Drs. Kylie Crawford, Anna Finnane, Ristan Greer, Clive Phillips, Solomon Woldeyohannes, Nigel Perkins and Benjamin Ahern investigated how many horses were retired from racing at the Brisbane Racing Club in Australia over a 13-month period. The team invited all license trainers at the track with three or more horses in work to participate: 27 of the 40 eligible trainers agreed to take part in the study.
Horsetalk.co.nz Nearly all Queensland Thoroughbreds in study successfully moved to new careers
Thoroughbred racing at Doomben Racecourse, in Brisbane, Queensland. Photo: Commander Keane (public domain) via Wikimedia Commons
Nearly all Thoroughbred racehorses in a Queensland study were successfully repurposed after racing, although those who bowed out with injuries were less likely to find performance roles.
The study, reported this week in the journal
Animals, explored the incidence, risk factors and outcome for horses after retirement for racing.
Kylie Crawford and her fellow researchers noted there was international public concern regarding the retirement of racehorses, including the reason for retirement and the outcome for horses after racing.