Amnesty for ineligible foals
Thoroughbred Breeders’ Australia (TBA) has welcomed a Racing Australia amnesty for ineligible foals born in 2024 and 2025.
The directive comes after long-term lobbying across several industry organisations to have those foals reinstated.
“It’s a sensible decision and a positive step from Racing Australia to resolve these issues,” TBA CEO Andrew Hore-Lacy said.
“The vast majority of cases were not deliberate breaches but administrative errors or miscommunications about who would lodge the Foal Ownership Declaration. These horses represent years of planning, investment and care for breeders.
“It’s reassuring to know those impacted horses can now move forward and have a future on the track. The amnesty removes uncertainty and allows these horses to progress as intended.”
All horses born in 2024 or 2025 who have yet to do a mare return or Foal Ownership Declaration (FOD) will also be eligible to race, provided the paperwork and associated fees are completed by 14 April, 2026.
“The lodgement of the Foal Ownership Declaration is an important part of our overall horse traceability and it is important that Owners and Breeders adhere to the specific Australian Rules of Racing that cover those responsibilities,” Racing Australia chair Rob Rorrison said.
“Our message has been very clear as to how serious an issue this is for the industry and I am pleased to say that the behavioural changes we are now seeing have resulted in a reduction in the Late Foal Ownership Declarations of 90 per cent.
“We thank the participants for working with us to achieve this much improved result as we move toward 100 per cent compliance.”
TBA president Basil Nolan declared the amnesty is a good example of the industry working the way it should.
“There has been strong engagement between breeders and the principal racing authorities, and a genuine willingness to listen to how these settings are playing out in practice,” Nolan said.
“Compliance has improved significantly, which is a positive outcome. But what has become clear is that for a small number of cases, the consequences have been out of proportion to what are, in many instances, administrative errors or misunderstandings.
“The important point is the collaborative approach. We won’t always agree on every issue, but when there is open dialogue and a shared focus on practical outcomes, the industry is in a much better position.
“The new team at TBA and Aushorse, led by Andrew Hore-Lacy, were brought in with a clear focus on strengthening collaboration across the industry, building constructive relationships and ensuring breeders have a credible voice in these discussions.
“As part of that, the team made a point of sitting down in person with the key decision makers at Racing NSW and Racing Victoria on a number of occasions to talk through how these settings were actually playing out and to work through the issues.
“The external environment is only getting more challenging, so it is in everyone’s interests that we are working together where we can and finding practical solutions to issues as they arise.”
The amnesty gives breeders some breathing space and TBA will be continuing the lobby for a resolution for foals born before 2024 and a sustainable long term solution.
Two yearlings affected by the previous rule were the Spirit Of Boom (Sequalo) and Savabeel (Zabeel) fillies that changed hands at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale in January.
The Spirit Of Boom graduate (Lot 25) from Telemon Stud was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock for $150,000 for trainer Tony Gollan and Strong Bloodstock, while the Savabeel filly (Lot 357) was sold by Vinery Stud to PR Thoroughbreds for $190,000.
Both were going through the appeal process during the sale, and Lot 25 was later cleared to race through the appeal. However, Lot 357 was rejected under appeal and labelled ineligible to race. This week’s amnesty now clears the Savabeel filly to be eligible to race, and the Stud Book website showing the ineligibility will be removed before the amnesty deadline.