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Home / Equine Research Bank / Aust Vet J / National participation levels in the 2017-2018 Australian th...
Australian veterinary journal2023; 101(7); 265-274; doi: 10.1111/avj.13242

National participation levels in the 2017-2018 Australian thoroughbred racing season.

Abstract: The social licence of the Australian thoroughbred (TB) industry relies on the general public's perception of how they manage the animal in their care. Methods: This 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. Results: Horses 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. Conclusions: This study provides a national overview of the racing and training activities and TBs participating in the 2017-2018 Australian racing season.
© 2023 The Authors. Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2023-05-09 PubMed ID: 37158480DOI: 10.1111/avj.13242Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article analyses the participation levels of the thoroughbred (TB) horse population in the Australian 2017-2018 racing season, focusing on the age, sex, race starts, and training activities of the animals involved.

Methodology

  • The researchers used the records of 37,704 thoroughbred horses that were racing and training in Australia from 1st August 2017 to 31st July 2018.
  • These records were analyzed to provide information on the number of horses starting in races, their ages, the sex distribution within the population, and the activity status at the end of the season.

Key Findings

  • The study found that 75% of the TB population, or 28,184 horses, started in one of the 180,933 race starts during the 2017-2018 season.
  • The median age of the participating horses was 4 years, with geldings more likely to be aged 5 years and older. Geldings made up the majority of the population at 51% (19,210 horses), with 44% (16,617 horses) being females and only 5% (1,877 horses) being entire males.
  • Horses aged 2 years were three times more likely to not start in a race compared to older horses. At the end of the racing season, 34% of the horse population had an inactive status recorded.
  • The younger horses, specifically 2-year-olds (median of two starts) and 3-year-olds (median of five starts), had fewer race starts than the older horses (median of seven starts).
  • The majority (88%) of the race starts were over distances of 1700 metres or less.
  • 46% of race starts by 2-year-old horses were more likely to have occurred at a metropolitan meeting compared to starts by older horses.

Conclusion

  • The study provides valuable insights into the thoroughbred racing industry in Australia during the 2017-2018 season, presenting a comprehensive perspective on the age, sex, and race starts of the horse population.

Cite This Article

APA
Flash ML, Shrestha K, Stevenson MA, Gilkerson JR. (2023). National participation levels in the 2017-2018 Australian thoroughbred racing season. Aust Vet J, 101(7), 265-274. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13242

Publication

Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 1751-0813
NlmUniqueID: 0370616
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 101
Issue: 7
Pages: 265-274

Researcher Affiliations

Flash, M L
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Shrestha, K
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Stevenson, M A
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Gilkerson, J R
  • Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Male
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Seasons
  • Sports

Grant Funding

  • Agrifutures Australia

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Morrice-West AV, Thomas M, Wong ASM, Flash M, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. Linkage of jockey falls and injuries with racehorse injuries and fatalities in Thoroughbred flat racing in Victoria, Australia. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1481016.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1481016pubmed: 40018508google scholar: lookup
  2. Hardwick JL, Ahern BJ, Crawford KL, Allen KJ, Anderson BH, Rose KJ, Franklin SH. Yearling laryngeal function grades II.2 and below are not associated with reduced performance. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):953-966.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14452pubmed: 39837796google scholar: lookup
  3. Norton AM, Rosanowski SM, O'Brien T. Comparative analysis of racing performance following surgical correction of epiglottic entrapment in standardbreds and thoroughbreds. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1479144.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1479144pubmed: 39628869google scholar: lookup
  4. Kapusniak A, Nath L, Hebart M, Franklin S. Heritability of sudden cardiac death in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):325-332.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14130pubmed: 38984817google scholar: lookup
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