Provision of equine veterinary services to the racing industry
Revision of an existing policy ratified 1997
Policy
All veterinarians involved in the horse racing industry should be members of the Australian Veterinary
Association (AVA), its special interest group Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) and should abide by
the Code of Professional Conduct of the AVA. They are required to follow the guidelines set out below.
Background
Veterinarians have the following roles in the horse racing industry:
 to ensure the welfare of horses
 to protect the safety of riders or drivers
 to protect the interests of owners by skilled veterinary service to the racing horse
 to assist racing officials in maintaining the integrity of the industry, and therefore public
confidence, by providing expert advice on all veterinary aspects of racing
 to conduct research into, and to advise on, veterinary matters affecting the racing industries.
In addition to racecourse duties, veterinarians who are full-time employees in the horse racing industry
might become involved in:
 closer liaison with local veterinarians servicing racing on a state-wide basis
 providing professional advice at racing conferences, including conferences of the EVA
 research into drug administration and detection and matters affecting soundness of race
horses.
Guidelines
Organisation of veterinary services
At least one veterinarian should attend all race meetings. Veterinarians officiating at race meetings
should have had reasonable clinical experience in equine practice.
The veterinarian should be a member of the EVA and be familiar with the EVA’s publications, Welfare
Guidelines for Horseracing (May, 2000) and A Guide for Official Veterinarians at Racetracks on Raceday
(February, 2006). The principal clubs, commissions or other bodies that control racing on a regional
basis in each state are encouraged to employ a full-time veterinarian who would be available at all times
to consult with stewards, committees and authorities on all veterinary matters.
All veterinarians employed at race meetings should be paid at rates agreed between the racing authority
and the EVA in-line with the scope and nature of their duties.
 No veterinarian should work in an honorary capacity at a registered meeting. (If a veterinarian
feels that a club or organisation should be financially assisted, then they could make an
appropriate donation).
 As committee members are normally precluded by the constitutions of the clubs from holding
positions of profit, a veterinarian who is a member of a race club committee should not
officiate at meetings of that club, unless no other veterinarian is available.
 Nothing in the above paragraphs should prevent the appointment of honorary consulting
veterinarians to race clubs. These veterinarians would not normally be involved in the day-today activities of race meetings, but rather serve as consultants to the race clubs in broad
matters of veterinary policy.
Controlling bodies
Clubs
Where racing is controlled by an elected committee of a club, the present arrangement of free choice in
the selection of a suitable veterinarian for employment is appropriate.
Commissions
Where racing is controlled by a commission, the commission should employ a full-time veterinarian to
provide efficient liaison between the commission and the veterinary profession. A veterinarian employed
full time by a race club or commission should not be entitled to engage in clinical practice with the
horses, trainers and owners under the club or commission’s control.
Research
Clubs should be encouraged to support research on two levels:
 on a national basis – this could be achieved by the Rural Industries Research and
Development Corporation (RIRDC) Horse Program
 on local problems – by using or supporting employed veterinarians.
Code of conduct for veterinarians involved in the horse racing industry
Veterinarians involved in the horse racing industry:
 should be aware of and comply with the rules of racing
 should cooperate with any reasonable requests by stewards and racing officials to attend any
inquiry and furnish any relevant records (provided there is no breach of client or patient
confidentiality)
 should ensure that their conduct is not regarded as prejudicial to the image, interests or
welfare of racing or the veterinary profession
 must avoid making media statements that are not based on accepted veterinary principles
 must not make or appear to make statements on behalf of the horse racing industry or the
veterinary profession, unless empowered to do so by the industry or profession
 must abide by relevant federal and state legislation in relation to the supply and dispensing of
medications, and ensure that drugs dispensed are approved by relevant authorities and are
correctly labelled
 must comply with reasonable requests from the Ethics and Advisory Subcommittee of the
EVA.
Other relevant policies and position statements
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7.6 Equine competitive events
7.7 Jumping races
7.8 Racing of 2-year-old horses
7.9 Use of whips in horse racing