There has been a little lull with my weekly blog while I have been overseas, but it is pleasing to be able to resume regular transmission this week with the news that our Thoroughbred Welfare Guidelines are now complete and available online.

One event I attended while away was the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities at the beginning of October.  This international conference, which is held in Paris every year, has been bringing the main racing authorities in the world together since 1967 and New Zealand is proud to one of the around 60 members of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Welfare, as a key objective of IFHA, was an issue which was addressed in a number of presentations, including a panel discussion introduced by Nick Rust, the Chief Executive of BHA entitled: How do we define equine welfare and how have things changed and progressed in world racing over the last 20 years.

NZTR’s Deputy Chairman Victoria Carter ONZM was part of a panel later in the day with English racing presenter Rishi Persad and legendary French trainer Criquette Head which discussed – The World in Which We Operate is Changing: Perspectives on Consumer and Political Environment.

The presentations over the Conference are all available to view here.

Earlier this week NZTR sent a letter to our database of owners which talked about our commitment to thoroughbred welfare in light of the horrific story broadcast in Australia last week.  It was timely that, at the time news of this programme was coming to light in New Zealand, NZTR was conducting a seminar on welfare and the steps we had taken to prepare the document which we have released today.

We would like to thank those people who have taken the time to provide considered and positive responses to this letter.  It is heartening to know that our ownership base includes people who share our vision that every thoroughbred should be provided with a good life – pre, during and post their racing career.