Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
A review, triggered by the death of imported galloper Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 2020 Melbourne Cup, the fourth Cup runner in eight years to have died as a result of a serious leg injury, was conducted on behalf of Racing Victoria and Victoria Racing Club.
The review produced a list of 44 recommendations, of which 41 will be adopted ahead of the 2021 Spring Carnival.
Chief among them is a limitation of the number of international competitors, with only 24 horses to be allowed to enter the Werribee International Quarantine Centre, down from a previously uncapped amount which had peaked at 42.
Another requirement is that all international travellers must undergo full body scintigraphy and CT/MRI of their distal limbs before they leave their country of origin, while they will only be allowed to compete in one lead-up race ahead of contesting the Melbourne Cup.
"All international travellers must undergo full body scintigraphy and CT/MRI of their distal limbs before they leave their country of origin."
The additional requirements will also put greater scrutiny on locally based runners with all Melbourne Cup runners to undergo a full CT scan of their distal limbs ahead of the race, as well as undergo additional checks from Racing Victoria-appointed veterinary staff.
In announcing what was termed 'a new global safety benchmark', Racing Victoria Chairman, Brian Kruger said it was an important step in protecting the welfare of all participants in the major races in the state, in particular, the Melbourne Cup.
“Racing Victoria, and the broader racing industry, has a duty to provide for the safety and welfare of every horse in every race. The saddening events of last spring showed us that more needed to be done to help reduce serious racing injuries, particularly among international horses targeting our Spring Racing Carnival," he said.
Brian Kruger
“We worked closely with the VRC in commissioning a comprehensive review into the injury rate among international horses participating in the Spring Racing Carnival over the past decade, as well as horses competing in the Melbourne Cup.
“The review ultimately found that injuries in international horses, including in the Melbourne Cup, result from a variety of factors and that a combination of changes is required to reduce the risk of injury rather than one single initiative.
“Today we (Racing Victoria) have released a new global safety benchmark for horses competing in the Spring Racing Carnival with a primary goal of delivering a safer Melbourne Cup, one that all Australians can continue to enjoy and be proud of."
“Today we (Racing Victoria) have released a new global safety benchmark for horses competing in the Spring Racing Carnival with a primary goal of delivering a safer Melbourne Cup, one that all Australians can continue to enjoy and be proud of." - Brian Kruger
The review was led by RV Executive General Manager – Integrity Services, Jamie Stier, and included members of RV’s veterinary, equine welfare and racing teams, along with VRC Director and Godolphin Australia's Managing Director Vin Cox, Champion trainer Chris Waller, and internationally renowned regulatory veterinarian Dr David Sykes.
In compiling its findings, the review group consulted with more than 65 local and international stakeholders including veterinarians, trainers, jockeys, owners, track managers and racing clubs.
The process involved the review group covering four key areas: the higher rate of injuries among visiting and imported horses over the past decade; pre and post-travel veterinary and diagnostic requirements; training facilities both internationally and upon arrival in Melbourne; and the conditions of the Melbourne Cup.
A host of new requirements
The most significant recommendation is limiting the numbers of international horses heading to Melbourne for the Spring Carnival, while those that will travel will undergo a much more stringent veterinary framework for being able to compete.
This includes a mandatory full body scintigraphy and CT/MRI of their distal limbs at the expense of their connections two to six weeks prior to entering pre-export quarantine, while horses that have had a previous major fracture or orthopaedic surgery will be excluded from travelling.
There will also be checks by an RV-appointed veterinarian in the pre-export quarantine period before the horses travel to Australia.
All international horses that arrive at Werribee International Horse Centre must also undergo a CT scan of their distal limbs prior to each start in Victoria, while RV will appoint veterinary staff to oversee veterinary clinical services for international horses at Werribee, putting an end to the use of private veterinarians.
RV has endorsed Werribee to continue to be the base for the Victorian industry’s quarantine facility and international training, with upgrades to be made to the track.
The late Red Cadeaux (GB) being offered a pick of grass from his strapper at Werribee in 2015 | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
There will also be a specific restriction which will see international horses only being able to compete in one lead-in race heading into the Melbourne Cup.
“There will be improvements to the Werribee International Horse Centre to aid horse welfare and veterinary screening, whilst all horses, international and local, will need to pass rigorous examinations to take their place in the Melbourne Cup," Kruger said.
“We know some of these initiatives will be onerous on connections, but we make no apology for making the safety of horses our priority. Our sole focus is on ensuring that horses and riders compete safely, and we are committed to delivering these important enhancements in 2021 and beyond.”
"We make no apology for making the safety of horses our priority." - Brian Kruger
Stier said that international trainers, such as Aidan O'Brien, who prepared Anthony Van Dyck, had been informed of the new procedures put in place.
"I think it’s safe to say that from the international trainers we have spoken to, and indeed the local trainers as well, they have been overwhelmingly supportive, but they acknowledge that they need time to work through these matters and work through how they can best implement them into their training regimes and I would include Aidan O'Brien in that camp," Stier said.
Review flows from Cup tragedy
The review also included a fatality report compiled by Racing Victoria into the death of Anthony Van Dyck, which confirmed he had been diagnosed with Proximal Suspensory Desmitis (PSD) in all four limbs soon after his arrival to Australia.
That common condition, which was diagnosed with the use of a nerve block, was considered unrelated to the fatal fractures sustained by the horse in the Melbourne Cup.
"The fatality report found that, whilst current veterinary processes were followed, had mandatory precautionary diagnostic imaging been in place, it may have identified the potential for Anthony Van Dyck to incur a more serious racing injury," the RV statement said.
"The review group ultimately determined that there are multiple contributing factors to injuries in horses, particularly among international horses travelling to Australia, and thus a combination of recommendations, each contributing to reduce the risk of injury, was required."
The late Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The three recommendations from the report that were not adopted were related to changes in the minimum track rating, a reduction in the size of the Melbourne Cup field and a lifting of the rating requirement for international horses which travel for the race.
It has also been confirmed that nominations for the 2021 Melbourne Cup and 2021 Caulfield Cup will be brought forward to August 3 in order to cater for the extra requirements.
New Zealand-trained horses are not considered to be 'international' horses under RV's guidelines.
VRC backs review outcomes
VRC Chairman, Neil Wilson, described the implantation of 41 recommendations from the review as a key moment in the 160-year history of Australia's greatest race.
“As custodians of Flemington Racecourse, the VRC conducts one of the world’s most recognised racing carnivals and Australia’s original major event – the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The VRC understands its obligation and the importance of continuing to lift the benchmark when it comes to protecting our horses, our jockeys, our sport and Australia’s greatest race," he said.
“These initiatives will set a new global standard for horse and jockey safety with the introduction of some of the world’s most stringent pre-travel and pre-race veterinary screening processes.
“This review is an important milestone in the history of the Melbourne Cup, the Spring Racing Carnival, and indeed for the broader national and global racing community."
James Kennedy and Neil Wilson | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Recommendations to be implemented:
Pre-Travel
- All international horses wishing to enter WIHC must undergo full body scintigraphy and CT/MRI of their distal limbs at the expense of their connections two to six weeks prior to entering pre-export quarantine;
- Horses that have had a previous major fracture or orthopaedic surgery will be excluded from travelling and entering WIHC regardless of their current health and soundness; and
- An RV-appointed veterinarian will conduct a pre-travel veterinary examination in pre-export quarantine within a week of travelling to Australia to ensure the ongoing suitability of horses to travel.
Post-Arrival in Australia
- All international horses that arrive at WIHC must also undergo a CT scan of their distal limbs prior to each start in Victoria during the Spring Racing Carnival before being permitted to compete, with the costs to be met by RV;
- Dedicated RV-appointed veterinary staff will provide and/or oversee veterinary clinical services for international horses at WIHC instead of stables appointing their own private veterinarians; and
- Enhanced oversight will include new trackwork monitoring processes and systems along with the world-first introduction of cortisol analysis to monitor stress levels in international horses based at WIHC.
Werribee International Horse Centre
- The WIHC will be retained as the industry’s quarantine facility and international training centre with further enhancements to be made to the two training tracks and veterinary examination facilities;
- The depth of the profile of the sand-fibre track will be increased and track preparation modified to increase the depth and frequency of harrowing, while the crossing will be upgraded on the turf track;
- The number of international horses permitted to enter the WIHC for the Spring Racing Carnival will be capped at 24 – down from an uncapped peak of 42 in 2018; and
- Imported international horses (‘one-way tickets’), whilst in training, will be required to remain at the WIHC until at least the conclusion of Melbourne Cup week before being permitted to transfer to different training facilities.
Melbourne Cup
- In what is believed to be a world-first initiative, all horses – international and local – must undergo a CT scan of their distal limbs before being permitted to compete in the Melbourne Cup, with the costs to be met by RV;
- That diagnostic imaging must be performed after the date of the Caulfield Cup and prior to Melbourne Cup final acceptances, with local horses permitted to start between their imaging and the Melbourne Cup;
- These scans will be reviewed by a panel of three RV-appointed international experts in equine surgery and veterinary diagnostic imaging to determine the horse’s suitability to race;
- International horses that travel to Australia via the WIHC will be permitted to have a maximum of one start only in Australia prior to contesting the Melbourne Cup; and
- An additional pre-race veterinary inspection of all starters will be conducted by a panel of RV veterinarians on the day prior to the Melbourne Cup, in addition to that already conducted on the Thursday/Friday prior to the race.
Recommendations not implemented:
- A change in the minimum targeted track rating for the Melbourne Cup to Good 4 from no firmer than Good 3 on the basis that the industry’s track surface preparation guidelines were only updated in August 2019 to provide more give in the ground in the interests of horse welfare. It was further noted that the guidelines must be applied consistently to all races for the integrity of the sport (Recommendation #27);
- A reduction in the Melbourne Cup field size from 24 to 20 starters on the basis that there was limited data to support the impact of this and that none of the fatalities in the race have been caused by interference. It was further noted that there is no evidence that the horses most at risk of injury were the last four horses included in the field through the order of entry (Recommendation #28); and
- An increase in the minimum handicap rating for horses to enter the WIHC from 100 to 110 on the basis that there is no clear evidence to suggest that horses rated below 110 carry any greater risk and that the capping of the number of horses permitted to enter WIHC achieves the same objective of a reduction in international horses (Recommendation #36).
