Cover iamge courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Seeing is believing - and next week, studs, stables, and equine veterinary practices across Australia and New Zealand will open their doors to the public for that very purpose in the inaugural National Thoroughbred Week.
Hosts across every state and territory, and both the North and South islands of New Zealand, have signed up to demonstrate the standard of care and level of passion that the industry has for the thoroughbred.
“I feel like the public often fails to realise just how big the industry is and how much depth there is to it,” said Nathan Skrivanic, Creative Manager for Kick Collective and Kick Up.
“There are almost 40,000 horses in training in Australia alone at any one time and the racing industry employs over 75,000 people. There’s 19,000 races per year in Australia - some people think there’s only eight and all on Melbourne Cup week!
“To me, National Thoroughbred Week is the key, opening our world up to the public and showing them how many people are employed by the industry, how many people love the industry and love the horses, and how many great stories there are to tell.”
The rise of anti-racing sentiment over the past 15 years has caused many in the industry to protectively retreat from the public eye, but Skrivanic pointed out that this can’t be the way forward.
“That’s why we started Kick Up,” he said. “You have to be open and transparent, because horse racing has nothing to hide and everything to be proud of.”
“You have to be open and transparent, because horse racing has nothing to hide and everything to be proud of.” - Nathan Skrivanic
And that's the thesis of National Thoroughbred Week: let them see just how great our industry is.
Bring five mates to National Thoroughbred Week
Just as it’s a chance for the industry to invite people in, it’s up to participants to make sure that welcome is extended to anyone and everyone. A large part of National Thoroughbred Week is the 'Bring Five Mates' initiative, encouraging participants to reach out to friends and family who might benefit from attending one of the events.
“The point of the week is giving the everyday Australian the chance to see what happens behind the scenes. But we don't yet have a database or the budget to reach all those people, without some help.
“So we're putting the challenge out there for every trainer, strapper, jockey, breeders, racing fans to tell five mates that National Thoroughbred Week is happening, and to come along to all of these events - because they’re going to learn a lot and have a lot of fun as well.”
“We're putting the challenge out there for every trainer, strapper, jockey, breeders, racing fans to tell five mates that National Thoroughbred Week is happening.” - Nathan Skrivanic
For those mates who don’t know a hoofpick from a headcollar, some of Australasia’s premier breeding operations - including the likes of Arrowfield Stud, Yulong Stud, and Cambridge Stud - will be opening their paddocks and their breeding barns for visitors to meet foals and see how the lifecycle of the horse begins.
For the family who are only aware of the G1 Melbourne Cup, trainers like Chris Waller, Annabel and Rob Archibald, Ciaron Maher, and Ballymore Racing are hosting open mornings with the opportunity to get up close and personal with stable stars, and witness their every day care.
Caulfield’s official jump-outs on Thursday, November 20, will be open to the public, and Breakfast With The Stars returns to Sunshine Turf Club on Tuesday, November 18, with The Industry School on hand to discuss educational pathways into the racing world.
“If anyone’s ever asked you a question about working in racing, or had a question on Cup week, whether it’s about welfare or how a part of the industry works - those are the people that we think you should invite to come along with you to National Thoroughbred Week and to experience the whole industry,” said Skrivanic.
Every corner of the industry
There are a number of enticing opportunities over National Thoroughbred Week to catch a glimpse of lesser-seen parts of the industry; for the family member who doesn’t know about the heights that the industry will go to in the name of veterinary care, there are tours of Scone Equine Hospital’s state-of-the-art facility and its Victorian partner Avenel Equine Hospital on offer, as well as MVS Equine Hospital in Matamata.
Scone Equine Hospital recently celebrated the first anniversary of their CT machine, technology which has been a recent hot topic in the industry due to its role in ensuring another safe Melbourne Cup carnival.
“I think a lot of people will find that really interesting,” Skrivanic said. “I doubt a lot of people will have been able to walk through Scone Equine Hospital.”
The Equine Genetics Research Centre laboratory in Scone, which processes DNA identification for all thoroughbreds born in Australia, will be opening their doors for guided tours on Thursday, November 20, where visitors can learn about the integral role the laboratory plays in Racing Australia’s operations and the research projects currently being conducted by staff.
Another event worth highlighting is Thenford Farm’s open morning on Saturday, November 22, where the breaking and pretraining facility will demonstrate to visitors the steps a young horse goes through over a standard month-long breaking-in process. Visitors will get an overview of the whole process that turns yearling sale graduates into confident young racehorses ready for their first preparation at the track.
For the friend who has asked, ‘what happens to the slow ones?’, life after racing will be on display as well. Highly respected retainers such as JW Equestrian and Abey Performance Horses in Victoria are inviting the public in, as is Queensland’s Racing Hearts McIntyre Centre, which provides both retraining and equine assisted therapy.
And if you find a young friend who's been converted, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia will be attending the Camden Careers & Jobs Expo on Thursday to discuss educational and career opportunities in the industry. We know that our industry has so much to offer - it's the perfect opportunity to prove that to everyone else.
