Racing NSW and Equestrian Australia Sign Five-Year Deal to Support Retired Racehorses

In New South Wales, Australia, Racing NSW and Equestrian Australia have signed a five-year partnership aimed at helping Thoroughbred racehorses make a successful transition into equestrian sport and other second careers once their racing days are over. The deal is intended to strengthen the links between the racing and equestrian industries, and to better support the owners and riders who take on former racehorses.

At the centre of the partnership is a new horse registration and traceability platform, designed to track Thoroughbreds as they move from racing yards into equestrian homes, alongside a digital educational hub offering guidance on buying, owning, retraining and caring for a retired racehorse. The agreement also continues Equimillion, Racing NSW's programme for Thoroughbreds competing in equestrian sport, which will now run under Equestrian Australia's rules with both organisations' backing, and includes plans to promote Thoroughbreds and aftercare career pathways at major equestrian events.

Racing NSW's acting chief executive, Graeme Hinton, said the organisation's commitment to Thoroughbred welfare "doesn't stop when a horse finishes its racing career," while Equestrian Australia board chair Nick Ballard said the partners wanted "to see more horses successfully transition from racing into rewarding second careers." Equestrian Australia chief executive Ben Houston added that better information and traceability should help new owners make more informed decisions. For breeders and owners anywhere in the Thoroughbred industry, clearer tracking and a shared educational resource make it easier to follow a horse's welfare beyond the racetrack, and to plan responsibly for what happens next in a horse's working life.