Tasmania’s racing industry watchdog has called for mandatory training for all horse racing participants and tougher penalties for welfare breaches after finding the state’s racehorse welfare code needed significant improvements.
Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll today released seven recommendations following an assessment requested by Racing Minister Jane Howlett.
The review focused on whether animal accommodation and protection from weather extremes met community expectations.
Carroll engaged equine specialist Dr Kate Savage, former president of the World Equine Veterinary Association, to provide independent veterinary advice.
“Ensuring that our industry maintains animal welfare standards that continue to evolve in line with changing community expectations is essential to maintaining public confidence,” Carroll said.
“This code of practice will go a long way toward ensuring those standards are met, and I commend Tasracing for producing this updated code of practice for racehorse welfare.”
The recommendations include giving the chief racing integrity officer expanded powers to approve stables, issue rectification notices and temporarily remove animals from substandard properties.
Carroll also called for the code to be explicitly referenced in local racing rules and for clearer minimum penalties for breaches.
Tasracing has already updated its code in response and is developing a training program with TasTafe, to begin by April.
Chief executive Andrew Jenkins said the organisation was committed to high welfare standards.
“I would like to recognise the work of Chief Veterinary and Animal Welfare Officer Dr Martin Lenz who developed the original code of practice and the subsequent incorporation of the recommendations from the commissioner’s office,” he said.
The review comes amid growing scrutiny of Tasmania’s racing industry.
Seven thoroughbred racehorses died between August 2024 and July 2025 – nearly double the previous year.
In August, the state government announced greyhound racing would be phased out by 2029, with Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff warning horse racing was “on notice”.
Carroll said Tasracing was preparing a similar code for greyhounds and recommended it address the same welfare concerns.
His office will now develop formal standards under the Racing Regulation and Integrity Act to ensure the code continues to meet community expectations.
