Statement from Racing NSW to 7.30, 17 October 2019
Please find the answers to your questions below.
However I would like to emphasise a few points.

Firstly I should have pointed that out our audit highlighted that there are no
licensed abattoirs in NSW that are allowed to process horses for meat for
human consumption so no horses are sold to abattoirs .
When taking out the audit we were hampered as when we approached the
NSW Food Authority on the numbers and locations of licensed knackeries,
they refused to provide that information to us on confidentiality grounds, even
though my Chief Vet identified himself and his affiliation. We did our own
research and identified the Knackeries
To show the level of our commitment Racing NSW has purchased 10 horses
from the Echuca sales to stop them from going to a Knackery.
As part of the process for the traceability of racehorses, trainers are required
to lodge returns notifying Racing NSW of the location of their horses at all
times. Racing NSW Stewards have prosecuted numerous trainers for failing to
comply with this requirement under the Rules of Racing, in addition to
prosecuting trainers for failing to lodge returns for notifying the death of a
horse.
Horses which have been rehomed and left the industry for many years and
which we no longer have oversite or jurisdiction over are the ones we believe
maybe going to a Knackery.
This why its so important to have a national register of horses.
As another safety measure the number seller of horses in NSW which is Inglis
places a high reserve so as to make it unviable for Knackeries to purchase
horses,
•

Can you please confirm whether two NSW knackeries, Luddenham Pet Meat and
Burns Pet Foods, were part of that knackery audit? I can confirm that the Chief

Veterinary Officer provided me with a report that included both
Luddenham Pet Meats and Burns Pet Foods Pty Ltd. The report included
notification of an inspection conducted Burns Pet Foods facility. Racing
NSW Stewards also conducted an inspection of the Luddenham Pet
Meats operation in 2018 following receiving information through our
intelligence networks that two thoroughbreds were at the facility.
Unfortunately the two horses were no longer under our jurisdiction as
one had been retired since 2006 and the other was a horse that had
raced in Western Australia. The facility was advised of the requirement
under the local rules that thoroughbreds domiciled in NSW were not

 permitted to be sent to knackeries and directed by my Chairman of
Stewards to contact Racing NSW if a thoroughbred was taken to the
facility.
•

If not, why not? (Luddenham is a high-profile knackery, and Burns has been
operating for several years)

Are you aware of any registered NSW racehorses ending up at Luddenham and Burns
knackeries since October 2017? If NSW racehorses are being slaughtered at either
knackery, what is your response. Racing NSW is not aware of any NSW domiciled

thoroughbred recently retired that has been taken to either facility. IF, there is
evidence of these facilities destroying thoroughbred horses please provide it
for Racing NSW to investigate. Horses which have been rehomed and left the
industry for many years and which we no longer have oversite or jurisdiction
are the ones we believe maybe going to a Knackery.

•

You discussed the interstate movement of horses during the interview. Thank you for
confirming that Racing NSW does not permit owners/trainers/managers to send
racehorses interstate in order to avoid LR114. We’re aware that NSW racehorses are
ending up at the Echuca Sales in Victoria. We’ve also been informed that NSW
racehorses are ending up at an abattoir in Queensland. Can you please confirm
whether Racing NSW is aware of this practice? If not, why not? Racing NSW has

a good repour with the operators of the Echuca sales and has bought
back more than 10 horses from the venue. In all circumstances horses
were sent by non-racing participants or those not bound by the Rules of
Racing. Racing NSW continues to monitor each sale at Echuca and has
made numerous bids on horses to ensure they are not purchased by
knackeries. Racing NSW is not aware of any horse being taken to
abattoir’s in Queensland. The slaughtering of horses in an abattoir
(human consumption) in NSW is illegal.

We also discussed the Camden Horse Sales (a livestock auction) during the interview. After
our interview concluded, you kindly informed reporter Caro Meldrum-Hanna that this
livestock auction is run by Inglis. We have since checked this information, and confirmed that
the Camden Horse Sales are owned and run by Jim Hindmarsh & Co, not Inglis. We wanted
to communicate and clear up this confusion, as the ABC has previously confirmed that the
Camden Horse Sales run by Jim Hindmarsh & Co is not a Racing NSW-approved livestock
auction due to the presence of killbuyers. With that now clarified, is Racing NSW aware of
registered NSW racehorses being sold at the (unapproved) Camden Horse Sales since
October 2017? We confirm your information is correct and that the saleyard at

Camden is operated by Jim Hindmarsh and Co. Prior to the interview Racing
NSW was not aware that thoroughbreds were being sold at the facility as it
was deemed to be an auction for livestock such as cattle and ponies. Since the
interview Racing NSW has confirmed that a small number of thoroughbreds
have been sold through the sale, however they did not advise that any of these

 horses were sold to knackeries. Now that Racing NSW is aware of this venue,
we have commenced working with the proprietor to ensure that no
thoroughbred is sold to a knackery. Again Horses which have been rehomed
and left the industry for many years and which we no longer have oversite or
jurisdiction are the ones we believe maybe possibly be at this sale.
•

•

Have Racing NSW stewards and/or integrity officers been policing or inspecting the
above-mentioned Camden Horse Sales since October 2017? If so, how many times
has this been done in the past 12 months? No, as I stated Racing NSW was not
aware that thoroughbreds were being sold at the facility.

•

We understand that Racing Victoria and Racing QLD opposed a move to introduce
LR114 to Racing Australia’s national rules of racing, despite Racing NSW and
Racing ACT supporting the rule’s nationalisation. Can you please confirm if this is
correct? Matters discussed at Racing Australia Board meetings are

confidential accordingly I cannot answer that question as I am bound
the Board confidentiality

Do you support LR114 being nationalised by Racing Australia and do you encourage other
state-based regulators to follow NSW’s and ACT’s lead? Yes

Hoping this clarifies some of the matters and my apologies for not pointing
them out at the interview.
Peter V’Landys