Leading welfare and integrity expert Mr. Jamie Stier has called for greater collaboration between racing authorities, scientists and researchers to overcome equine welfare concerns, which he describes as “the single biggest challenge facing the global horse racing industry.”
Speaking at the 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Sapporo, Mr. Stier said: “Despite our concerted efforts to better understand a range of catastrophic injuries, it remains the case that often we just don’t have enough high-quality evidence to be able to predict when such incidences are likely to occur.
“It is critical that scientific research and data presented to the racing industry is practically capable of leading to tangible improvements in equine safety.
“That is, racing must be supporting researchers – with financial and other resources – to deliver researched-based outcomes that we can use practically to generate and demonstrate change.
“What I would like to see is researchers and scientists playing a more holistic role in the entire process. One that goes beyond conducting research and clinical studies, and sees them involved in racing-specific roles, such as assisting regulators to develop new systems, protocols or policies, or helping trainers implement new training methods that reduce injury risks.
“This requires a commitment from racing authorities to convert the science into concrete outcomes.”
Mr. Stier, Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Horse Welfare Committee and Executive General Manager, Integrity at Racing Victoria Limited, outlined his concerns in a session titled: Enhancing Equine Safey & Equine Sustainability.
Mr. Stier said a key challenge facing racing’s leadership in the quest for safer racing is how best to balance the competing threats in front of the industry.
“As a racing regulator and administrator who has been involved in the sport for almost 40 years across three of the world’s leading racing jurisdictions, I genuinely believe that the threat posed to racing due to horse welfare issues is the single biggest global challenge the industry has faced,” Mr. Stier said.
“Each jurisdiction has endured their own individual challenges from time to time, however the deaths of horses in racing or training have been shown to have global reach.
“For a growing number of people, the use of any animal in the sport is no longer acceptable and this means the sport is no longer acceptable and this means that the spotlight will increasingly shine on what our industry is doing to protect our horses.
“These events are highly visible with our coverage on TV and online, are easily distributed via social media and in many cases the topics of conversations in mainstream outlets.
“They are also extremely upsetting for viewers, racegoers, industry participants alike and serve as cannon fodder for our sport’s detractors.”
But Mr. Stier believes well-funded research, accessible experts, tangible evidence to improve outcomes for horses and communication from independent scientists at the time of an injury of fatality can help overcome the challenges.
“So, what we would be promoting in times of crisis is an understandable and robust presentation of the data that demonstrates statistically low rates, together with the ongoing studies being pursued to further reduce these events occurring,” Mr. Stier said.
"I think that would go a long way to shifting the debate away from the radical hyperbole to a more sustainable impact-based discussion.
“The sway held in the court of public opinion of regulators delivering messages on injuries and fatalities in times of crisis does not match that of an easily understandable message delivered by an independent scientist.”
Mr. Stier advocated for greater international collaboration between different research institutions, equine disciplines and racing authorities, and he said he would be pleased to be involved in facilitating this wherever possible.
“I am hopeful that we are on a new path towards greater collaboration between racing and science in delivering more tangible improvements in horse safety,” Mr. Stier said.
The keynote speech in the session was delivered by Corporate Sustainability Expert Mr. Bob Langert who led McDonald’s Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability for more than 25 years before retiring in 2015.
Mr. Langert referenced McDonald’s historical challenges, saying there were a lot of lessons learned he believed could help the racing industry.
“Don’t you feel it’s a battle sometimes and you’ve got so many people out there maybe attacking your brand, attacking your business?” he said.
“I am a firm believer and have 100% conviction that this is a battle that you can win. But it’s battle you have to think smartly about and deeply about and to change from if you feel that you are playing defence all the time and these things are peripheral.
“You need to change your mindset into seeing something is proactive and strategic and seeing opportunity.”
Mr. Langert revealed how McDonald’s, which sources 2% of the world’s meat and eggs, responded to public backlash over wastage by replacing its polystyrene packaging and also introducing strict animal welfare procedures on farms where its meat is sourced.
He said one of the reasons McDonald’s is thriving today is because it took the issue of social licence, social responsibility and corporate sustainability extremely seriously.
Mr. Langert said it was important to work on issues quickly and with the right partners.
Ms. Vicky Leonard, Founder, Kick Collective, specialising in perception marketing and strategy, told the conference that silence is dangerous in the racing industry and the public should be let in and given an explanation about a major incident.
“If we don’t speak up it fuels suspicion,” Ms. Leonard said.
“The industry wasn’t talking and it was assumed that we had something to hide so the public would come to its own conclusion.”
Ms. Leonard said the industry needed to “get real” and have the courage to look in the mirror and admit it must improve in certain areas.
