FAQS (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

Updated - 22 August, 2007

Following is a list of some of the questions most asked of our Executive Officer:

The two most asked questions are "Where does (stallion name) stand?" and "I’m doing a college project – can you give me statistics and information on the racing and breeding industry?"

Where does (stallion name) stand?
This can normally be answered by a quick look in the annual stallions directory published by The Australian Bloodhorse Review, or by checking out the Stallions website at www.stallions.com.au.These references contain the majority of the commercial stallions standing in Australia each year, and of course, the Australian Stud Book on the internet has advertised service fee (if available) and contact information for all sires returned to them each year. www.studbook.org.au/ASP/SL_menu.ASP

Can you give me statistics and information on the industry?
There are several sources for this sort of information and statistics on the racing and breeding industry in Australia and the information below is taken from one or other of these references:

Australian Racing Fact Book – a guide to the racing industry in Australia, published annually by the Australian Racing Board.

The Contribution of the Racing Industry to the Economy of Australia, ACIL Australia Pty Ltd, September 1992

The contribution of the Racing Industry to the Economy of New South Wales, ACIL Australia Pty Ltd, September 1992

A Review of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry prepared by Coopers & Lybrand for Thoroughbred Racing Investors and Employers Association of New South Wales (T.R.I.E. NSW), February 1995

Australian Thoroughbred Racing Industry Statistics, Racing Services Bureau, annual report

Quarantine Processes & The Management of Horse Disease Emergencies – Workshop Report & Background Papers, George R Wilson, ACIL Economics & Policy Pty Ltd, June 1995

Australian Horses as a Primary Industry – Numbers, organisation and research needs, Marc Pilkington & George Wilson, Bureau of Resource Sciences, 1993

Racing 21^st Century – Strategic Plan for the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry, NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board, December 1997

Based on the above, following are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:

How many horses are there in Australia ?
There are about 1.5 million horses of all breeds in Australia – that includes some 400,000 feral horses (brumbies)

How many thoroughbreds are there in NSW?
It’s pretty hard to put a figure on this:
- in the 1999/2000 racing season, 10,917 individual thoroughbreds started in races throughout NSW (approximately 33% of the total 31,952 starters in Australia)
- in 1999 some 6,469 live foals by breeder resident state were born in NSW (36% of total number of live foals)
- in 1999 some 10,837 mares returned to the Stud Book in NSW (36.2% of the 29,930 mares returned in Australia)
– in 1999 there were some 466 stallions returned to the Stud Book in NSW (33.9% of total 1,375 stallions returned in Australia)

– in 2000 approximately 1,300 yearlings went through the auction ring in NSW bringing in an aggregate price of over AU$74.8million
– in 2000 approximately 1,900 other horses (broodmares, weanlings, 2YOs, horses in training, etc.) went through the auction ring in NSW bringing in an aggregate price of over AU$50.7million
– and don’t forget all the thoroughbreds sitting in paddocks all over the state doing nothing, and all the thoroughbreds which are used for hacking, showing and other leisure activities.

How many breeders are there in NSW/Australia?
The number of contact breeders in 1997 in NSW, according to the Stud Book, is 4,129. The figure for the whole of Australia is approximately 12,500.

How big is the industry in NSW?
– in excess of 50% of all revenue received by Australian State Governments relating to race betting activities is received by the NSW State Government. In 1996 this amounted to AU$336million (54% of the Australian total of AU$624million)
– approximately 46% of total contribution to Gross Domestic Product of the Australian thoroughbred racing industry is contributed by NSW. This translates to some 45,000 jobs directly and indirectly related to the industry and approximately AU$1billion.
– NSW accommodates more than 30% of all thoroughbred race clubs, venues, meetings and races in Australia

What sort of prizemoney is available?
In the 1999/2000 season, the total prizemoney available throughout Australia was $305,235,336; that’s a 50% increase over the past 6 years and a 150% increase since the 1986/87 season. The NSW share of prizemoney was $93,533,000, 30% of the total. Average prizemoney per race was $14,025.

If I give you the brand, can you tell me the breeding/name/performance of my horse?
Often it’s very hard to do this, unless your horse has a brand which is easily recognised as coming from one of the major commercial studs. This is because there has never been a requirement to register new brands until very recently. The Registrar of Racehorses might be able to help you, but finding a particular horse which no longer has its papers is not easy, though it can be, and has been, done. One of the "hit or miss" ways is to go through our library of old catalogues to see if the brand pops up on a yearling. Again, given time and patience, this proves successful occasionally.
Once you’ve found the breeding of the horse, it’s relatively simple to get the horses name from the Stud Book records via the internet, and from there to find the horse’s racing performance, if any.

What percentage of thoroughbred foals born each year actually make it to a racecourse?
There is no published figure available on this. The accepted norm is approximately 60%.

What do I have to do to become a racehorse breeder?
Just own a broodmare! There is no requirement to register as a breeder – your name will be recorded in the Stud Book as a breeder when your first returns go in.

Can you tell me what my horse is worth?
Thoroughbred Breeders NSW is not a valuer of racehorses and does not get involved as such. There are several very knowledgeable valuers in the industry, including bloodstock agents and auctioneers, who will provide you with a valuation on your horse at an agreed fee.
In the end, your horse is worth what another party will pay for it, either in a private sale or through a public auction ring.

Can you give me the sales results from……….sale?
You should contact the relevant auctioneers for the results of a particular sale. TBNSW produces a yearly list of overall sales statistics which you will find on our statistics page. You will also find there a breakdown of sire statistics from the major NSW sales each year.

How much will it cost to agist my horse?
Reproduced below is the chart of average Agistment Rates in NSW for the 2006/2007 year as produced by this association from its annual survey:

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