Category: FAQ

Horse racing in Australia is more than a series sporting events; it is a deeply ingrained cultural phenomenon that has consistently enamoured the nation for over a century. The popularity of horse racing can be attributed to a fascinating mix of historical significance, economic impact, social engagement, and community involvement.

Historical Significance

Horse racing in Australia has a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. The first official race meeting was held in Hyde Park, Sydney, in 1810, organised by officers of Governor Macquarie’s visiting 73rd Regiment. This is the event that marked the beginning of a long and colourful tradition that has turned into an important part of Australian culture.

The early breeders of Australian bloodstock, such as Robert Campbell and John Macarthur, played integral roles in establishing the foundation of the industry. The importation of high-quality thoroughbreds from Europe and the United States further enriched the now-established local gene pool, leading to the development of champion racehorses like Phar Lap, Makybe Diva, and Winx, who have become legendary figures in Australian racing history.

The Economic Impact

The horse racing industry is a major economic driver in Australia, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year. It provides employment for thousands of people, including trainers, jockeys, stable staff, and veterinarians, while simultaneously supporting a large range of businesses, from breeding farms to racing venues, contributing greatly to both urban and rural economies.

The economic impact of horse racing is not limited to direct employment and revenue generation – the industry also contributes to tourism, with universally-beloved events like the Melbourne Cup attracting visitors from around the world. The Melbourne Cup Carnival alone provides an economic benefit of over $444 million to the state of Victoria, a prime example of the massive financial influence horse racing has on the local economy.

Social Aspects

Horse racing events are not simply about the races themselves; they are also about the fashion, the social gatherings, and the celebration of Australian heritage. Betting on this sport is almost as popular as wagering on games at sites like Lucky Creek casino and the wins are on par too.

Attending horse racing events is an extremely popular social activity, with tens of thousands of people enjoying the opportunity to dress up and socialise with friends and family. The Melbourne Cup, in particular, is known as “the race that stops a nation,” a nod to its cultural importance and widespread appeal.

The social aspects of horse racing also include a few ethical considerations; the industry regularly faces scrutiny regarding animal welfare, with concerns about the treatment of racehorses and the usage of whips during races. The concept of a “social licence to operate” has been discussed, putting emphasis on the industry to address these concerns and make the well-being of the horses a priority.

Community and Charity Involvement

The racing industry is actively involved in supporting local communities and charitable causes, and many racing clubs and organisations contribute to community health, animal welfare, and other social initiatives. One example would the Victorian Racing Club, which supports various charity partners and initiatives, such as the Australian Childhood Foundation and Racing Hearts, which offers retired racehorses a new lease on life through retraining and integration into equine-assisted therapy programs.

Organisations like the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses and Horse Rescue Australia work to rescue and rehabilitate horses that have been neglected or abused, a great example of the industry’s commitment to animal welfare and the community connected to it.

Iconic Races and Venues

Australia is home to some of the world’s most prestigious horse races, including the Melbourne Cup, the Cox Plate, and the Golden Slipper. These events attract large crowds and are broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide. Iconic venues like Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne and Royal Randwick in Sydney are renowned for their rich history and world-class facilities, a part of the attraction of horse racing in Australia.

The Melbourne Cup, held on the first Tuesday of November, is the most prestigious race in the country and possibly the world, and is celebrated as a public holiday in Victoria – it’s a true spectacle of fashion, entertainment, and high-stakes competition, and every year it draws international attention.

Innovations and Technology

Including all the above, the Australian racing world has adopted a number of innovations over the years, helping it to increase the enjoyment of the racing experience and improve the welfare of the horses. Advancements in veterinary care, training techniques, and racing equipment have contributed to the longevity and performance of racehorses.

Data analytics and modern training methods has helped in identifying and addressing potential health issues in horses, helping to promote their well-being in the sports that they take part in. The industry continues to invest in research and development to improve the standards of horse racing and maintain its popularity among fans.

Betting and Gambling

Gambling on horse races is a popular pastime in Australia, with billions of dollars wagered annually. The introduction of corporate bookmakers and online betting platforms has made it easier for people to place bets, and it has, in turn, contributed greatly to the overall growth of the industry. It continues to be a favourite for millions, and has spread beyond Australia, where online betting fans from the world over can put money down on their favourite horses during the Australian racing season.

A Thriving Industry Ahead

The popularity of horse racing in Australia is a testament to its historical roots, economic significance, social engagement, and community involvement. From the excitement of race day to the fashion and social gatherings, horse racing captures the spirit of the nation. The industry will undoubtedly continue to grow and will address the most prominent ethical considerations as it does, focussing on animal welfare to help maintain its popularity and cultural relevance.

Horse racing in Australia and its commitment to community involvement and animal welfare has solidified its place in the hearts of countless Australians and has guaranteed that horse racing remains a beloved and enduring part of the nation’s cultural fabric.

Obviously, the word ‘ticket’, in the sense of a piece of paper or cardboard that serves as evidence that the holder is entitled to a certain right, can apply to various items inside and outside the world of horse racing. Indeed, readers of a certain age may nostalgically recall the distinctive, brightly-coloured betting tickets that were handed out by bookmakers in the days before the on-course market became a shadow of its former self.

However, to a racehorse trainer, the word ‘ticket’ has a specific meaning, above and beyond anything to do with betting. A ‘ticket’ is, in fact, a request from a trainer for a horse to be granted special dispensation, by the starter, to be loaded into the starting stalls as late as possible and, preferably, last. Such requests are typically made for horses who are habitually problematic at the start but, once a trainer has picked up three tickets for the same horse, in the interests of safety, the horse must take, and pass, an official stalls test before it is allowed to run again.

A stalls test typically, but not always, takes place at a racecourse, half an hour or so before the first race of the day, and requires a horse to enter the starting stalls with the assistance of a maximum of five stalls handlers – one in front and no more than four behind – and remain there, calm and relaxed, for sixty seconds or more. Failure to do so means that the horse must take the test again, but cannot do so for two weeks; if it fails the test again, it cannot take another test, or race, for six months. A routine blood or urine sample is taken after a stalls test to ensure that the horse has not been adminstered any prohibited substances, such as sedatives, to allow it to pass the test.

It seems a long time ago, but in the mid 1990s Nick Mordin was very much a name of horse racing journalism, from research, data analysis, articles in leading publication to the author of popular racing books.

He first came to prominence when writing for Odds On magazine. To be fair, I can’t remember ever reading this publication, but loved his features in the Sporting Life’s Weekender – Systems. Mordin had a passion for horse racing, which saw him turn his back on an advertising career as a copywriter.

Some may remember Harry Findlay ‘having a go’ at Nick Mordin in the year Denman made waves in National Hunt racing and went on to win the Gold Cup. I’m pretty sure Findlay took offence with Mordin over some data about the chances of Denman – known as The Tank – about winning the Gold Cup. It may well have been an article written for the Sporting Life’s Weekender – Systems.  ‘There’s no such thing as bad publicity’ comes to mind.

Mordin shunned the limelight and it may well have been one of the reasons why he gradually slipped off the radar.

However, this didn’t stop him having four books, including the best seller Betting For A Living, which was published by Aesculus Press Limited in 1992. This book was very much in the style of the American publications which have always been light years ahead of the game, especially in the 90s. Even to this day, most horse racing publications are about the stories told by professional gamblers which rarely detail how they made their money. If they do broach the subject it is next to impossible to garner any real information.

Mordin’s books were written to help the average punter improve their lot with facts and insight to make their betting pay.

In fact, Mordin’s books covered all aspects of finding winners detailing all four corners of knowledge:

Betting For A Living, published by Aesculus Press Limited in 1992

The Winning Look, published by Aesculus Press Limited in 1994

Mordin On Time, published by Rowton Press in 1996 (later edition by Aesculus Press Limited)

Winning Without Thinking: A Guide To Horse Racing Betting System, published by Aesculus Press Limited in 2002

All books are still available on Amazon.

Each book detailed vital knowledge founded on research, data analysis and systems, how to objectively assess the look and behaviour of race horses and the importance of time and a rating system that actually works. All topped off by Winning Without Thinking (which I haven’t read.)

Mordin wasn’t simply trying to sell books but help punters achieve their goal of winning money if not becoming a professional gambler. As Mordin said he wanted his literature to be used as an academic course and subject in its own right and something appreciated for his outstanding dedication to the subject which was wholehearted.

He led the way in answering questions. Being a successful gambler is all about that endeavour.

In a world where people want to bet on anything and everything, for example on TonyBet, it perhaps should not be all that much of a surprise that there is usually an illegal alternative to anything legal.

Whilst the likes of illegal underground boxing might not come as much of a shock to people who have watched films like Fight Club, the same sort of attitude might not be the case when discussing illegal horse racing. Though it is a more common thing to come across in the United States of America, it is also something that happens in the UK – despite the fact there are nearly 50,000 legal races each year.

Whilst getting away with illegal horse racing in the US is understandable because of the vast size of the country, the same can’t be said for the United Kingdom. That means it is much less common in Britain, though it does still happen.

As you can imagine, there are all sorts of things that happen at such events, which is what makes them illegal. The idea of looking after the welfare of the horses is secondary, if not disregarded entirely, whilst any bets placed on such events are liable to be lost entirely from the unscrupulous people taking them.

What Are Illegal Horse Races?

There is a difference between a race that takes place outside the jurisdiction of the British Horseracing Authority, or the relevant authority in the country in question and one that is completely illegal.

In many ways, it is equitable to distinguish between flapping tracks and licensed ones in greyhound racing, alongside completely illegal ones. In that instance, licensed tracks have gained a license to operate from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, whilst flapping tracks have not done so and therefore operate without the oversight of the governing authority.

Meanwhile, Illegal greyhound races are those that take place ‘underground’, known only to a select few and with practices that are often harmful or dangerous to the participating greyhounds. Similarly, the world of illegal horse racing isn’t just one where the British Horseracing Authority hasn’t issued a license but is one where the people involved are taking part without any sense of oversight.

There is no duty of care to the horses or the jockeys, meaning it is essentially an experience in which anything goes. This is what makes it illegal and, as with similar greyhound racing, dangerous to all concerned.

Rancho El Centenario

For an example of the world of illegal horse racing, it is worth looking at a town of 800 people called Milner, located in the US state of Georgia. The racecourse is called Rancho El Centenario, flying the flag of Mexico and using armed guards to search the cars of any people who wish to head in to watch the racing. To be able to do so, they need to pay $100 a head, which gives them entry to the pecan farm on which the racing will take place. The people heading there know what to expect and it isn’t what they’d get at a licensed race track.

Journalists witnessed a trainer plunge a syringe into the neck of a horse, eliciting cheers from the nearby crowd when one of them asked for another for her. Though they denied that it contained performance-enhancing drugs, instead insisting that it was just designed to prevent the horse from having a stroke or a heart attack, evidence suggests otherwise. A journalist from the Washington Post picked up a similar syringe post-use and sent it to Industrial Laboratories, who said that it contained methamphetamine and methylphenidate.

This, of course, is just one example of such a track. There were 89 such locations at the time that the article was published. These unregulated ‘bush tracks’ are places where the trainers can do what they want to the horses. Animal abuse stands alongside doping as something that goes unchecked at such tracks. Even jockeys aren’t safe, as one jockey, who was kicked out of regulated racing for using shock devices, found out when he died at Rancho El Centenario. Whether you’re riding or being ridden, the risk of death is high at such a track