Trainer and Owner Reforms

Lauren Abbott has tasted success with hundreds of race wins as both a jockey and a trainer but now she is in line for an accolade of a different sort. Abbott is one of two finalists for the Queensland Off-The-Track Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award at this year’s Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards. The 45-year-old juggles training around half a dozen horses for racing, along with retraining 12 former racehorses, as part of her role as a QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer. Abbott said the nomination came as a bit of a shock after she only recently joined the QOTT Program to make her retraining endeavours official. “I was actually pretty humbled and I was surprised actually, because I’ve only been a QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer since May last year,” Abbott said. “It was great to be nominated - my friend (jockey) Georgie Cartwright actually nominated me and it was great to make the final two. “I’ve been in the industry since I was a teenager as a jockey but doing the off-the-track retraining officially…it’s been less than 12 months since I began in the program.” Abbott had a strong equestrian background as a teenager before starting her jockey apprenticeship as an 18-year-old. She rode over 300 winners throughout Victoria and Queensland in the saddle, before retiring from race riding in 2011. Abbott switched to helping run then-husband Brad Herne’s stable at Eagle Farm before deciding to set up her own operation in 2018. While racing on the track kept her extremely busy, she has always found the time to retrain retired racehorses off it. Rather than sending her horses off to be retrained elsewhere, Abbott decided she would take on the retired thoroughbreds herself. “In May last year, I had two beautiful horses retire…they just got to the stage where they weren't competitive, and I couldn't find anyone to take them,” Abbott said. “I used to just have my stables at Hendra which was a bit hard to do any retraining at, but my partner and I moved to Logan Village to acreage and I thought, I will do it myself. “Trainers started ringing me because I'm familiar to them, and it really has got to the stage now where you know at least one trainer a week will ring me and want me to take their horse. “So it’s just sort of snowballed from there and now I've never been busier!” Abbott has retrained several of top Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida’s horses, with Boomster and Magic Conqueror coming on board after their recent retirements, and Grandma’s Love rehomed last year. Trevino, a gelding who was previously under the care of Chris Meagher, has also enjoyed success in dressage under Abbott's tutelage. The retrainer said she will often send the trainers photos of former racehorses as they adapt to their post-racing lives, something the conditioners get great satisfaction out of. “Kelly is quite funny - he doesn't say much when I send him a photo, but then I might go to the races or trials the next week and his staff will all tell me about how Kelly showed everyone the photos and how he's quite proud of how his horses are going,” Abbott said. “The Meagher family as well - they've won races all over the world and get much larger thrills than having an off-the-track horse, but I sent Chris a couple of videos and a photo of Trevino after he won a dressage competition. “The absolute delight in Chris' voice, it still makes me laugh that he was just so happy to see how well one of his horses was going. “I think that's what I love the most - trainers get a bad rap for thinking that we are just heartless, and we don't really care about the horses, and once they finish racing, we just want to see them gone. “A lot of the time, it's more so just logistics and it's not that the trainer wants to just hurry up and get rid of them, they need the box to bring the other horses in. “I laugh about the thrill that the trainers actually get out of seeing these horses going on and competing and doing other things.” Abbott credits the QOTT Subsidised Lessons Program coaches Gary Lung and Rebel Morrow for helping hone her craft. Having enjoyed a 16-year career in the saddle, it is also that experience as a hoop that Abbott believes has helped her retraining. “As I started when I was 18, there's not much that they could do that would surprise me and as a jockey, we don't get a list of what the horse does or doesn't do before we get on them in the mounting yard - we just get on and we go,” Abbott said. “I guess I have that sort of approach - once they get here, I just go and work it out from there. “You just know how they behave and I'm a bit casual and a bit relaxed with them, and it makes them a bit casual and relaxed. “I have been riding them forever so there’s nothing that they do that would shock me.” With almost 20 horses in total that are at different stages of their racing career or post-racing life, Abbott admits it can be tough to juggle the dual roles. She has already thought ahead to wrapping up in the race conditioning and concentrating on full-time retraining. “I've got a couple of young racehorses here, but I've got a few that are in their last preparations now so I'm definitely scaling down my training,” Abbott said. “I've got a lot more off-the-track horses, and I feel like I'm providing trainers with a good service. “I try not to say no and I try to be the port of call for the trainers, so that they don't have to stress about what's going to happen to their horse. “But it is tough because there's only one of me and trying to fit them all in, it is a bit of a challenge. Abbott is also keen to encourage more people with an on-track background to become involved in post-racing endeavours. “I think racing people are probably a little bit more like me, where I'm a little bit unorthodox with my approach,” Abbott said. “I might have a horse for a couple of weeks, and I'm quite happy to take them to a competition straight away. “I really think education is the most priceless thing we can give them - the more educated we can make them when they leave here, they more chance they are of having a happy, healthy life. “I think if we had more racing people taking on retraining, it would help the industry a lot.” The winners of the 2025 Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards will be announced on the Gold Coast on Monday, May 26. Click here to see the full list of finalists.

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The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry, the second largest in the world, delivered a solid economic performance in 2022 – 23, contributing $1.68 billion to the national economy and supporting 9,268 full-time equivalent jobs, according to new independent research released today by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and AgriFutures Australia. The report, released to coincide with the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date snapshot of the industry’s impact – equipping breeders and state-based associations with critical data to support long-term planning, funding applications and policy engagement. Conducted by economic consultants IER and commissioned by the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program, the study reveals the industry has grown by 45% since 2016-17, underscoring its vital contribution to regional economies, job creation and community life. Speaking ahead of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, President of TBA, Basil Nolan (Snr), said the figures provide compelling evidence of the industry’s strength and increasing importance to Australia’s rural economy. “These results confirm what many of us in the industry already know – thoroughbred breeding is not just thriving, it’s a major economic engine for regional Australia,” Mr Nolan said. “We contribute more than $1.6 billion to the economy, support thousands of jobs, and sustain local communities across the country. This industry is built on passion but powered by people, investment, and long-term vision. “This research gives us the facts we need to advocate confidently – for funding, infrastructure, and recognition of the vital role breeding plays in Australia’s racing ecosystem and rural prosperity.” Key highlights from the 2022 – 23 season include: 510 active stallions and 12,585 foals registered from 19,454 broodmares 6,130 individuals involved in breeding or owning broodmares or foals 16,711 employees and 10,603 volunteers supporting the industry nationwide $1.43 billion in direct industry spending 1,410 thoroughbreds exported, reflecting Australia’s influence in global bloodstock markets 62% of economic activity concentrated in New South Wales. General Manager of Levied & Emerging Industries at AgriFutures Australia, Samantha Beresford, said the report provides critical insights to shape the future of both the industry and regional Australia. “This data doesn’t just reflect past performance – it’s a launchpad for the next chapter of growth in Australian thoroughbred breeding,” Ms Beresford said. “The thoroughbred breeding industry uniquely combines economic firepower, community connection, and rural jobs. It sustains thousands of livelihoods, develops career pathways, and brings global attention to our regions.” “With credible, high value data, both industry and government are empowered to make informed decisions that support long-term investment, workforce development, and stronger, more resilient regional economies.” The report also highlights the industry’s strong community value. Thoroughbred breeding drives volunteerism, fosters multigenerational involvement, and provides education and training opportunities across Australia. Notably, more than 40% of breeders have increased their involvement in thoroughbred breeding over the past three years, and over half intend to maintain or grow their roles in the years ahead. To explore the full findings and gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s economic and community impact, stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to read the full report and snapshot , available on the AgriFutures Australia website.

Most people will seek advice from trainers or owners when bringing a retired racehorse into their care.  But for Tamara Janus, it was a conversation with a horse transport truck driver that convinced her she had picked up a good one. Tamara signed on to be a Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer earlier this year, having already been involved in the QOTT Program as an Approved Coach. The latest addition to her Upper Caboolture property has come in the form of retired racehorse Wairere Falls. The thoroughbred was trained by Chris Waller and raced at Flemington, Rosehill, Eagle Farm and Doomben over an almost five-year career that netted close to $600,000 in prizemoney. The gelding recorded six wins and 19 placings from 65 starts, having his last race at Eagle Farm on December 28 last year. Tamara said a conversation with Grandview Park Stud had led her to pick up Wairere Falls, but it was when the eight-year-old arrived at her property in mid-February that she knew she had made the right selection. “It’s always the same truck driver from Sydney Horse Transport - I think it’s the third or fourth horse I’ve had through Chris Waller, and every time, this truck driver has always got a little tidbit for me,” Tamara said. “He was two hours late arriving, so I thought ‘oh gosh he’s going to tell me that the horse is terrible at loading,’ or that he’s got all these problems. “I said, ‘oh apparently he’s pretty quiet?’ and the driver said, ‘quiet? This is the quietest thoroughbred I’ve ever met!’ “He told me even the 75-year-old lady who helps at Chris’ stables every morning and brought him to the truck said, ‘this thing’s just a real pet, you’re going to love him.’ “It’s always nice to hear that sort of information from people that do see them, especially the guy that transports them to and from the track quite often - he’s got a little bit more insight and I think he likes to have a chat!” Wairere Falls, who is called “Saint” around the property, has taken to his new life like a duck to water. Tamara said he had made the transition from the track to trail riding with ease. “Most of the country racehorses that I’ve taken out on trails are a little bit more used to it coming from the bush but for a horse that’s raced on mostly city tracks, he’s just going ‘oh this is great’ – he was looking through the trees and bush, and he was loving it,” Tamara said. “He’s great through all his obstacles, he is really good on his flat work, just super willing, and probably the most sensible off-the-track city horse I’ve taken out to a trail. “It’s still only early days, but the plan is to get him out to the local club that does competitive trail rides, and the local dressage club too.” Kicking off her riding career at Pony Club at just three years of age, Tamara achieved dressage success as a teenager and turned her focus to natural horsemanship, where she developed a passion for breaking in young horses and retraining older horses. Her love of training horses then turned into a full-time business 12 years ago, when she started TJ Equine. She has also competed in the Australian Brumby Challenge at Equitana, Coonamble Colt Start, Winton to Longreach Endurance Ride and Race to Ranch at Cowgirls Gathering, and competes regularly in dressage, agricultural shows, competitive trail rides, working equitation and team penning. In that time, she has retrained around 20-30 off-the-track horses for clients, but these days focuses on only having around one or two horses in her care at any single time. The 35-year-old explains how she decided to step back slightly from her busy workload, before signing up for the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program. “A couple of years ago I went, I can’t do training and coaching and everything because I was just stretching myself too thin - I’ve got two young kids as well and thought I’m just going to really focus on the coaching side,” Tamara said. “As much as I love it, I just got the itch to do a bit of training again, and I didn’t want the constraints of having clients horses in and not being able to go anywhere. “So with the QOTT Program, I’m able to pick a horse, do a little bit with it, help it along its journey, and I’ve always had a thing for the off-the-track horses.” Since commencing as a retrainer, Tamara has taken on five retired thoroughbreds to retrain and rehome under the QOTT Program. She is also looking to retrain standardbreds as well while working as part of the program. “When a lot of people look for a horse, they don’t want a thoroughbred or a standardbred, but I think once they meet one, they change their opinion of it,” Tamara said. “They have such great work ethics coming from the racing industry - they have had a job and a career…they tend to be willing to go towards another vocation. “When they first come in, they don’t show a lot of personality but after one or two months, they’re like ‘this is who I am’ and we go from there. “I think it’s very rewarding and it gives me a bit of purpose because I do like giving back - it’s nice to do something to help horses along the way so they’ve got a future no matter where they go.”

Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association would like to show our support to the embattled farming families and communities throughout Western Queensland who have been affected by the recent devastating floods. As farmers ourselves, we know the devastating impact this will have on the livelihoods of so many people for many years to come, because even after the initial cleanup, there is the rebuilding of property, livestock and crops. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this disaster, we hope our donation to Rural Aid helps in some way. We would also like to encourage our members to donate either financially, or through fodder, horse rugs and equipment. The TBQA is supporting Rural Aid and you can find more information about them here https://www.ruralaid.org.au/ but there are many other worthwhile organisations that are seeking donations. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Each thoroughbred breeding region has unique characteristics, so it is crucial to have accurate information specific to each state. Information acquired from the Australian Stud Book indicates that pregnancy loss is highly variable across breeding regions. To address this pressing issue, it is essential to obtain state-specific information to assist breeders to reduce pregnancy losses. In determining how best to reduce pregnancy losses, it is important to understand the size of the problem, at what time of year losses occur, at what stage of the pregnancy most losses happen, the major causes of losses, and the influence of the environment on the mares. Work investigating pregnancy losses in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, completed in 2021 as part of AgriFutures Australia project The pathology and epidemiology of equine pregnancy loss (PRJ-011719), delivered interesting and unexpected results that breeders and their vets can use to plan how to reduce pregnancy losses. To improve the quality of the information collected, this project will continue the case-control study undertaken in that initial project and investigate Queensland studs as well as those in the Hunter Valley that participated in the earlier work. If you would like to participate in the study, that is being undertaken by Dr Joan Carrick, please contact her on joan@equinespecialistconsulting.com Find out more in the information brochure here

Calling individuals aged 18-25 passionate about a career in the thoroughbred industry. Applications are now open for the Les Young Scholarship, offering an opportunity to shape your career and undertake an international course at The National Stud in the UK. Learn more & apply here: The 2025 Les Young Scholarship | AgriFutures Australia

Applications close 12 noon (AEST) 14 April Passionate thoroughbred breeding industry professionals wanted: Applications now open for AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel Chair. AgriFutures Australia is seeking a suitably qualified industry representative to join the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel as Chair. This exciting opportunity is open to thoroughbred breeders, industry professionals, equine veterinarians and/or researchers who have an interest in contributing to the profitability and sustainability of the thoroughbred breeding industry. Learn more and apply here: Advisory Panel Recruitment | AgriFutures Australia

The Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association is very proud to unveil our new logo. This is the first time since the TBQA was established in 1949 that we have upgraded our branding. The logo was launched at the March Magic Millions Yearling Sale Welcome BBQ on Sunday, 23 March. This new look makes the TBQA easily identifiable and relatable. It's sleek, fresh and modern but we were very conscious of maintaining some of the tradition of the organisation and keeping the horse's head which was synonymous with our original logo, along with our maroon and gold colours - after all we are Queenslanders! Thank you to Ryan at Monocreative for working closely with the TBQA to create our new look.