Thoroughbred Horses

The Australian Thoroughbred breeding industry contributes more than $1.68 billion to the national economy each year and is the second largest in the world. The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program invests in high-impact research, development and extension (RD&E) to improve the sustainability, productivity and global competitiveness of the Australian Thoroughbred industry.

Thoroughbred horse at an Australian racing facility, reflecting the Thoroughbred horse industry and its breeding and training environment.

Explore popular thoroughbred horses content

About the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program

Thoroughbred Horses RD&E Plans

Horse Welfare Initiative

Thoroughbred Horse webinar series

Industry Blueprint

Latest news and events

Thoroughbred Horses

Applications open for 2026 Les Young Scholarship

Applications opened on Thursday, March 26, for the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program’s 2026 Les Young Scholarship; an opportunity for one young industry participant to travel to the United Kingdom and complete a tailored education program at The National Stud in Newmarket. The scholarship covers travel and accommodation costs for the recipient, who will partake in theory and practical coursework across all sectors of the Stud. They will complete a course in stud and bloodstock management, where the content will be tailored to the student’s experience and career goals.

8 min read

Article tag icon for Applications open for the 2026 Les Young Scholarship – an international opportunity for emerging Thoroughbred professionals

THOROUGHBRED HORSES / 31.03.26

Applications open for the 2026 Les Young Scholarship – an international opportunity for emerging Thoroughbred professionals 

Continuing Les Young’s legacy of mentoring the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry’s next generation, the Les Young Scholarship builds skills through international study and hands-on experience.

2 min read

Jonathan D'Arcy - Thoroughbred Horses Panel Chair

THOROUGHBRED HORSES / 27.03.26

Jonathan D’Arcy Appointed Chair of AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program Advisory Panel

AgriFutures Australia has appointed Jonathan D’Arcy as Chair of the Thoroughbred Horses Program Advisory Panel, bringing more than 45 years of experience across the Australian Thoroughbred industry to the role.

3 min read

Thoroughbred horses program mares and foals, woman in paddock caring for horses

THOROUGHBRED HORSES / 13.03.26

Industry’s unsung heroes recognised as ATIEA shortlist revealed

The shortlist has been announced for the 2026 Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (ATIEA), recognising the outstanding people who work across Australia’s thoroughbred breeding and racing sectors.

4 min read

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About the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program

The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program invests in targeted research, development and extension (RD&E) to strengthen the sustainability, productivity and global competitiveness of the Australian thoroughbred industry.

The program supports high-impact projects across four key priority areas:

Thoroughbred horse welfare, workforce safety and environmental sustainability
Thoroughbred breeding
Workforce, industry and community engagement
Thoroughbred diseases and parasites

Guided by the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program Strategic RD&E Plan, research priorities are carefully identified and balanced to deliver outcomes that enhance industry productivity, profitability and long-term sustainability.

Download the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program Strategic RD&E Plan 2022-2027

About your levy

The Australian thoroughbred horse industry operates under a statutory levy of $10 per mare return and $10 per stallion cover, paid by the breeder who lodges a mare return or stallion declaration of service with Racing Australia. Levy funds are allocated to research, development and extension (RD&E) projects that support the long-term growth and sustainability of the industry.

Levies are collected under the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Acts and can fund biosecurity, residue testing, marketing, and RD&E. For thoroughbred horses, AgriFutures Australia invests the RD&E levy in line with the industry’s Strategic Plan and receives Commonwealth matching funding (up to 50c per dollar of eligible expenditure), along with third-party contributions.

Find out more about your levy
Learn more about how AgriFutures Australia is funded
View the Thoroughbred Horses Annual Report summary

Collaboration

Continued investment in thoroughbred horses research is essential to building an efficient breeding system and enhancing the global competitiveness of the Australian thoroughbred industry.

The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program works closely with breeders, industry associations and the Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel to identify research priorities and direct program investments where they will deliver the greatest impact. This collaborative approach supports sustainable horse breeding, stronger industry performance, and long-term growth for the sector.

Learn about the Agrifutures Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel
Visit Thoroughbred Breeders Australia

AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program FAQ's

The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program invests in research, development and extension (RD&E) to improve the sustainability, productivity and competitiveness of the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry. The program supports innovation in breeding, welfare, biosecurity, industry sustainability, workforce development, and disease management to ensure the industry remains globally competitive.

The Thoroughbred Horses RD&E Plan (2022–2027) identifies four key priorities:

Thoroughbred horse welfare, workforce safety and environmental sustainability: improving horse and human safety, welfare and environmental sustainability workforce wellbeing.
Workforce, industry and community engagement: understanding the economic contribution of the industry, developing training opportunities and sharing knowledge through extension activities.
Thoroughbred breeding: improving breeding outcomes and foal health.
Thoroughbred diseases and parasites: reducing the impact of infectious diseases and parasites.

Read the full Thoroughbred Horses RD&E Plan
See the Thoroughbred Horses Industry Blueprint

Welfare underpins the industry’s social license and long-term sustainability. Improving the welfare of horses and the safety of those who work with them is one of four strategic priorities, alongside breeding efficiency, biosecurity, and sustainability. The program invests in research and best practice guidelines that support equine wellbeing across the horse’s life, from breeding and training to rehoming, while also enhancing workforce safety and community trust. This commitment ensures the industry remains responsive to public expectations and capable of attracting and retaining skilled workers.

The program is funded through a statutory R&D levy of \$10 per mare covered and \$10 per mare returned, paid by stallion and broodmare owners. For every dollar of eligible expenditure from the industry levy, AgriFutures commits to securing 50 cents in Commonwealth funding, effectively doubling the investment in research and development. This is supplemented by third-party industry contributions.

Learn more about your Thoroughbred Horses LevyLearn more: About Your Thoroughbred Horses Levy.

Current projects include:

Understanding mid-term pregnancy loss in mares.
Evaluation of a prototype vaccine for rattles disease in foals.
Training opportunities for young industry members through the Les Young Scholarship.
Development of a national strategy for retired thoroughbreds.

See all Thoroughbred Horses research projects

The Australian thoroughbred breeding industry contributes \$1.68 billion annually to the national economy and supports over 9,000 full-time equivalent jobs, primarily in rural and regional areas.

Subscribe for Thoroughbred Horses Program updates.
Access resources like the Industry Blueprint and RD&E Plan.
Listen to AgriFutures’ podcast Unearthed: The people changing Australian agriculture.
Participate in webinars, workshops and industry events.

Contact

If you’re passionate about thoroughbred horse research or thoroughbred breeding in Australia, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a thoroughbred breeder, researcher, or interested in being involved in the Australian thoroughbred industry, reach out to the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program.

For project-related inquiries:

Caitlin Smith
Manager, Levied & Emerging Industries – Thoroughbred Horses Program

0407 987 738

Mia Lorber-Hughes
Coordinator, Levied & Emerging Industries – Thoroughbred Horses Program

0437 811 347

For industry and strategic issues and inquiries:

Amanda Olthof
Senior Manager, Levied & Emerging Industries – Thoroughbred Horses Program

0499 384 037

Funding opportunities

Thoroughbred Horses

Environment and sustainability

National trends

Productivity

Explore popular thoroughbred horses content

About the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program

Thoroughbred Horses RD&E Plans

Horse Welfare Initiative

Thoroughbred Horse webinar series

Industry Blueprint

Latest news and events

Applications open for 2026 Les Young Scholarship

Applications open for the 2026 Les Young Scholarship – an international opportunity for emerging Thoroughbred professionals

Jonathan D’Arcy Appointed Chair of AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program Advisory Panel

Industry’s unsung heroes recognised as ATIEA shortlist revealed

Download thoroughbred horses resources

Project Snapshot: Genomic insights into multi-drug resistant Salmonella in Australian Thoroughbreds

Pocket guide: Winning against worms - An industry guide to best practice internal parasite management in Australian Thoroughbred horses

Pocket guide: Best practice internal parasite management in Australian Thoroughbred horses - A veterinarian’s guide

Using Behavioural Science to Enhance Extension and Adoption Outcomes in the Thoroughbred Horse Industry

Snapshot: Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses

Project overview: A strategy to increase demand for retired Thoroughbreds in Australia

Project overview: AMR equine modules and supporting materials

Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia

Yearling X-ray lesions and the effect on longterm performance in Thoroughbred horses

Project snapshot: Epidemiological and bacterial analyses of Salmonella infection in the Australian Thoroughbred horse breeding industry

Epidemiological and bacterial analyses of Salmonella infection in the Australian Thoroughbred horse breeding industry

Project snapshot: Economic impact of the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry

Learn about thoroughbred horses projects

AgriFutures Australia: Thoroughbred Breeding Industry Workforce Strategy

Understanding a Recessive Embryo-Lethal Genotype in Australian Thoroughbred Horses

Genomic Insights into Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella in Australian thoroughbreds

The detection of AICAR administration in racehorses

Using Behavioural Science to Enhance Extension and Adoption Outcomes for the Australian Thoroughbred Industry

A strategy to increase demand for retired Thoroughbreds in Australia

Phase 3 of Case Control Study of Mid-late Term Pregnancy Loss in Thoroughbred Mares

AMR Equine Modules and supporting materials

Yearling Xray lesions, and the effect on long term performance in thoroughbred horses.

The Equine Fetal Membranes. What is normal?

Develop Learning Modules for TBA Learning

Early pregnancy in the mare: mechanisms of immune recognition and novel assays for pregnancy testing

Thoroughbred Horses Program RD&E 2024 Snapshot

Update of the Economic Impact of the Thoroughbred breeding industry on the Australian Economy

Preparing the thoroughbred industry for operations during a possible Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Australia.

Validation and kit development of LAMP test for C. psittaci and EHV1

Evaluation of a prototype vaccine for rattles in foals

Development of Communications Plan & Budget

Identification of Exotic and Emergency Animal Disease risks and minimisation strategies to Australian thoroughbred breeding industry

Understanding next steps for sustainable gastrointestinal worm control in thoroughbred horses

Extension material for AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program

Improving Fertility in Older Mares: Can the Effects of Aging be Reversed?

Endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract at Australian Thoroughbred yearling sales: Can we do better?

Rapid diagnosis of strangles to improve horse health

Epidemiological and bacteriological analyses of Salmonella infection in the Australian Thoroughbred horse breeding industry

Reducing the Effects of Heat Stress and Ageing on Sperm DNA damage in Thoroughbred Stallions

Governance Training for WA Thoroughbred Stakeholder Bodies

Online Training Portal To Improve Animal Welfare Via Upskilling Existing And Prospective Breeding Farm Staff With A Focus On Early Career Workers

SCAHLS validation of Hendra Virus (inc. variant) POC test

'Equility' - Assessing Stallion Fertility in the Field: Extension and Adoption Activities

Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses

Phase Two - Post-mortem of pregnancy loss in thoroughbred horses

AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program Webinar Series

Strategic Planning & Writing for the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program RD&E Plan 2022-23 to 2027-28

Thoroughbred horses stakeholder mapping and communications preferences

Investigation of what radiographic lesions in thoroughbred yearlings are significant in limiting future racing performance

Economic Impact Assessment of Thoroughbred Horse and Ginger programs

Sesamoid bone adaptation and repair in Thoroughbred race horses in training

Evaluation of equine endometrium using Confocal Laser endomicroscopy

Effects of faecal microbiota transplant therapy on infectious diarrhoea in foals

Can iso-PGs indicate the need for surgery and predict survival in colic horses?

Detecting the silent carrier: can we eradicate strangles from endemic premises?

Diagnostic imaging to reduce Thoroughbred racing fatality

Bacteriophage and R. equi pneumonia risk.

The Thoroughbred Welfare Initiative

Rapid point of care diagnosis of equine Hendra Virus using LAMP technology

The pathology and epidemiology of equine pregnancy loss

Science fact not fiction: Detecting gene edited racehorses

Developing a novel diagnostic test for early pregnancy in the mare

A Novel Device for the On-farm Assessment of Stallion Sperm Fertility

Applications open for the 2026 Les Young Scholarship – an international opportunity for emerging Thoroughbred professionals 