Racing Victoria’s Chief Vet Alleges Pressure To Clear High-Risk Horses

[Wandering Eyes]

by TTR AusNZ

The Herald Sun has reported that Racing Victoria's most senior veterinary officer, Dr Grace Forbes, has lodged a formal “Application for an order to stop bullying” with the Fair Work Commission, alleging she was “pressured and coerced” into clearing international horses considered at “high risk of catastrophic injury” to race.

According to the Herald Sun, Dr Forbes, Racing Victoria's general manager of veterinary services since 2014 – alleges that senior executives, including chief executive Aaron Morrison and integrity boss Jamie Stier, urged her to be “flexible” in her application of the state's veterinary safety protocols. In her submission, seen by the publication, she claims the repeated requests to be “flexible” amounted to a demand that she act unethically and at odds with her commitment to equine welfare.

“The repeated request of me to be flexible suggests that I should be unethical, which is at odds with my commitment to advocate for the horse,” Dr Forbes was quoted as saying.

It reports that Dr Forbes raised concerns that permitting high-risk horses to race could lead to serious or fatal injuries and that her stance caused tension with senior management. She alleges she was later removed from her role overseeing international veterinary assessments and took personal leave citing “psychological and emotional exhaustion.”

Dr Forbes also reportedly accused prominent international figures, including Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and Melbourne Cup-winning owner Nick Williams, of applying direct pressure to Racing Victoria leadership to “soften” veterinary standards to allow more leniency for overseas runners.

“I have no doubt that Mr Aidan O'Brien applied direct pressure to Racing Victoria leadership to soften the standards… to make the Veterinary Safety Protocols 'flexible', even if that meant risking catastrophic injury to horses,” Dr Forbes stated in her submission, according to the Herald Sun.

It reports that Racing Victoria “strongly refutes” the allegations, describing them as inaccurate and disparaging. A spokesperson for the governing body told the publication:

“Equine welfare is of the highest priority to Racing Victoria, which is why we've spent A$45 million on equine welfare programs, initiatives and resources since 2017… The protocols continue to set a global standard and we will not compromise these.”

The veterinary protocols were introduced in 2021 following the death of Anthony Van Dyck in the 2020 Melbourne Cup – the seventh fatality in eight years, six of which involved European-trained horses. The new measures include compulsory pre-travel and pre-race CT or PET scans for all international entrants.

Since those protocols came into effect, no fatalities have occurred during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The recent removal of Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup favourite Sir Delius – after scans indicated a “heightened risk of injury” – indicate that the rules continue to be applied without regard to a horse's profile or connections.

A Fair Work Commission hearing on Dr Forbes's application is expected to be held later this year.

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