Racing NSW has made a major investment in horse welfare, buying a property in Capertee, to be used for retired racehorses with facilities for rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming.
The 2600 acre property includes state of the art equestrian facilities and is an incentive of the Racing NSW Equine Welfare Fund.
The property will also be used as a location for industry training for future participants and as a home for retired champions similar to Living Legends in Melbourne.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole welcomed the recent development and said the surrounding community, including local businesses, was set to benefit from the new equine facility.
“It’s a win for regional NSW and particularly the Central West, creating hundreds of jobs, both directly and indirectly,” he said.
Not only a massive step forward in the world of horse welfare, the move is also a boost for country racing.
Much attention will be on the new centre while there will be much more on offer than the horse care, with it also set to be a tourist location.
“This is a major investment, not only for the rehabilitation of racehorses which is a paramount objective of the board, but also as an investment for the future as a land bank that could have a multitude of uses for the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry in the future,” Racing NSW chairman Russell Balding said.
A nine-bedroom farmhouse on the site will be converted to a bed and breakfast establishment.
Eco-tourism activities such as trout fishing, four wheel driving, organic pick-your-own cooking and trail riding will be established at the property as part of the farm stay experience.
Racing NSW established the Equine Welfare Fund last year, funded by one per cent of all prize money paid in NSW, realising $2 million a year.
The purpose of the fund is to ensure that all NSW domiciled thoroughbred horses will be appropriately cared for outside of their racing careers.
Source: Nick Guthrie, Mudgee Guardian, 25 July 2017
Link: http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/4810452/captertee-elite-equine-welfare-centre-a-huge-step-forward-photos/?cs=1611#slide=1
