Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association

Celebrate the stars of Queensland thoroughbred racing at the 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards. Held at The Star Event Centre in Brisbane, the industry’s premier awards event will recognise the outstanding achievements of the 2025/26 season, from metropolitan racing through to provincial and country tracks across the state. Join Racing Queensland as we honour the horses, trainers, jockeys, breeders, owners and industry participants who have helped shape another memorable year of thoroughbred racing in Queensland. With a showcase of excellence, achievement and contribution across the industry, the Queensland Thoroughbred Awards is a must-attend event for the racing community. Event details Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026 Time: 12:30pm – 5:30pm Venue: The Star Event Centre, Brisbane TBQA President, Basil Nolan will be officially inducted into the Queensland Hall of Fame and as a kind gesture, RQ is offering discounted tickets to TBQA members who would like to come and celebrate this special achievement. Code for discounts for TBQA members on single tickets is 25OFF for 25% discount. This doesn't apply to a table of 10 as they are already discounted. Tickets Here For event enquiries, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact Racing Queensland at awards@racingqueensland.com.au or call 07 3869 9777.

As our deliberations continue with the DPI regarding their proposed changes to Livestock Transport and its devastating impact on the Thoroughbred Breeding industry; the European Union has announced an exemption in their country - please read below: Progress Made On EU Transport Regulations "Progress has been made on EU animal transport regulations, the European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) announced on Friday. The initial drafts of the proposed Welfare in Transport Regulation had the potential to create significant challenges for the thoroughbred breeding sector, however the EFTBA was informed this week that revised wording has been incorporated into the draft legislation. The new wording is as follows: “Point 4a (Article 2, Chapter I, Annex I) provides an exemption for purebred breeding horses and donkeys (Equus caballus and Equus asinus) that are registered in the main section of a breeding book established by a breed society recognised under Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, provided they are not being transported for slaughter. “These breeding animals represent significant genetic and economic value. The high standard of transport arrangements typically applied to them, combined with close oversight from those responsible for their care, means welfare risks during transport are already minimised. For this reason, the transport of such animals, for purposes other than slaughter, is exempt from specific administrative and procedural requirements, namely mandatory stay periods at places of departure, journey logs, and journey time limits.” 

They have been giving people with a disability the opportunity to ride and enjoy all the activities connected with horse riding since 1996. Now, the Valley Riding for the Disabled at Tallebudgera has received its own boost as part of the Queensland Off-The-Track Grants Program. The centre recently acquitted a QOTT Therapy Horse Grant, which helps fund the costs associated with veterinary treatment, farrier and feed for retired racehorses that are used as therapy aids. One equine participant that has greatly benefited from the grant in particular has been ex-racehorse Maltese Lovable, who has been with the Valley RDA since 2008. Valley RDA president Cliff Hitch said the funding boost had been crucial in ensuring the former thoroughbred galloper continued to be a vital part of the program. “He’s 24 years old now and required a considerable amount of veterinary treatment,” Hitch said. “He’s beginning to show signs of needing a lot of care and attention, which thankfully we had the funds from QOTT to be able to do that. “He's used for challenged riders both physically and mentally on a regular basis, however because of his ongoing health issues, he's not being used as much this last 12 months as we would normally expect. “We've had a good run out of him really, and we are all very, very fond of him. “He's cost us money to look after, and of course he's not earned us much money, so having the grant was absolutely essential to ensure that we could look after him.” Valley RDA has four horses in total which assist around 20 clients in getting a feel of what it is like to ride a horse. One of those horses, standardbred Up The Andy, is also benefiting from the grant. “We've had Up The Andy for a good few years now, eight years I think we've had him,” Hitch said. “He's been a good horse, in the same way as Maltese Lovable, he's not cost us much to keep and run, and he's been a good, quiet horse. “Unfortunately, he's developed the propensity to spook with birds or any quick moving objects…so long term we'll look at rehoming him. “It’s absolutely imperative that we got a grant like that to enable us to support him and those ex-racehorses, and from a financial point of view, we can break even.” The Valley RDA employs four senior coaches and a volunteer coordinator to assist with the program. Volunteers are trained to be able to handle the horses, to know how to saddle, how to lead and how to protect riders who are vulnerable. They are continuing to go from strength to strength with plenty of success stories across the last 30 years. “We also vet our clients as they're not all suitable for riding and sitting on horses for various different reasons, one of them being weight, and we follow the national guidelines which involves age, size, weight, etc,” Hitch said. “Some riders are able to balance better than others, and it’s a constant calculation. “We have two things here: one, we have dedicated volunteers who just love to see the progress that the clients make. “It's amazing, clients come in fairly uncoordinated in many respects, and you see them over a period of time, even years, how they change and develop. “Some of our clients we've had for 10 years and we've seen them growing up, and so the value for all concerned - the parents, the carers, and for our volunteers – is just immeasurable.” Valley RDA runs six lessons across Fridays and Saturdays, with a maximum of 30 clients. Hitch said there was a possibility to expand the program if they found the right horses to suit the riders. “We're actually actively right now looking for two replacement horses and we're looking at Off-The-Track horses as well,” Hitch said. “But we can't have them that are too big - anything over 15 hands is a bit high for side walkers to deal with. “So we're trying to restrict that, it's not an easy ask, and they've got to be super quiet horses, of course.” RQ Senior Animal Care Manager Kim Duffy said the QOTT Grants Program continued to play a vital role in strengthening long-term aftercare pathways for retired racehorses across Queensland. “Supporting not-for-profit organisations such as Valley RDA is an important part of ensuring retired racehorses can continue to make a positive impact in the community,” Ms Duffy said. “Through the delivery of therapy and rehabilitation programs, these organisations not only provide significant community benefits, but also create meaningful and sustainable second-career opportunities for retired racehorses in their care. “Whether through therapy work, education programs or recreational riding, these grants help ensure retired racehorses can continue to lead active, purposeful lives, and the work these organisations do has lasting benefits for both people and horses alike.” The QOTT Grants Program complements the various post-racing initiatives introduced by RQ over the past five years to support racehorse aftercare in Queensland.  These include the Subsidised Lessons Program, Acknowledged Retrainers Program, Event Sponsorship Program, Nutrition Education Hub, Safety Net Partnership with Save A Horse Australia, Premium Event Partnerships, QOTT Education Program, QOTT Clubhouse, the New OTT Owner Welcome Pack and the On-site Humane Euthanasia Program – Equine.

Being acknowledged for your dedication to retraining retired gallopers is special enough, but for Alex Kelly, receiving congratulations from an industry legend in Bruce McAvaney was the true icing on the cake.  The Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer took home the Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award at last night’s Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (ATIEA) ceremony on the Gold Coast. Formerly known as the Stud and Stable Staff Awards, the ATIEA celebrate the people whose work sustains Australia’s world-leading thoroughbred industry. Kelly has been part of the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program since April 2024, and was quick to pay tribute to the team who help her juggle work and motherhood alongside her care of retired racehorses. “I was so excited, and it was just amazing watching all of the participants and nominees up there,” Kelly said. “It's not just a win for me either - it's a win for everybody who works with me and supports me, from my husband Jack to the feed man Glen, and our vets and farriers. “Every day Jack is doing something to make sure that I can put in the time, and in at the feed shop talking to Glen and asking him what I should do and where we're going here and what we're doing with this horse. “There's so many moving parts to this - I have more commitments than just the horses, and people have moved mountains to make sure that I could get there last night. “We even had the girls drive two and a half hours just to look after the baby for me for a couple of hours, just so we could go out and go to the awards night.” The night also included the presentation of the inaugural ATIEA Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary racing broadcaster Bruce McAvaney. Kelly said receiving recognition from the industry doyen had been the highlight of her extraordinary evening. “I got back to the table, and I said, 'Oh my gosh guys, Bruce McAvaney hugged me, I can't go and have a shower now,’” Kelly said with a laugh. “I've been watching him call the Melbourne Cup since I was very young. “That was so exciting just to be in the same room as him.” The QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer was not the only Queensland-based winner on the evening. Brett Killion, who runs master trainer Chris Waller’s Gold Coast satellite stable, took home the Dedication to Racing Award. Awards were also presented in the categories of Leadership, Dedication to Breeding, Administrative and Ancillary Services, Newcomer and Horsemanship. Kelly, who took home a $10,000 cash prize, said the gong had provided some extra motivation for future retraining plans. “The ATIEA is incredibly important - I think the horse industry in general, we don't do it a lot of the time to be showcased,” Kelly said. “To have that recognition, it lights a bit more of a fire in your belly too. “We have already been discussing what's next for us - how we can make this bigger and better, where are we improving, and how can we try and affect and help within that industry? “It also inspires those young people coming up through the ranks too.” The 30-year-old currently houses 13 horses on her 20-acre hobby farm at Widgee, just west of Gympie. Five of those horses are currently being retrained as part of the QOTT Program. Kelly said her biggest thrill as part of the program came from receiving updates on how retired thoroughbreds and standardbreds formerly in her care had progressed in their new lives. “We are able to make a positive change for these horses and set them up so that they can go and do anything,” Kelly said. “So to hear that they're being successful down the track is great, and it doesn't necessarily mean that it's competition success. “It's just that they're someone's best friend, and they are super valuable in that next life.” RQ Senior Animal Care Manager Kim Duffy said the Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award provided important recognition for individuals with an exceptional commitment to the care, retraining, and welfare of thoroughbreds beyond racing. “Alex embodies everything this award represents and is a wonderful example of the positive impact retrainers can have on the welfare and future of retired racehorses,” Ms Duffy said. “Her recognition on the national stage is incredibly well-deserved and reflects the dedication, patience and care she invests into every horse that comes through her retraining program. “Behind every successful transition are countless hours of hard work, consistency and passion, and Alex continually goes above and beyond to give her horses the best possible foundation for life after racing. “Alex’s success is a testament to the important role retrainers play in creating positive post-racing outcomes for retired racehorses, and we are incredibly proud to have her as part of Queensland’s Acknowledged Retrainer community.” Click here for more information on the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program.

One of the most important responsibilities we have as an industry is ensuring that Queensland breeding remains strong, sustainable and well-positioned for the future. With that in mind, the TBQA will hold a Special General Meeting at 10.30am on Tuesday, 25 August , in the Members Room at the Toowoomba Turf Club to discuss the future of Queensland breeding. The meeting follows concerns raised by industry stakeholders at our March AGM, along with the results of the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale, which highlighted a number of issues affecting breeders across the state. This meeting is open to everyone involved in the thoroughbred industry, not just TBQA members. I strongly encourage breeders, owners, vendors and industry participants to attend and have their say. The more voices we have in the room, the better informed our discussions and future planning will be. For catering purposes, please RSVP by Friday, 14 August to info@queenslandbreeders.com.au. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.