Racing Australia Equine Genetics Research Centre Officially Opened

Media Release
23 April 2018
Racing Australia Equine Genetics Research Centre Officially Opened
The Racing Australia Equine Genetics Research Centre (EGRC) was officially opened on Monday 23 April 2018 by Russell Balding AO Deputy Chair Racing Australia & John Messara AM former Chair Racing Australia.

Russell Balding AO Deputy Chair Racing Australia & John Messara AM former Chair Racing Australia
(Photo courtesy of Rod Thompson of The Scone Advocate)

Located within the Hunter Valley Equine Research Complex in Scone, Racing Australia now has a permanent presence in the heart of Australia’s leading Thoroughbred and Equine Breeding region. “Through the establishment of this Genetics Research Centre here at Scone, Racing Australia is proud to be returning to regional Australia some of the support it has always given the Australian Thoroughbred industry”. said Russell Balding AO.

The Centre will undertake DNA typing of all Thoroughbred foals to confirm parentage and establish a unique pedigree that is accessible throughout its life. It will also provide services to 30 other horse breed societies across Australia. An estimated 20,000 tests will be analysed at the Centre each year.

The gathering of over fifty guests from politics and the breeding industry were introduced to the EGRC team and toured the facility.

The EGRC team combines experts in equine genetics research, technical scientific and diagnostic skills with a love for horses of all shapes, sizes and colours.

Dr Natasha Hamilton EGRC Director, Dominique Dolgener EGRC Manager, Taelor Mackenzie and Emalyn Batley EGRC Laboratory Technical Officers
(Photo courtesy of Rod Thompson of The Scone Advocate)

With an equine geneticist on staff, Racing Australia will now be able to keep up with the latest cutting-edge developments in horse genetics.

This Centre will also ensure Racing Australia also has the capability to perform its own research into genetic diseases in horses—of all breeds—and offer the findings to others working to improve equine health.

In 2017 Racing Australia participated in the International Horse STR DNA Typing Comparison Test and achieved rank 1 with 100% genotyping accuracy. Rank 1 is necessary to allow parentage verification of Thoroughbreds for the International Stud Book Committee.

More information on the Racing Australia Equine Genetics Research Centre can be found at https://equinegeneticsresearchcentre.horse/