The 22-page report, released by the club on Wednesday, is the next major step in the Thoroughbred Park-driven campaign to improve the livelihood of retired race horses, following the appointment of Chris Polglase as equine welfare officer earlier this year.

Its recommendations include a better recognised system for registering horses in the Territory, and the granting of inspector powers by the ACT Government to racing stewards and veterinarians for regular welfare checks on retired thoroughbreds.

Tightening laws around the 'gifting' of thoroughbreds as a way of transferring ownership, improving reporting of in-training injuries, and expanding the address databases of retired racehorses were also suggested as necessary courses of action in the report.

Canberra Racing Club officials have already met with members of the ACT Government, and the RSPCA, to discuss the findings of the report.

The release of the extensive review comes two years after the Greens asked the government to investigate the tracking of retired racehorses in Canberra, following an damning ABC investigation which aired in October, 2019.

MORE CANBERRA SPORT

"It's the most important issue facing racing as to where do the industry let go of these horses once they've completed their racing career," Polglase said.

"We've drawn a line in the sand where we do wish to follow these horses further, we feel an obligation to them.

"We've already got in place all the rules and policies we can to trace these horses to the first owner. We want powers to know where they are beyond that first owner, we want to follow them to the second, third, fourth fifth owner and we've made a commitment to all stages of life."

Relatively new Racing Australia legislation has increased the tracking process of a race horse from birth to retirement. Upon retirement, owners and trainers must record the horse's address, but should the animal be relocated to a second home, the chain is broken and traceability significantly diminishes.

In 2020, 136 Canberra-trained horses were retired. Of that group, 75 were listed as being used for equestrian/pleasure purposes, 38 were used for breeding, nine were euthanized, four were sold, three died of natural causes, and five were listed as other.

The remaining two entered an official retirement program. One per cent of all prizemoney at Thoroughbred Park is injected into the Racing NSW retirement program, which uses funds to buy land and re-home horses.

Australia wide, about 10 per cent of retired horses are euthanized each year. Racing NSW introduced a rule in 2017 stating retired horses are not allowed to be sent to the abattoir, and that they can only be euthanized on welfare or safety grounds when deemed necessary by a vet.

ACT Government legislation would be necessary to help the Canberra Racing Club implement the first two recommendations of the report.

Polglase wants racehorses to be registered with Access Canberra, and says introducing inspector powers, which has recently been done in South Australia, would allow for better tracking of retired thoroughbreds.

"They're seen merely as livestock, just as a number to Government," Polglase said.

"We don't see why they shouldn't be seen like a dog, or a cat, or a lizard, or any other animal that needs to be registered with government. If they're registered with government, we know precisely where they are at any given time.

"At the moment no state or territory has perfected that, so we see this as an opportunity for the ACT to be a leader, and use ourselves as a test case, not only know where they are but to then gain access to inspect them throughout their life, to make sure that at all times they're cared for.

"Thoroughbreds are big, powerful, strong animals, quite athletic, and if not cared for in the right setting they can fall away. We want to make sure we identify welfare issues before they become dire."