For Immediate Release
Newbury, December 17, 2019 – Equine MediRecord (EMR), recent winner of the Irish Midlands Best Startup in 2019, has partnered with the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) in the United Kingdom to bring about the highest standards of equine welfare in the world. ARO is the first equine organization in Europe and only the second in the world to mandate electronic veterinary records to be kept by their registered trainers for the horses in their care.
The global equine industry predominantly maintains their veterinary records on paper. However EMR’s revolutionary web and phone app has upgraded these traditional handwritten records to a digital mobile platform. This minimises common errors through spelling or the dangers of record books being damaged or lost, which may compromise the welfare of the horse.
Whitley Meadows Arabians Popsstar and Martin Dwyer winning at Dubai International Arabian Races at Newbury 2019
EMR solves many issues for all parties in the equine industry. Trainers can be certain they are compliant with the latest equine welfare regulations automatically, whilst veterinary surgeons can access a horse’s full medical history, ensuring they receive the best possible care. Moreover, regulators and administrators can be sent digital copies of records before races or during equine disease outbreaks.
The equine influenza outbreak in the UK in February this year saw the racing industry lose over £150 million as racing was postponed whilst inspections of yards and documents were taking place. Accurate record keeping is topical globally, with the formation of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition in the United States, made up of six of the US’s most prominent horse racing entities. They have united to seek a common, comprehensive and transparent set of standards and includes digital veterinary record keeping as an aim for the future.
The EMR system currently boasts some of the largest thoroughbred racing and breeding yards in the UK, Ireland and France, though their administrators still maintain a paper veterinary record system. ARO will be breaking new ground in becoming a world leader in biosecurity and equine welfare, as the first organisation to commit to having digital veterinary records for all their registered horses. All Arabian racehorses in the UK will now be placed on the EMR digital system that automates veterinary compliance to welfare regulation for the 2020 season.
Arabian racing began in the UK in 1978, as an amateur sport, racing primarily on Point-to-Point racecourses. ARO was formed in 1999 and Arabian racing switched to competing solely on thoroughbred racecourses, under the guidance of the British Horseracing Authority.
Certain restrictions were imposed, for example segregation from the thoroughbreds in the racecourse stables when competing on the same card and the use of the pre-parade ring saddling facilities on some racecourses. Though still holding amateur status in the UK, Arabian trainers have been competing successfully at the highest level globally for many years, in some cases dividing their time between the UK in the summer and the Gulf States in the winter. For example, when Dubai’s Meydan racecourse commenced racing in 2010, the winner of the opening race was No Risk Al Maury, trained by multiple ARO champion trainer Gillian Duffield, who was based in Newmarket.
Genny Haynes, ARO Commercial & Finance Director commented: “It became evident with the equine influenza outbreak and the BHA’s criteria for nasal swabs when Arabian horses raced on licensed tracks, that we needed to raise our standards of bio-security to a higher level. With this commitment to equine welfare and bio-security, and the opportunity to work with EMR, certain restrictions were relaxed for the first time in decades in the 2019 season. We are delighted to partner with EMR for 2020 when we will fully integrate our registered trainers into their system, which will demonstrate our commitment to the highest standards of welfare for our horses.”
Pierce Dargan, CEO Equine MediRecord, stated: “We are so happy that our system played a part in getting the restrictions dropped on Arabian horses, for the first time in decades, in the UK. We have been inspired by the commitment of those at the ARO and Arabian trainers in the UK who are committed to ensure the best possible care for their horses. We are proud to be helping them promote the sport of Arabian Racing in the UK and see them become a global leader to ensure the welfare of the horses under their care.”
For more information about Equine MediRecord, see: https://www.equinemedirecord.com/
Contact: Pierce Dargan
Chief Executive Officer
Equine MediRecord
[email protected]
Contact: Arabian Racing Organisation
[email protected]
About Equine MediRecord
Equine MediRecord (EMR) develops, sells and maintains the first software platform to be approved to replace the paper regulatory documentation that is required to be kept by horse farms to ensure equine welfare & anti-doping regulations are followed. The EMR platform has been approved by the relevant government departments and currently operates in Ireland, U.K. , France, Saudi Arabia and USA. EMR has amassed clients such as Arabian Racing Organisation, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA), Thoroughbred Owners of California, Breeders Cup World Championships, Maryland 5 Star, Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and 1S/T Racing for American Classic Preakness Stakes and Pegasus World Cup. EMR secured an 8 figure investment from Merit Holdings and joined their Business Infusions Group in 2022.
About The Arabian Racing Organisation
The Arabian Racing Organisation Ltd (“ARO”) is the sole Arabian Racing Authority in Britain, operating with the support and permission of the British Horseracing Authority (“BHA”), managing all elements of the integrity, fixture list and promotion of the sport. ARO was purchased by Arena Racing Company (“ARC”) in 2023.
The ARO team of Genny Haynes, Willie McFarland and Debbie Burt will continue to deliver the recently published 2023 fixture list, which will cover a programme of Arabian races across British racecourses.
As Britain’s largest racing group, ARC are long term supporters of ARO, hosting events at their numerous racecourses across the summer Arabian Racing season.
