The Australasian Racing Ministers' Conference on Friday unanimously moved to ban the cloning of racehorses and greyhounds, as recently proposed by a commercial firm, Clone International.Clone International had said it would employ the same technology used in cloning sheep and other livestock to replicate Gammalite, a former Standardbred racing champion.

The racing ministers discussed the implications of cloning at some length, and apart from expressing doubts as to the effectiveness of the current technology, said they had no hesitation in banning the process as being totally contrary to the aims and heritage of the sport of racing. Whereas cloning could have an application in some aspects of agriculture, the purpose of racing Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and greyhounds is to promote individual excellence.

It was acknowledged that fans and participants enjoyed the vagaries of racing and the emergence of an undisputed champion—the individual of extraordinary excellence that set him or her apart from all others and ensured that their deeds became part of the lore and heritage of racing.

Clone International indicated that it was disappointed with the decision.—Delamere Usher