Racing Victoria is about to begin an audit of licensed trainers to ascertain the status of horses listed in their care.

The audit is a part of RV's Equine Welfare Strategic Plan which it hopes will improve the data standards and place the industry in the best possible position for tracing retired horses.

Stewards have given trainers an amnesty from Monday until December 16 to get their stable returns up to date.

RV has contracted Racing Australia to contact all Victorian trainers to ensure their stable returns are current with an emphasis on horses that have not raced in the previous six months.

If a horse is no longer in a trainer's care, RA will endeavour to confirm the last known location or circumstance surrounding the horse.

An Australian rule of racing states the manager must notify RA of the retirement of a horse within one month of that decision being made and once lodged the horse is ineligible to race unless reinstated by a principal racing authority or stewards.

On the death of an unnamed horse, the manager has 48 hours to notify RA while the manager, or authorised agent of a named horse, has 24 hours to notify RA of a death and must not dispose of the horse without approval unless a veterinary certificate as to the cause of death is submitted.