Champion horse trainer Chris Waller says the Australian racing sector will lose its social licence to operate if it does not find an industry-wide solution to allegations that former race horses are being mistreated and slaughtered when their careers are over.

Mr Waller, who trained champion mare Winx and will have two strong chances in Saturday’s Cox Plate, said allegations of mistreatment, aired in a confronting report on ABC television’s 7.30 program, should be a turning point for the sector.