Racehorses will be given passports and new owners will receive financial incentives under a raft of measures to be announced on Thursday aimed at tracking retired animals and keeping them out of knackeries.

In an Australian first the state government and Racing and Wagering WA will introduce a new retirement rule forcing the industry to "aim to rehome all healthy and behaviourally sound thoroughbreds and standardbreds".

The new changes were aimed at keeping retired racehorses out of the slaughterhouse. Credit:Phil Carrick

A licensing regime of horse breeders will also be developed and registered knackeries and abattoirs will face a crackdown.

The announcement comes after an October report on the ABC's 7.30 program that showed footage of racehorses being abused before being slaughtered at a Queensland abattoir. The shocking footage prompted protests at the Spring Racing Carnival.