Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has adopted amendments to the Harness Racing Rules, to be effective as of 1 May 2024. To help you understand the key changes, we've put together a summary table of the rules.

 Section
 Heading
 Rule
 Rule Changes
 3. Meetings and Races
 Judging
 49(7)
 Amendment
 9. Drivers
 Offences – relating to dress – helmets
 159A(1)(a), (b)(i), (ii)
 Amendment
 9. Drivers
 Offences – relating to dress – helmets
 159A(1)(c)(i), (ii) to 159B(1)(b)(iii)
 Renumber and Amendment
 9. Drivers
 Offences – relating to dress – protective vests
 159B(1)(a), (b)(i), (ii)
 Amendment
 9. Drivers
 Offences – relating to dress – protective vests
 159B(1)(c) to 159B(1)(b)(iii)
 Renumber and Amendment
 9. Drivers
 Offences – relating to matters at the start and during the race
 162(1)(www)
 Amendment
 19. Artificial Breeding
 Techniques and Procedures
 281 to 281(1)
 Renumber
 19. Artificial Breeding
 Techniques and Procedures
 281(1)
 Amendment to preamble
 19. Artificial Breeding
 Techniques and Procedures
 281(2)
 New Rule

 

All persons covered by the AHRR must familiarise themselves with the full list of amendments which can be accessed here - visit HRA’s website.

HRV has amended the Victorian Local Rules to include additional Australian Harness Racing Rules as "Serious Offence" starting 1 May 2024. The below AHRRs have been added to the meaning of “Serious Offence”:

 Rule Number
 General description
 AHRR 15A(4)
 Obstructing, hindering, frustrating, impeding etc a Steward from exercising a power in AHRR 15A(1).
 AHRR 15B(2)
 Obstructing, hindering, frustrating, impeding etc a Steward from exercising a power in AHRR 15A(2).
 AHRR 173(4)
 Authorising, enabling, permitting or allowing another person to place a bet on a betting account of licensed person.
 AHRR 173(5)
 A driver or trainer placing or having an interest in a bet on any betting account other than an account registered in their own name.
 AHRR 189(9)
 Failing to comply with directions in relation to the taking or tests or examinations, or interfering with or preventing or endeavouring to interfere with or prevent the carrying out of a test or examination.
 AHRR 190AA(1) & (2)
 Administration of anabolic androgenic steroids.
 AHRR 190AB(1) & (2)
 Administration of unregistered bisphosphonate or zoledronic acid.
 AHRR 194A
 Sale, supply or distribution (or attempts of such) of any substance or preparation that has not been registered, labelled, prescribed or obtained in compliance with relevant State and Commonwealth legislation.
 AHRR 196B(1)
 Administer, attempt to administer or cause to be administered an injection to a horse within one clear day of the commencement of a race.
 AHRR 196D(1)
 Administer, attempt to administer or cause to be administered an intra-articular injection to a horse within eight clear days of the commencement of a race.
 AHRR 213A
 Using or having in possession or control any electric or electronic apparatus or device capable of administering an electric shock to a horse.
 AHRR 213B(1)
 Having in possession or control any device capable of administering shockwave therapy to a horse, or performing shockwave therapy on a horse.
 AHRR 221
 Threatening, coercing or improperly influencing anyone to refrain from nominating or starting a horse in a race.
 AHRR 222
 Threatening, coercing or improperly influencing anyone to withdraw a horse from a race.
 AHRR 235A
 Rules relating to trainers, persons employed by trainers, agents/managers, connections, laying certain horses.
 AHRR 235B
 Rules relating to trainers betting on another horse in a race in which he / she has a starter, or betting on a horse to finish ahead of a horse trained by that trainer in the race.
 AHRR 254A(1)
 A person withdrawing from a horse, manipulating and reinfusing into a horse homologous, heterologous or autologous blood products or cells.

 

Pursuant to section 50O of the Racing Act 1958 (Vic), if a person has been charged with a serious offence, the Victorian Racing Tribunal must hear and determine the serious offence.

If you have any questions regarding the rule amendments, please contact HRV’s Integrity Department at (03) 8378 0200.