The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards have reviewed the previous policy whereby horses were required to participate in the pre-race circle without assistance.
Effective 6 September 2022, horses may now be assisted by the Clerk of the Course or a Track Attendant prior to the score up or the start commencing. Stewards will commence to take action against a horse where such assistance continues after the score up or start commences or such assistance results in the starting process being delayed or interfered with.
The amended policy provision reads:
Horses may be assisted by the Clerk of the Course or a Track Attendant prior to the score up or the start commencing, however should improve forward to the Barrier unassisted. In circumstances where this does not occur, or Stewards deem such assistance to have interfered with or delayed the starting process, a horse may have at least a warning issued. This penalty may increase on each occasion the horse reoffends within 3 race starts to the horse being placed on its last chance in the draw and any further offending in the next 3 race starts resulting in the horse being placed outside of the draw.
For any further information regarding this change in policy please contact the HRV Stewards Department on (03) 8378 0222.