Harness Racing Australia (HRA) will bring in amendments to its rules from 1 April. To see how these changes for drivers, Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has summarised the amendments below.

 

Changes that affect drivers

  • False starts
  • Helmets
  • Protective vests
  • Interference at start

 

Part 7 of HRA Rules STARTING

False Start

• Amend Rule 141(3)

141. (3) The starter may declare a false start if the starter considers a horse’s prospects in the race are adversely affected by any incident that occurs immediately prior to or at the time of start.

Part 9 of HRA Rules DRIVERS

Offences – Relating to dress – Driver’s Attire

• New heading

• Repeal Rule 159(1), (2), (3)

• Add new Rule 159(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7)

159. (1) A driver shall dress for a race in the manner determined by the Controlling Body.

(2) A driver’s jacket shall be of approved material and colour and trousers shall be white and made of suitable material.

(3) A driver shall wear boots which may be black or dark tan and which entirely cover feet and ankles and afford reasonable protection.

(4) A driver’s attire shall be clean and tidy.

(5) Where the Stewards consider that the climatic conditions at a meeting warrant the wearing of gear other than or in addition to that mentioned in the foregoing sub-rules, such as the wearing of gumboots, they may direct or give permission for this to be done.

(6) The Stewards may confiscate any item of attire which they consider should not be worn by a driver in a race.

(7) A driver who fails to comply with any provision of this rule is guilty of an offence.

 

Offences – Relating to dress – Helmets

• New heading

• Repeal Rule 159A(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9)(a), (b), (10)

• Add new Rule 159A(1)(a), (b), (c)(i), (ii), (2), (3)(a), (b), (c), (4)(a), (b), (5), (6), (7)

159A. (1) When driving or riding a horse the driver must wear a properly affixed helmet the make and model of which has been approved by HRA and entered in the Register of Helmets and which:

(a) Is in a satisfactory condition.

(b) Has not been modified in any way save and except for any art or decorative work.

(c) Has attached to it a manufacturer’s label that states:-

(i) The date of manufacture; and

(ii) That it complies with a standard approved by HRA.

(2) Every driver is responsible for the care and condition of their own helmet.

(3) A helmet will be deemed not in a satisfactory condition and must be immediately replaced by a driver if:-

(a) Five years have expired since its date of purchase or acquisition as a brand new helmet or eight years have expired since its date of manufacture, whichever is earlier; or

(b) It sustains a severe impact; or

(c) The wearer suffers from concussion following a fall.

(4) Further to sub-rule (3)(a) a driver is required to:-

(a) Retain and maintain documentary evidence (such as a receipt) of the date on which the driver purchased or acquired a helmet in his or her possession; and

(b) Produce such evidence to a Controlling Body or the Stewards at any time required by either of them.

(5) The Stewards may at any time seize a helmet for inspection and may in their absolute discretion confiscate any helmet that does not comply with the requirements of this rule, including (without limitation) where the Stewards are of the opinion that a helmet is not in a satisfactory condition including as a result of general wear and tear or the manner in which it has been stored or maintained.

(6) When driving or mounted on a horse during darkness every driver must affix to his or helmet a safety warning light of a type approved by a Controlling Body or the Stewards (except that this rule does not apply to any location where the Stewards have ruled that sufficient artificial lighting exists).

(7) A driver who fails to comply with any provision of this rule is guilty of an offence.

 

Offences – Relating to dress – Protective Vests

• New heading

• New Rule 159B(1)(a), (b), (c), (2), (3), (4)

159B. (1) When driving or riding a horse the driver must wear a properly fastened protective vest the make and model of which has been approved by HRA and which:-

(a) Is in a satisfactory condition.

(b) Has not been modified in any way.

(c) Has attached to it a manufacturers label that states it complies with a standard prescribed by HRA.

(2) A driver required by these Rules to wear a protective vest must not have in his or her possession a protective vest that does not comply with the requirements in sub-rule (1).

(3) The Stewards may confiscate or order the satisfactory repair of any protective vest that does not comply with the requirements in sub-rule (1).

(4) A driver who fails to comply with any provision of this rule is guilty of an offence.

 

Offences – matters at the start and during the race

• Amend Rule 162(1)(m)

162. (1) A driver shall not –

(m) interfere with a driver or horse during the score up or the start.