Harness Racing Victoria welcomes new laws that will, from tomorrow, enhance safety for participants and patrons at all meetings.
From Friday, September 15, it will be an offence for a person, without valid authority or excuse, to enter restricted areas or engage in disruptive behaviour in and around restricted areas at Victrorian race meetings or official trials. Restricted areas include racetracks, parade rings, stables and the pathways between them.
The new laws are aimed at allowing for the safe running of race meetings and official trials and deterring dangerous behaviour at all Victorian racecourses. They enable authorised persons to intervene in the event of disruptive behaviour.
Enforcement options include on-the-spot fines and ejections from the venue. In more serious cases, court action can be taken to ban patrons from future race meetings.