The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards draw the attention of all industry stakeholders to amendments to the Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) which take effect in Victoria from 1 May 2022.
In order to assist understanding and compliance the HRV Stewards provide the below information, however warn this does not include all amendments made to the AHRR.
All persons covered by the AHRR must familiarise themselves with the full list of amendments which can be accessed via the below link:
https://www.harness.org.au/rules/ramend_21dec.pdf
Introduction of AHRR 23B
23B. (1) A horse cannot be nominated for a race if it is a horse as defined by sub-rule (2) and it has not satisfied the provisions of sub-rule (3).
(2) (a) A horse that has not participated in an official trial or race within the twelve month period prior to the race.
(b) A foreign horse that has been imported into Australia and has not participated in an official trial or race within the six month period prior to the race.
(3) The horse must participate in an official trial to the satisfaction of the Stewards.
Introduction of AHRR 66(i)
66. A horse may be disqualified from a race or placed in a lower finishing position in a race if the horse -
(i) is driven in a manner prejudicial or detrimental to the reputational interests of harness racing.
Amendment to AHRR 90
AHRR 90 has been amended to include a provision whereby a licensed person or a person who has applied to be licensed must report to the Controlling Body or the Stewards should they be found guilty of a crime or offence which is punishable by a term of imprisonment.
The amendment to AHRR 90 read:
90. (6) An applicant for a licence or an existing licence holder shall if found guilty of a crime or offence which is punishable by term of imprisonment immediately notify the Controlling Body or Stewards of that finding of guilt.
(7) A licence may be suspended or cancelled:
(a) by the Controlling Body or the Stewards for breach of a term or condition of the licence; or
(b) by the Controlling Body where the Controlling Body is satisfied that the person holding the licence is not a fit and proper person to be associated with harness racing.
(8) The type, grade or class of a licence held by a person may be varied by the Controlling Body or by the Stewards.
(9) The terms or conditions attaching to a type, grade or class of licence may be varied by the Stewards or the Controlling Body.
Amendment to AHRR 96A(4)(a) & (b)
AHRR 96A(4) has been amended requiring the immediate notification of a horses death to the Stewards if the horse is in a care of a licensed trainer.
In all other instances the death must be notified to the Controlling Body within 24 hours.
96A. (4) The owner or trainer of a registered horse at the time of its death shall:-
(a) In the case of a horse which dies whilst in the care of a licensed trainer immediately notify the Stewards of the death.
(b) In any other case notify the Controlling Body or Stewards of the death within twenty four hours of its occurrence.
In the instance of the death of a horse in the care of a licensed trainer this must be reported immediately to the Stewards by calling (03) 9214 0651.
Notification in the remaining circumstances may be performed via Harnessweb or by completing the HRA ‘Notification of Deregistration or Death of a Standardbred’ form which can be accessed below:
https://www.harness.org.au/hra/form-R25A-deregistration-death-form.pdf
Introduction of AHRR 99A
99A. (1) A person shall not perform, attempt to perform or authorise the performance of the procedure of blistering.
(2) For the purposes of this rule blistering means the application or injection of an irritating substance onto or into soft tissue of a horse to create an inflammatory reaction.
(3) A person who fails to comply with sub-rule (1) is guilty of an offence.
Amendment to AHRR 120
AHRR 120 has been amended broadening the restrictions which are placed upon the transfer of a horse from a trainer who is subject to a period of suspension or disqualification.
The amended AHRR 120 reads:
120. (1) A horse trained but not owned by a trainer whose licence has been suspended or cancelled or who is disqualified (in this rule called the "disqualified person") is ineligible to race until it is transferred to the control of a licensed trainer.
(2) A transfer must be approved by the Controlling Body or Stewards.
(3) A horse which is trained by a disqualified person shall not without the approval of the Stewards be transferred to an immediate family member or to a person whom the Stewards determine is a close associate.
(4) For the purposes of this rule:-
(a) An immediate family member means the following persons who are related to the disqualified person:-
(i) Spouse, defacto, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, cousin;
(ii) Child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew or cousin of the disqualified person’s spouse or defacto partner.
(b) A close associate includes but is not limited to the following which may be existing or prior:-
(i) Commercial relationship
(ii) Trainer/owner relationship
(iii) Trainer/breeder relationship
(iv) Employee/employer relationship
(v) Co-located registered training address.
(5) The Controlling Body or Stewards may at any time revoke the approval of a transfer if it or they form the view that the disqualified person is involved with or influencing the training of the horse.
(6) If a transfer is not approved or is revoked the horse is ineligible to race.
(7) A horse may be declared ineligible to race by the Controlling Body or Stewards if it or they form the view that the disqualified person is involved with or influencing the training of the horse.
Introduction of Victorian Local Rule 155A
The national decision to repeal AHRR 155A has been approved by the HRV Board effective 1 May 2022.
To maintain the current approach in Victoria, the HRV Board have approved the introduction of Victorian Local Rule 155A commencing 1 May 2022 which states:
VLR 155A. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Rules 154 and 155 any horse which has broken gait free of interference, and remains in the incorrect gait when its nose reaches the finish line, and is covered by any other horse or horses in the correct gait it shall be placed behind such horse or horses.
(2) For the purposes of sub-rule (1) “covered” means when a horse has its nose in line with any part of the breaking horse’s body excluding its tail or extended hind legs when the nose of the horse which has broken gait reaches the finish line.
Effectively there will be no change in enforcement of these types of matters by the HRV Stewards.
Introduction of AHRR 190AC
AHRR 190AC has been introduced which prevents a trainer from transferring any training or ownership interests upon being notified that a horse trained by them has returned a sample containing a prohibited substance.
190AC. (1) When a trainer is notified by the Stewards that the presence of a substance prohibited by Rules 188A, 190A or 190AB has been certified to be present in a horse trained by that trainer at the time the sample is taken, the trainer is not permitted without the prior approval of the Stewards to:-
(a) transfer the ownership of any horse they own to any other person;
(b) transfer any training responsibilities for any horse they train to any other person.
(2) For the purposes of sub-rule (1) “certified” means the issuance of an evidentiary certificate pursuant to Rule 191(1).
(3) A trainer who fails to comply with sub-rule (1) is guilty of an offence.
Introduction of AHRR 159A(9)
AHRR 159A(9) has been introduced to clearly define the circumstances in which a driver must replace a helmet and warn that an offence may be committed should they fail to comply.
159A. (9) A driver must immediately replace a helmet if:
(a) A helmet sustains significant impact or damage or
(b) A driver suffers concussion following a fall whilst wearing a helmet.
(10) A person who fails to comply with any provision of this rule is guilty of an offence.
Introduction of AHRR 170(4) & (5)
170. (4) A driver shall not:-
(a) Attempt to or allow his foot or leg to come into contact with the hind legs of the horse he is driving;
(b) Attempt to or allow his foot or leg to be placed in the immediate vicinity of the hind legs of the horse he is driving.
(5) A driver who fails to comply with any provision of this rule is guilty of an offence and in relation to sub-rule (4) the Stewards may in addition to any other penalty disqualify the horse.
The HRV Board did not adopt the introduction of new AHRR 152A which states:
152A. (1) Where the spouse or partner of a driver is the owner or trainer of a horse in a race the driver shall not without the approval of the Stewards drive any horse in the race other than the horse owned or trained by his/her spouse or partner.
(2) A driver who fails to comply with sub-rule (1) is guilty of an offence.
For further information relating to these amendments contact the HRV Integrity Department on (03) 8378 0200.