Rules crackdown by RVL

Perth Turf Talk | Australian Racing | Mon 3 December, 2012

Monday, 3 December 2012: Racing Victoria, embarrassed by the much publicised instances of treatment rule infringements by trainers over the spring carnival, has made an extensive commitment to manage and protect the integrity of Victoria’s thoroughbred racing industry with a series of enhancements announced today.

The RV Compliance Assurance Team, responsible for overseeing investigations, stable raids, bet monitoring and out-of-competition testing, will be boosted with an additional two full-time members.

Treatment rules will also be tightened with the practice of stomach tubing to be prohibited from one clear day before race time instead of the current 24 hours.

Under the rule changes it will be an offence to administer alkalinising agents in any way during the prohibition period.

In the case of a horse being entered to race on a Saturday, the prohibition period for stomach-tubing or the administration of alkalinising agents will commence at midnight on Thursday.

RV chief executive Bernard Saundry said strengthening the rules relating to the administration of substances on race day will assist in ensuring all horses are presented for racing free from prohibited substances.

“There is no place for raceday administration and these rule changes will not only serve as a further deterrent to those wishing to breach or push the limits of the rule, it will increase the window for detection by the stewards," Saundry said.

The Compliance Assurance Team conducted 117 stable "raids" during the spring carnival with five resulting in stewards’ inquiries.

Two of the inquiries have been completed and resulted in trainers being found guilty of rule infringements and heavily penalised.

Racing Victoria will also strengthen Local Rule 71A pertaining to a person who is the subject of an exclusion order by the Chief Commissioner of Police under the Racing Act.

Under the change, when a person is excluded from racecourses by the Chief Commissioner, there will be a clear power for the stewards to warn-off or disqualify that person under the Rules of Racing.

A review of the introduction of minimum penalties for serious racing industry offences has commenced and will be finalised by the Australian Racing Board in January.

“We are undertaking an extensive review of the introduction of minimum and maximum penalties which would serve as a further deterrent for those considering breaching the rules,” Saundry said.

"The introduction of harsher penalties definitely has merit and will be given very strong consideration.

“We want anyone who does anything that compromises the integrity of our sport brought to account and penalised.”

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