Please see Notices under News for notices and warnings issued by the Stipendiary Stewards.

Stipendiary Stewards officiate at all Racing NSW race meetings and official trials. They also attend track work, conduct track and stable inspections, administer drug testing operations, address safety issues and ensure the integrity of racing by conducting inquiries into race rides, horse health, wagering and the use of prohibited substances.

Racing NSW Stewards Panel

Chairman - Marc Van Gestel (General Manager of Integrity)
Deputy Chairman - Steve Railton

Metropolitan Panel - 7 Stipendiary Stewards; 1 Betting Steward; 2 Cadet Stewards; 4 Trainee Stewards

Country Panel - 13 Stewards across 7 regions.

Stewards are not restricted to officiating in their home base areas and the rostering of Stewards on a statewide basis has continued to be of benefit to NSW racing control.

Rules of Racing

Thoroughbred racing in NSW is subject to the Australian Rules of Racing (incorporating Racing NSW Local Rules of Racing).The Rules of Racing are subject to amendments from time to time and are subsequently updated on our website as often as practicable. Please refer to the Racing NSW monthly magazine for the latest updates

• Racing NSW Rules of Racing & Betting
• Australian Racing Board
• NSW Jockeys Association
• Australian Trainers Association (NSW Branch)
• NSW Bookmakers Co-Operative Ltd
• Australian Equine Veterinary Association
• RSPCA
• Racing NSW Integrity Assurance Committee

Conduct of Inquiries / Appeals

Guidelines for the conduct of inquiries by the Racing NSW Stewards
Purpose
These guidelines dated 27 February 2008 are provided to assist the Stewards in determining when inquiries should be conducted (or if applicable, continued) in camera.

Definitions
In these guidelines, the word “inquiry” refers to any and all investigations conducted by the Stewards prior to a charge (or charges) being issued for a contravention of one or more of the Rules of Racing.

Policy Statement
Racing NSW endorses the conduct of open inquiries unless the conduct (or continued conduct) of an inquiry in public would unduly prejudice the rights or interests of a person appearing before the Stewards.

Applications to take evidence “in camera”
Any person appearing before the Stewards during an inquiry has the right to make an application to have their evidence (whether generally or in respect of a specific matter) heard in camera. The Stewards are also entitled to determine of their own volition that a matter should be conducted (or continued) in camera, whether in whole or in part.

Relevant criteria
Racing NSW is required by section 13(2)(c) of the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 (NSW) to initiate, develop and implement policies considered conducive to, amongst other things, the protection of the public interest as it relates to racing.
In assessing whether an inquiry should be conducted (or continued) openly or in camera, the Stewards must satisfy themselves that the public interest in the open conduct of the inquiry would outweigh any actual or potential prejudice that a person appearing before the inquiry may suffer on account of their evidence being received openly (and therefore, potentially reported by the media). For the purposes of determining whether an inquiry should be conducted (or continued) openly or in camera, the Stewards shall take into account such of the following criteria as are applicable given the particular circumstances of the relevant inquiry:

a. Whether the person (or people) whose position or interests may be prejudiced by the open conduct of the inquiry are persons licensed by Racing NSW and bound by the Rules of Racing. Generally speaking, Racing NSW considers that licensed persons have, by virtue of their active participation in the industry and agreement to be bound by the Rules of Racing, consented to a greater degree of public scrutiny in matters relating to racing than is the case with unlicensed persons.

b. Whether any evidence to be received by the Stewards is from, or relates to, a minor (i.e.a person under the age of 18 years).
c. Whether the subject matter of the inquiry is such that the conduct of the inquiry, or the taking of certain evidence, in camera would materially impact on the level of public confidence in the integrity of racing.

d. Whether the nature of the evidence that the Stewards might reasonably expect to receive from one or more individuals appearing before the inquiry may:

i. Implicate the person giving the evidence; and/or
ii. Implicate another person (whether involved in the inquiry or not), in matters relevant to actual or reasonably anticipated legal proceedings.

e. Whether the nature of the evidence that the Stewards might reasonably expect to receive from one or more individuals appearing before the inquiry may result in damage or potential damage to the reputation of another individual or entity.

f. Whether the nature of the evidence that the Stewards might reasonably expect to receive from one or more individuals appearing before the inquiry may relate to the personal or financial affairs of an individual (whether or not that individual is appearing before the inquiry).