Latest News

AMENDMENTS TO AUSTRALIAN RULES OF RACING (effective 1 June 2023)

Codes of Practice - Horses Returning From Extended Layoffs/Injuries, 12-year-old Horses & Reinstatement Of Retired Horses

Summary:
Racing Australia has introduced nationally consistent policies to address the following issues:

1. Horses that have not started in a race for 12 months or longer – returning to training and racing;

2. Horses that have experienced a cardiac arrhythmia after a race – returning to training and racing;

3. Horses that have suffered a major fracture and/or undergone major orthopaedic surgery – mandatory reporting and returning to training and racing;

4. Horses aged 12 years – pre- and post-race veterinary inspections; and

5. Horses that have been retired from racing – reinstatement for training and racing.

Each of these policies seek to improve horse welfare outcomes by clearly defining the protocols that must be adhered to when a horse is returning to training/racing after an extended period or serious injury.

These policies are given force under the Rules of Racing as Racing Australia Codes of Practice. While participants have general obligations to comply with such Codes and may be penalised for non-compliance (see AR 16 and AR 233), new rules have been introduced to impose specific obligations regarding participants’ compliance with these new Codes, as follows:

• New AR 88B in Part 5 – Eligibility of horses to race, Division 2 – Restrictions/exclusions in relation to participation of horses in races etc for 1-3 above;

• Amendments to AR 78 for 4 above; and

• Amendments to AR 297 for 5 above.

To view the full document CLICK HERE

To view the CODES OF PRACTICE CLICK HERE