Harness Racing SA, 1 Globe Derby Drive, Globe Derby Park SA 5110Telephone: (08) 8285 2899, Facsimile: (08) 8285 2961

www.saharnessracing.comABN: 68 094 559 930

On thePaceNewsletter for the SA Harness Racing Industry

May 2015 Edition

FROM THE CEO

John Lewis, CEO HRSA

Friday Night Racing/Sky Channel As previously advised, due to the decision by Tabcorp & Sky Racing to place the Saturday night timeslot for SA harness racing on Sky 2 on an interim basis, HRSA made the decision to switch our main weekly race meeting to the Friday night Sky 1 timeslot on an interim basis until 30 June 2015.

In relation to Saturday nights and restoring the Sky 1 timeslot, we are continuing to have ongoing discussions with Tabcorp & Sky Racing senior management. At each meeting, we have urged Tabcorp to reverse its decision and restore our Saturday night to Sky 1.

Tabcorp’s decision to trial a NSW (Richmond) greyhound product in the Saturday night timeslot on Sky 1 has failed to meet their wagering expectations, and they are now trialling some NSW harness product during May to see whether it performs better than Saturday night race meetings at Globe Derby Park.

Our next meeting with Tabcorp senior management is on 18 May, and at that meeting we expect to get some further clarity in relation to this matter and our new broadcasting agreement with Sky Racing from 1 July 2015.

SA Harness Racing - The Advertiser Form Guide With the new re-branding of Tattsbet to UBet, we have also seen some changes with The Advertiser form guide. In relation to harness racing, we continue to have a full page form guide on Mondays and a ¾ page form guide on Fridays and Saturdays. As previously advised, HRSA is funding the Monday page form guide up until 30 June 2015, while the extended form guide on Fridays and Saturdays was negotiated at nil cost to our code. The Friday and Saturday extended form guide is likely to continue up until 30 June 2015 and UBet are currently in negotiations with News Ltd regarding the form guide from 1 July 2015.

At a recent meeting with UBet CEO, Robbie Cooke, HRSA stressed the importance of The Advertiser form guide as an important resource in promoting wagering on SA harness racing. This has been clearly evidenced by the significant increase in wagering on our Monday race meetings since the introduction of the extended form guide.

UBet LaunchThe official launch of UBet was announced in Sydney on Wednesday 29 April. Formally known as Tattsbet and more commonly known as the SATAB, the rebranding to UBet is a strategic and deliberative focus to ‘take on’ the corporate bookmakers and grow wagering under this new banner. A major benefit for UBet account holders is the free live streaming of all harness racing on Sky 1 and 2.

From HRSA’s perspective, since the appointment of Robbie Cooke as the Managing Director of the TattsGroup around two years ago, we have seen a much stronger focus on wagering including the introduction of fixed odds betting, improved form guides and a closer working relationship with the racing codes.

Therefore this new re-branding to Ubet can only be positive news for harness racing in SA. It is important to remember that money wagered locally through UBet will deliver a much higher financial return to the racing industry than money wagered through corporate bookmakers and interstate wagering operators.

CHAIR OF STEWARDS REPORT

Barbara ScottChair of Stewards

DETECTION OF DEXAMETHASONEThe Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory have adopted new testing procedures for dexamethasone from 1 May 2015. This will have important implications for the detection of dexamethasone in horses.

New testing procedures were applied to samples obtained during an administration trial involving dexamethasone given intravenously. This trial was conducted as part of the Equine Therapeutics Research Australia (ETRA) project. The published ETRA data sheet for dexamethasone reports a detection time of three days.

It should be noted that this three day detection time for dexamethasone is longer than the detection time of 48 hours previously reported. Therefore veterinarians are advised that recommended withdrawal periods for treatment for dexamethasone must be based on the new ETRA data of 3 days.

It is important to note that a withdrawal (or withholding) period is not the same as a detection period. Trainers should ensure they discuss the use of dexamethasone with their veterinarian prior to use.

NEW POLICIESThe following policies have been introduced, effective 25 March 2015. These policies are on the HRSA website, under Steward & Integrity.

1. A horse that is aged 12 or more years shall not be permitted to start in any race unless it has undergone a pre-race veterinary examination that satisfies the Stewards the horse should be permitted to start.

This examination will consist of flexion test of joints, a trot up examination and a thorough check of the horse. It is the responsibility of the trainer to have this examination take place on course. Failure to have the examination take place at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the race in which the horse is entered may result in the Trainer or their nominated representative being penalised and/or the horse withdrawn from the race.

2. A horse that is engaged to race on consecutive days shall not be permitted to start on the second day unless it has undergone a pre-race veterinary examination that satisfies the Stewards the horse should be permitted to start.

It is the responsibility of the trainer to have this examination take place on course. Failure to have the examination take place at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the race in which the horse is entered may result in the Trainer or their nominated representative being penalised and/or the horse withdrawn from the race.

3. A horse shall remain on the racecourse for at least 30 minutes after its race to allow it to cool down and recover.

4. A horse that bleeds from one nostril before, during or after a race, shall be inspected by a veterinary surgeon. If the veterinary surgeon is satisfied the blood from

one nostril originated from the respiratory system, the stewards shall bar the horse from racing for a period of no less than 14 days.

Once that 14 day period is complete, the horse will be required to participate in an official trial and be examined by the Stewards or trial supervisor at the completion of the trial.

If the horse bleeds from one nostril again within a short period of time (as determined by the Stewards), that horse may face a longer stand down period and may be required to undergo further testing to the satisfaction of the stewards.

HARNESS RACING SA WEBSITEThe Stewards Page of the HRSA website is undergoing change. Over the following weeks, more information will be added to the webpage including:

• Industrynotices–suchasgear&equipmentbans,• HRSAPolicies–includingthePenaltyGuidelines• Current Inquiries – including open and adjourned

inquiries• FinalisedInquiries–detailsoffindings• Post Race Information – follow up information on

poor performances, etc• Appeals–pendingappealsandappealdecisions

This webpage will become a valuable source of information on emerging issues, rule and policy changes and stewards inquiries. It can be accessed at:www.saharnessracing.com. click on Industry Pages. click on Steward & Integrity. scroll down to locate each topic.

CHANGE OF TACTICSFrom 1 September 2014 the change of tactics rule was re-introduced in South Australian harness racing.

The change of tactics (Rule 44) relates to the intention of connections prior to the race. For this reason it is meant to protect those people that make decisions prior to a race, including the betting public, and to a lesser extent connections of other horses in the race. The intentions of connections (if a change of tactics is determined) should be communicated to the general public. There have been a number of relevant appeal decisions in NSW, including Sarina in June 2011 before the Honourable Justice Kavanagh, where he stated “The rule is clearly intended to protect the betting public and the integrity of harness racing”. The enforcement of this rule would allow for more predictable racing and ensure the confidence of the betting public.

There may be no breach of the rule if the circumstances of the race result in a driver adopting different tactics to those notified prior to the race. This is because the rule is about a pre-race intention. This means during the race, if circumstances arise that result in a horse being driven contrary to its usual or approved racing pattern, Stewards would assess those circumstances under Rule 44(3) or (4).

CHAIR OF STEWARDS REPORT CHAIR OF STEWARDS REPORTSince the re-introduction of the rule, Stewards have adopted a phase-in period and applied some leniency to breaches of this rule. However as the rule has now been in operation for seven months, monetary penalties will now be applied for breaches.

The rule places an obligation on the driver or the connections of a horse intending to adopt tactics contrary to the horse’s usual racing pattern, to notify the Stewards prior to the race. This notification must be at least 45 minutes prior to the race.

STABLE RETURNSTrainers are reminded that once a horse enters their care, with the intention of preparing that horse to participate in racing, a stable return must be completed and lodged immediately with HRSA.

Stewards must know the whereabouts of horses at all times and the lodgement of a stable return provides this information. Rule 25A(2) states:

Whenever a horse comes under the control of a trainer with the intention of preparing the horse to participate in racing, Part A of the form R25-A shall immediately be completed and lodged with the Controlling Body.

The lodgement of a stable return will also establish that a horse has been trained by a licenced trainer for at least 28 days prior to the date of nomination. Rule 119B states:

Unless the Stewards otherwise approve, a horse shall not be eligible to be nominated for a race unless the horse has been trained by a licensed trainer for not less than 28 days immediately prior to the date fixed for nomination.This means is a trainer fails to lodge a stable return immediately a horse comes into their care with the intention of preparing it for racing, their nomination may be refused if Stewards cannot establish the horse was being trained by a licenced trainer in the preceding 28 days.

STARTERYou may be aware that Greg Norman resigned as Starter with HRSA. Stewards are seeking expressions of interest from persons wishing to be considered for the position of Race Starter. Those interested must be available to work at every Globe Derby, Kapunda and Victor Harbor meeting, along with some trials at Globe Derby on Sundays. You must not currently hold a licence with HRSA and be comfortable working around horses. On the job training will be provided. Please contact Barbara Scott to register your interest.

JOGGING MACHINESTrainers are reminded that when using a jogging machine to exercise horses they have certain responsibilities. The use of jogging machines is a common practice, however any vehicle that tows the jogging machine must be registered before it is driven on the roads. Similarly the jogging machine must be registered to be towed on the road.

Trainers are reminded that the roads can be slippery

and they should ensure the speed of the vehicle is appropriate to the weather conditions and state of the road.

Only licenced persons should drive the car towing a jogging machine and trainers should carefully consider which horses they put on jogging machines.

Trainers should at all times be vigilant in ensuring they monitor the behaviour of horses being jogged. Trainers should use their mirrors to watch the horses and consider having a second person in the car who has a clear view of the horses being jogged.

WHIPSThe use of the whip in equine racing is a contentious issue and closely followed by welfare groups and the wider community. It is essential that the harness industry self regulates and ensures that the use of the whip is well regulated and consistently policed by the stewards to protect the welfare of the racing animal.

Stewards continue to apply penalties for unacceptable use of the whip in races. The highly visible action of raising your arm to use the whip is a breach of the rules. The current rules allow a wrist and elbow action. This means your arm from the shoulder to your elbow should not move, with the only action being a flicking action using the lower arm. Stewards will broaden their focus on unapproved whip action including the use of the whip on those horses that are out of contention (ie; not likely to run in the first four), that are not visibly responding when the whip is being used and those horses that are clearly winning and do not require the whip to be used. When a driver is charged with unacceptable use of the whip, the penalty guidelines provide that the fines imposed will increase for those drivers that re-offend within 28 days. Stewards will also consider placing an embargo on a driver that continues to re-offend under the whip rules, that they will be required to hold a rein in each hand throughout the race, for a period of 2 months.

BOTRA Gear SaleWhere: Globe Derby Park

When: Sunday 17th May

Time: gear logged 8.30 to 10am no late entriesSale time: 11am sharpIf you have large items please contact Lois to arrange advertisingBBQ availableContact: Lois 0402978424

INDIVIDUAL HORSE SECTIONAL TIMES NOW AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON WWW.TROTSGUIDE.COM (PUNTERS CORNER)

RETIRED STANDARDBRED REQUIRED

The Barossa Light Horse Association who participated in the Centenary of Anzac Display at the SA Cup in January are looking to acquire a retired standardbred for inclusion in the Light Horse Association.

If you have a horse that might be suitable, please contact Bruce Naismith via mobile 0412502505 or email bruce.naismith@AUSAWD.COM]

RACING OPERATIONS REPORTWEDNESDAY TRIALSQualifying Trials have been introduced on Wednesday mornings at 8:30am at Globe Derby Park. These trials will only be available to horses which are needing to qualify, have a bar lifted or get back in the draw for a particular start type.

Nominations will close on the Tuesday of each week at 4pm with the offices of HRSA.

DISCRETIONARY HANDICAPSFollowing is a list of the key guidelines the handicapping panel use when determining a handicap for a horse in a discretionary handicap:

- Form of horse in past ten starts(taking particular note of discretionary handicap starts)

- Handicap given in recent starts(if applicable)- Distance of race- Quality of opposition- Size of field- Class of race

Ultimately these are only guidelines. Trainers are reminded that the handicaps allotted are at the discretion of the handicapping panel & their decision is final.

Handicaps are available shortly after nominations have

closed, at which point trainers can contact the Racing Office to determine if they wish to withdraw their horse.

No correspondence will be entered into & trainers are reminded that it is an offence to attempt to influence the handicapper.

MOBILE START FIELD SIZESMaximum field sizes for Mobile Start races at Globe Derby Park will be increased to 11 starters plus an emergency, as from June 1 2015.

All other SA venues will remain unchanged. This means Globe Derby, Port Pirie & Victor Harbor will have a maximum of 11 starters plus an emergency in mobile start events.

The remaining venues in SA will remain at a maximum of 10 starters plus an emergency.

SEEDED BARRIER DRAWSIn mobile start events where there are seven horses on the front row the preferential seeded barrier draw will change as of June 1 2015.

The order of seeds will now be as follows : 1,2,3,4,8,9,5,6,7,10,11,12.

David ThuenRacing Operations Manager