Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) draws the attention of participants of the Victorian harness racing industry to national rule amendments that have been adopted by all States and have subsequently been approved for implementation by the HRV Board. The rules will take effect in Victoria as from 1 March 2018. The full rule amendments can be viewed by accessing the link below and all participants are required to familiarise themselves with the amendments:
National Rule Amendments – Effective in Victoria as of 1 March 2018
Specifically of note:
AHRR 196C. (1) A person must not administer an alkalinising agent in any manner to a horse which is engaged to run in a race:
(a) at any time on the day of the scheduled race and prior to the start of the race;
(b) at any time within one (1) clear day of the commencement of the race.
(2) Any person who:-
(a) administers an alkalinising agent;
(b) attempts to administer an alkalinising agent;
(c) causes an alkalinising agent to be administered; and/or
(d) is a party to the administration of, or an attempt to administer, an alkalinising agent contrary to sub-rule (1) is guilty of an offence.
(3) Where the Stewards are satisfied that a horse has, or is likely to have been, administered any alkalinising agent contrary to sub-rule (1), the Stewards may prevent the horse from starting in any relevant race.
(4) For the purposes of this Rule:-
one clear day means the twenty four (24) hour period from 12.01 a.m. to 12 midnight.
HRV - Industry Notice
In relation to the implementation of the provisions of AHRR 196C, for the information and awareness of licensed participants, applying the definition of ‘one clear day’ to AHRR 196C makes it an offence to administer, attempt to administer, cause to be administered or is a party to the administration of any substance that meets the definition within the rule of ‘alkalinising agent’.
For the purposes of AHRR 196C, an ‘alkalinising agent’ is any substance that may elevate the plasma TCO2 of a horse, when administered by any route, with the exception of balanced, commercial electrolyte supplements which may contain some alkalinising agents, but which can be demonstrated to have negligible effects on plasma TCO2 when administered in feed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for normal daily use.
AHRR 196C prohibits the administration of alkalinising agents by any route within the one clear day of racing, including in the feed.
Alkalinising agents that must not be administered either on the day of the race or within the one clear day of racing include, but are not limited to, bicarbonates, citrates, succinates, acetates, propionates, maleates, lactates and trometamol (THAM, tris buffer or trometamine) and also include products marketed as urinary alkalinisers and hind gut buffers.
Products that contain alkalinising agents and which fall within the definition include proprietary formulations such as: Sodium Bicarbonate (“bicarb”), Baladene®, Lang's Solution® for intravenous use, Neutra-Syrup®, Neutralka®, Neutrolene®, Neutrolene Plus® and Neutradex® and any other products that are marketed as lactic acid buffering or neutralising products.
These products must not be administered within one clear day prior to racing or prior to competing in an official trial
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Amend Rule 220
AHRR 220. A person shall not lead a horse at a racecourse other than by way of a lead rope attached to a properly fitted restraining device.
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) requirement:
In relation to Rule 220, HRV Stewards deem that for the purpose of this rule a “restraining device” will be either of the following:
1: Leading and rearing bits;
2: Bridles to which a lead is attached to the bit;
3: Stallion chain, properly fitted either over the nose or through the mouth.
Participants are advised that failure to comply with this requirement may result in a penalty being imposed by Stewards.
