Harness Racing participants are reminded that Members of Harness Racing Australia (HRA) recently approved a rule amendment which will provide certainty as to the age of a horse, regardless of when foaled.
The amendment is designed to assist breeders and studmasters by eliminating the need to estimate the gestation period of a mare to ensure that a foal is born post-1 September each season.
HRA recognises that there are any number of health and environmental factors which can affect the gestation period and resultant foaling date. Such uncontrolled consequences can be substantial for breeders should a foal be born in late August, only to be deemed a yearling (one year old) a few days later on 1 September.
The rule, which takes effect immediately, now determines the age of a horse based on its service date - and not the date it was foaled. Therefore, the age of any foal born to a mare served on or after 1 September each year will be deemed to begin on 1 September the following year.
The various licence holders affected by these rules are reminded of their obligations under the Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) and advised that any proven breach will likely be met with substantial pecuniary, licensing and foal registration penalties.
The AHRR rule is set out below:
AHRR 92 - AGE
92 (1) Save and except for sub-rule 2, provided that the service date of the foal is on or after 1st September the age of a horse shall be reckoned as beginning on 1st September in the next racing year.
(2) If a horse is foaled in New Zealand between 1st August and 31st August inclusive its age shall be reckoned as beginning on 1st September next following.
For more information, please contact Andrew Kelly on 03 9227 3000.
