HRNSW Integrity Strategies to strengthen with more funding

Enhanced and increased integrity measures will be financed by the HRNSW Tax Parity Fund.

NSW has been the leader in strategies which protect the industry from unscrupulous practices by being at the forefront of proactive investigations and research. This will continue through additional funding.

“HRNSW will continue to be proactive in of protecting the level playing field concept” Chief Executive John Dumesny said.

“There will be a continuing emphasis on our integrity processes, research into illegal substances and covert operations.  HRNSW will continue to defend the interests of the overwhelming majority of participants against those who cheat and those who choose through litigation to challenge the rules and penalties,” Mr Dumesny affirmed

Initiatives and strategies which have been instrumental in focusing the entire racing industry on the ‘level playing field’ principle include:

• HRNSW employs a clear benchmark on the ratio of runners tested to starters. This benchmark is 20%, which based on research papers will ensure that as high as 98.5% of “drugged” horses will be caught.

• HRNSW has introduced real time TC02 testing through investment in iStat machines.

• HRNSW is placing increased emphasis on Out of Competition drug testing including yearlings for Sales.

• HRNSW sends samples to different laboratories around the world for testing of prohibited substances, including any “new” substances that might appear from time to time.

• HRNSW has a strategy on the freezing of urine samples for retesting at a later time.

• HRNSW continues to adapt its testing and collection strategies based on information, intelligence and new substances that appear from time to time.

• HRNSW was the first in the World to introduce a threshold for Cobalt. This followed HRNSW conducting its own investigation and research, which has been accepted internationally and adopted by others.

• HRNSW has pursued unyielding defence of prohibited substance offences through the Courts and Tribunals, including against the new substance Cobalt with the world first threshold for it.

• HRNSW has strict penalties for breaches of the prohibited substance Rules, including the introduction of Penalty Guidelines.

• HRNSW uses covert surveillance, which has lead to numerous breaches being detected, not only in harness racing.

• HRNSW has improved intelligence collection and correlation on a world-wide basis.

• HRNSW has increased property inspections to ensure equine welfare.

• HRNSW has constructed and implemented a Retention Facility at Menangle Park, which allows HRNSW to retain horses prior to and after races for a period of time.

• HRNSW has a Development and Support Program focusing on the welfare of participants from a personal and professional prospective.

  ends

Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 31 racing clubs across the State.  HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.