QLD - New Scratching Policy Effective July 1, 2016

Owners and trainers please be advised that a revised scratching policy is applicable in Queensland effective 1 July, 2016.

In short under the new scratching procedure all horses will be stood down for 14 days from the date of the meeting the horse was scratched from however the stand down may be reduced to 6 days upon presentation of a veterinary clearance.

Horses that do not race until after the 14 day period will not be required to present a veterinary certificate of clearance however a scratching fee of $44 will apply for horses that race between 14 days and 28 days from the date of scratching only.

The full details are included below.

Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board trading as

Racing Queensland

HARNESS SCRATCHING POLICY

DATE THE POLICY WAS MADE

This policy was made on 1 July 2010

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

This policy comes into effect on 1st July 2016

PURPOSE

The Racing Act 2002 (Act) authorises the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board trading as Racing Queensland (RQ) to make policies for the sound management of the industry.

Racing Queensland is committed to providing the racing industry with a clear and transparent understanding of entitlements pertaining to scratching’s for harness horses.

The purpose of this policy is to introduce a Harness Scratching Policy for harness racing in Queensland.

POLICY STATEMENT

Racing Queensland will construct and implement a policy and process to address scratching’s for harness horses in Queensland.

APPLICATION

This policy applies to all registered harness horses in Queensland.

POLICY

1.00     SCRATCHINGS

1.01     Any horse scratched after the release of fields shall be subject to a scratching fee of $44 (GST inclusive) if the horse does not race within a 14 day period of the scratching date unless the horse was scratched for reasons deemed acceptable by the Chief Steward. 

1.02     Horses will be stood down for 14 days to commence from the date the horse was engaged to race unless suitable veterinary clearance has been received by the Stewards clearing the horse to race.

1.03     If a veterinary clearance is issued subsequent to scratching clearing the horse to race, the minimum period for a horse to be stood down from racing shall be reduced to 7 days inclusive of the scratching engagement. In other words, should a trainer provide a veterinary certificate which is approved by Stewards the horse may be cleared to race no sooner than the same day in the following week.  (All veterinary certificates of clearance must be provided to Stewards for approval)

1.04     A scratching fee will not be imposed if a veterinary certificate of clearance is accepted during the 14 day embargo.

1.05     A scratching fee will not be imposed if the horse does not race within a 28 day period from the date of the scratching engagement.

1.06     A veterinary certificate of clearance will not be required if the horse does not race within that 14 day period unless otherwise directed by the Chief Steward.

1.07     A scratching deadline of 8:30am applies on the day of the race meeting, emergencies will be withdrawn at this time if there has been no scratching’s in the race. 

1.08     Trainers of an emergency that gains a start will be contacted to advise their horse has gained a start.

1.09     Scratching’s should be relayed by phone on the Scratching Hotline 1800 331 308 or 07 3869 9774.  When scratching a horse the trainer must clearly identify the following:-

a)         Trainers name

b)         Trainers Licence Number

c)         Meeting Details

d)         Horses Name

e)         Reason for Scratching

1.10     If a horse is withdrawn from a claiming race for veterinary reasons, at the time of its withdrawal or as soon as practical thereafter a veterinary certificate stating the condition or injury, and/or any treatment or administration of medications which prevented it from starting.  Failure to provide such veterinary evidence may deem the horse ineligible for its next race start.  (Veterinary certificates must be provided to Stewards for approval)

1.11     A horse engaged as an emergency can be scratched penalty free prior to 8.30am on the morning of the meeting.  Should this horse engaged as an emergency also be engaged in another race on the same program such horse can only start in the other race should it fail to gain a start in the race in which it was declared as an emergency.

1.12     Should a horse be scratched for veterinary reasons and also be engaged to race in another upcoming event such horse shall be automatically scratched from that upcoming event.

1.13     Horses scratched due to a float breakdown will be stood down indefinitely pending documentation being provided to Stewards as proof of breakdown.  Once provided and approved by Stewards the bar applied to the horse or horses will be lifted.

1.14     A horse that is declared to run in a race prior to accepting for a feature event to the value of $15,000 or more may scratch without penalty from the first engagement if declared to run in the upcoming feature event.

1.15     If a horse gains a start in a race it is the responsibility of the trainer to withdraw such horse from subsequent nominations before acceptance time if he/she does not want such horse to gain another start.

1.16     If after acceptance time a horse is scratched due to a change of ownership or trainer, such horse, upon notification of such transfer may be scratched both fee and penalty free.

1.17     A horse which is a starter in a race and is re-handicapped in a discretionary handicap following a win in another race may scratch without penalty by contacting the RQ Harness Racing Office prior to 8.30 a.m. on race morning.

1.18     On a race day where the forecast maximum temperature for the race meeting venue is determined by the Bureau of Meteorology to exceed thirty-eight degrees Celsius (38ºC), the trainer of a horse engaged at that meeting may scratch the horse free of penalty prior to 8.30am on the day of the meeting. Scratching’s effected after 8.30am on race day will attract the normal scratching penalty. Such applications may only be made on the day of the race.  (Please refer to the Racing in Hot Weather Policy for full details).

Review

Review date will be 1 September 2017.

REVISION HISTORY